I want to install a 12V digital volt meter

[ewarnerusa]

I wanted to install a digital LCD volt meter with LED backlight display that I bought off amazon. I'm familiar and comfortable with 12V electrical and I have decided to just tie into a 12V connection from behind the existing control center (where the tank/battery gauges are, water pump switch, water heater switch, etc.). I'm going to mount the volt meter above the control center. While the LED backlight would draw very little juice, I figured I'd want a way to switch it off to avoid any unnecessary parasitic loads. My plan is to wire up a switch that will turn the volt meter display on and off. I snooped around with my multimeter and there are many different wires carrying the 12V signal to choose from. My plan was to pick a favorite and tie the switch into it, then hook the meter to the switch.
Anyone have any comments or suggestions for my idea? Thanks.

[Bob_Vaughn]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
My green led volt meter panel arrived yesterday so I got busy this morning and installed it...Its the cats pajamas. I will now be able to tell when my batteries are getting low....

[BurbMan]

I put mine next to the inverter swich...The inverter and 15A transfer switch are mounted under the pantry behind the power center.



I added a switch because it's very bright at night if anyone is sleeping on the pull out couch directly across from this. I also upgraded the wire gauge from the new PD 4655 to the batteries, so voltage measured here is the same as at the batteries (one pair of 6V). I also have the charge wizard pendant mountere now as well.

I generally leave the switch on when boondocking so I know what the batteries are at and also when the PD is in boost mode if the generator is running.

Other than that I leave the switch off, if we have shore power in the CG I don't need to see a meter to know that it's 13.6v.

[Oldme]

I installed one next to my 12v panned, which I
can see through an wire mash grate.

Wired red to + side feed on the panel
and the - to the negative side.

Give me a continuous read of the house batteries.
Not enough voltage use to notice with it being
on full-time.

[Bob_Vaughn]

My green led volt meter panel arrived yesterday so I got busy this morning and installed it...Its the cats pajamas. I will now be able to tell when my batteries are getting low....

[crcr]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
Would some one who knows for sure please post a site that has these LED volt meters for immediate shipment. The ones I found are in China and take 6-8 weeks to get.

I bought this one, which on Amazon Prime comes in one or two days. LED Volt Meter here. As I reported earlier in the thread, this one was accurate to a hundreth, with what my multi meter shows at the battery, while the meter was installed at the other end of the 28' TT.

[DrewE]

Here's a multifunction (time/temperature/voltage) one that I just ordered a day or so ago. It appears to be going through the usual shipping process. (It hasn't actually shipped yet, just sitting in the "preparing for shipping" queue still...as is typical.)

Linky

I haven't decided yet if I'll have the thermometer measure the outside temperature or the fridge temperature. I'm leaning towards the outside temperature at the moment.

[ewarnerusa]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
Would some one who knows for sure please post a site that has these LED volt meters for immediate shipment. The ones I found are in China and take 6-8 weeks to get.

See my OP, it has a link to where I bought mine and I seem to recall normal shipping times. Here's the link again,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UWD2J4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I guess I'm not sure if you've already looked into that and decided shipping is too long. After finally installing this unit, I have to say that I'm glad it had potentiometer screws in the back for calibrating the voltage reading. It takes a tiny phillips screwdriver, but they work well.

[tenbear]

Here is a similar meter on eBay, ships from California.

[tenbear]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
Would some one who knows for sure please post a site that has these LED volt meters for immediate shipment. The ones I found are in China and take 6-8 weeks to get.

Here is one from Amazon.

I have found things from China via eBay takes 2-3 weeks, not 6-8 weeks, and shipping is usually free.

On Edit, just noticed this is out of stock until 2/13. So delivery will be after 2/13.

[Bob_Vaughn]

Would some one who knows for sure please post a site that has these LED volt meters for immediate shipment. The ones I found are in China and take 6-8 weeks to get.

[ewarnerusa]

I found other reports that the green versions get hot, too. See the questions and reviews of this Amazon listing.
Clicky

[westend]

Nice looking install!

Heat= resistance. Depending on what type of switch and what type of bulb, it may be nothing to worry about.

[ewarnerusa]

OP Update
Finished the install. I "calibrated" the volt meter with the multimeter reading across the battery posts. My install wasn't as clean as I had hoped it would be, but that's typical for my handiwork. Also, in hindsight I should have picked a better location in relation to eye level because the display is tough to read at this viewing angle. But the holes are cut and it is installed, so it is what it is. I'm at work so I can't access photobucket to make the photo the appropriate size. But here's a link.
Clicky
Clicky2
One thing I noticed that makes me a little nervous is the little blue LED on the toggle switch gets very hot. Like I would not like to leave my finger in contact with it. I've verified my wiring is correct (as far as I know, see the paragraph below). I have left it on for extended periods and it seems to reach a stable but hot temp. Anyone have a comment on that?

How I wired the switch and volt meter -> Behind a control panel I found positive and negative wires to tie into that give me an always-hot battery voltage reading. I tied the positive wire tap to one end terminal of the rocker switch, the positive lead to the volt meter into the center terminal on the switch, and the negative lead to the volt meter to the brass terminal on the switch which also ties into the negative lead behind the control panel.

[westend]

64thunderbolt wrote:
westend, I like those analogs. Nice job.

Thanks. Actually, I barely use them, preferring to scroll through the Victron monitor measurements. The analog meters are easier to see at a glance and since they're viewable from the entry door, make for an easy system check for 120V when connecting to shore power.

FWIW, I haven't connected a line transformer and filter, yet but that is on the to-do list. The power meters will then become more useful.