Battery meter?

Ricko · 2020-12-21 23:55:33

Hi
Has anyone fitted a battery meter in the cab to monitor their main battery voltage??
If so, any chance of a photo?
Cheers

kenbw2 · 2020-12-22 00:11:50

Used to have one sat on top of the vent blanking plate next to the stereo, but now have it hanging under the roof shelf thing

This is for my leisure battery, but same applies.

Last edited by kenbw2 (2020-12-22 00:12:36)

tee_cee · 2020-12-22 11:15:09

Casper · 2020-12-22 13:22:13

I was just using one that plugs in the fag lighter but now i need two USB slots in my van i bought this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Car-Char … 2749.l2649

You may need to rewire your power socket to battery fed if you want to see it with ignition off. When i had my expert as a camper i had nothing in the back running from the main battery so never felt the need to rewire the front power socket.

kenbw2 · 2020-12-22 14:07:47

tee_cee wrote:

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_czK9kcyArs/ … 000932.JPG

I love this! What are the switches out of interest?

tee_cee · 2020-12-22 16:31:19

kenbw2 wrote:

tee_cee wrote:
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_czK9kcyArs/ … 000932.JPG
I love this! What are the switches out of interest?

I think that one was to switch the displays on/off, and the other to activate the relay that connected the leisure battery to to the alternator, when the engine was running.
These were in the old van, these are the displays in the new one.

snapuswip3 · 2020-12-22 20:27:34

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Quick-Ch … 2749.l2649

2 USBs and a meter - seems to work so far (not bad for £3.50)

vaz2121 · 2020-12-23 12:24:05

I've just fitted a new battery that arrived IMHO dangerously low in charge and has been getting charged up via the vans own hookup charger thingy........
But like Casper I just use a plug in fag lighter meter........... but on occasion read like 12.7 v and never higher than13.6 v with engine running..........
So swapped it over to the Multi extra power socket thing that I installed and there I get the full fat 14.2V or 14.4v with engine running.......

I ended up buying another one of those cheap china plugin fag lighter volt meters at the time and there is a difference of about .1 of a V.........

I think the low reading in the fag socket is down to the amount of crud within............

I also have the USB connector with the Volt readout in the centre same again as Casper (Although I think read out is in red not blue)

The outlets in front only power up on ignition..........
In the back only power up when engine not running and master switch on.........

{When ignition is on and glow plugs activated meter reads scarily low}

Ricko · 2020-12-24 23:45:00

Thanks for the replies.
Where should I take a feed for the voltmeter? A ignition only live from the steering column??
Cheers

kenbw2 · 2020-12-24 23:56:27

I wouldn't see a need to take it from the steering column - anything that's ignition switched should do. Stereo?

Casper · 2020-12-25 00:14:02

Ricko wrote:

Thanks for the replies.
Where should I take a feed for the voltmeter? A ignition only live from the steering column??
Cheers

Was recommended this from i think Vaz. Takeout radio fuse and pop this in. One side is the radio fuse holder and other is the lead to wherever you want (Meter)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Add-A-Ci … SwPe1T7fj3

vaz2121 · 2020-12-25 12:58:36

Casper wrote:

Ricko wrote:
Thanks for the replies.
Where should I take a feed for the voltmeter? A ignition only live from the steering column??
Cheers
Was recommended this from i think Vaz. Takeout radio fuse and pop this in. One side is the radio fuse holder and other is the lead to wherever you want (Meter)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Add-A-Ci … SwPe1T7fj3

I think you could be right .............
It was a good few years ago I used a piggyback fuse in a ignition controlled circuit for either extra power sockets or the Garmin GPS feed........
Ive since used a couple and have a few in stock.............

OAT · 2020-12-25 16:55:03

Yes, handy little things and so cheap.
Just ordered 5 from china.

Like tee_cee's (Top Cat? smile ) switched meters too. For one thing I don't like anything using power in standby. But I also find meters giving constant readings very distracting as they are irresistible to watch. Then there is the inevitable LED indicators. A few years back when I worked in IT, I ended up with dozens of different colour LED's all over my bedroom on servers, routers, modems, etc. Was like Blackpool illuminations. Then they started to creep into the van.

Thats another good thing about these piggyback fuse things. You can pull the secondary fuse to switch off the extended circuit.

vaz2121 · 2020-12-25 20:40:24

OAT wrote:

Yes, handy little things and so cheap.
Just ordered 5 from china.

Exactly how I got most of mine.............
Although I'd say They all originate from The Land of China even British {Stock} Sellers that bundle them within the items their selling can be of dubious Quality / Robustness.........

Definitely our Mitsubishi possibly the Zafira has those Mini blade fuses and are just a pain..............

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#1 2020-12-21 23:55:33

Battery meter?

#2 2020-12-22 00:11:50

Re: Battery meter?

#3 2020-12-22 11:15:09

Re: Battery meter?

#4 2020-12-22 13:22:13

Re: Battery meter?

#5 2020-12-22 14:07:47

Re: Battery meter?

#6 2020-12-22 16:31:19

Re: Battery meter?

#7 2020-12-22 20:27:34

Re: Battery meter?

#8 2020-12-23 12:24:05

Re: Battery meter?

#9 2020-12-24 23:45:00

Re: Battery meter?

#10 2020-12-24 23:56:27

Re: Battery meter?

#11 2020-12-25 00:14:02

Re: Battery meter?

#12 2020-12-25 12:58:36

Re: Battery meter?

#13 2020-12-25 16:55:03

Re: Battery meter?

#14 2020-12-25 20:40:24

Re: Battery meter?

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