Quote: hob wrote in post #12

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Well I ordered one Sunday afternoon and it arrived today.

Here it is next to a spare camera card for scale.



Wired it up temporary to test it with some left over motorbike cable.



Changed my mind about running a load of cable up the inside of the wardrobe and will probably mount it on the side of the storage area near the power switches.



Presumably it uses very little power and stays on all the time?

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Beware of the accuracy of theses cheap devices. I have one and it was advertised as +/- 1%. Therefore at 13V it could be as much as 0.13 V out, quite a bit when the battery voltage between fully charged and flat is only 0.7 V.
Check it with an accurate multimeter and then it can be used as a comparator. Mine reads about 0.12V high in the range that I am interested in.

I installed a USB and cigar lighter type power socket. Wired from the supply to the light above, switched at the side of the blind rail. Mounted the meter in a small box with a plug connected as picture.

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Quote: Ray Lawrence wrote in post #17

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Beware of the accuracy of theses cheap devices. I have one and it was advertised as +/- 1%. Therefore at 13V it could be as much as 0.13 V out, quite a bit when the battery voltage between fully charged and flat is only 0.7 V.
Check it with an accurate multimeter and then it can be used as a comparator. Mine reads about 0.12V high in the range that I am interested in.

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Zitat

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Why don't you wire a push button switch into the circuit so that it's off all the time except when you want to check it.

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Does it need to be switched on and off? I thought it would just stay on all the time?

Well its in, I can always add a switch if needed.

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I can see it ok from the doorway.

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Ray the multimeter reads 12.96 volts and this meter 12.9 volts think I'm reasonably happy with that.

Looks like your meter is a bit better than mine around the voltage we are interested in :)

My power outlet has two USB ports, one at 1amp and one at 2 amps plus the 12V cigar lighter socket. Very useful for phones and tablets.
I have it switched because it has quite a bright blue LED when it is powered and it is right where grandson sleeps.

Is there any need for it to be switched? will I need a switch?

Hob, there will be a very small current drain all the time it's switched on, probably not a problem when out and about. I would certainly disconnect it when not in use.

Nice place to fit it just under the bed, it will highlight your slippers ;)

I have used these little LCD voltmeters by Lascar on many occasions on various battery/electronics projects. They are very good, look really smart and consume almost no power so are fine to be left connected.

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You can buy them here for about £25:

http://uk.farnell.com/lascar/emv-1200/dp...RecSingleItem_4

Cheers,
Steve.

Nice one Aaron

They are really neat don't you think?

Steve.

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments re. one decimal place resolution and ease of mounting with these meters. Yes £25 does seem expensive but although many of the Ebay meters are much cheaper (99p!) they all seem to have either LED displays or an LED backlit LCD - both of which put a (albeit small... back of an envelope calculation says around 1.7 Ah a week...) drain onto the battery they are monitoring.

Cheers.
Steve.

well just over a week later without a switch it still shows 12.9 volts after using the mover to turn the van round so no need to add a switch

Quote: Angie and Steve wrote in post #24

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I have used these little LCD voltmeters by Lascar on many occasions on various battery/electronics projects. They are very good, look really smart and consume almost no power so are fine to be left connected.




You can buy them here for about £25:

http://uk.farnell.com/lascar/emv-1200/dp...RecSingleItem_4

Cheers,
Steve.

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