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normared's avatar
normared
Explorer
Sep 02, 2013

AC Volt meter install

Liked the volt meter installs as posted here by Ginther on 08/05/2013:



Great looking meter, so we ordered the same exact ones. NOW - call me a chicken, but I was very hesitant to cut into a wood cabinet to mount them. So, after lots of looking, found this $5 electrical 'outlet box extension' from Lowe's website

It worked - the meters snap right into the box like they were made for it!

Here's a pic of the box:


And here is one of the meters mounted in it on the wall by the entry door - I liked that location so I can look at them from just outside, and the blue color will make a cool little night light for the steps:





Didn't think the box would look good, but the obvious 'screw holes' built in along the edges give it sort of a rugged industrial look.

NOTE that I only have one meter installed in the pics. As soon as the DC meter arrives I'll snap it in below the AC meter, removing a little of the box's cross rail if / as needed.

Feel much better about not cutting them in... two little screw holes is all it took, no dremel, no hole saw. If you hesitated getting these because of cutting them in - this may be a solution for you.
  • ------------------------ UPDATE ----------------------------------------
    The meters I got (like those in the OP) are exactly the same size - the second unit (the DC meter) snapped right into the box just like the first one. Both fit nicely, but I did have to remove the 'bottom' horizontal rail of the box. But they are mounted very close to the floor, so the install works fine even with the bottom rail removed.



    And now that I've been down there taking this picture, I think we'll spend some time vacuuming today!
  • I'd really like to see how you wired it in? fuse to protect the meter and wiring? Just hooked to a receptical?
    AC and DC wiring should not be in the same enclosure without a barrier of some kind.
    I suspect most of the installations mentioned don't meet any kind of code requirements.
    But it's only your rig the might burn to the ground.
  • Looks good! I cut holes for mine, and the AC and DC meters were the same size. Now I'm waiting for a combined AC voltage and current meter to arrive to replace my AC voltmeter.
  • Thanks!
    I was hesitant too and we have an older camper
    My fear was the made in China meter would fail and the co would be out of business leaving me with a blank meter or a hole.
  • The mounting size is different between the AC and the DC. At least one was wider on mine, I think the DC was the narrow one.

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