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Old 06-19-2013, 07:04 PM   #1
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Installed voltmeter to monitor the 12V System....

Following is a quick mod I did so I can always keep an eye on the status of my 12V system.

The parts were about $10 and the longest part of the project was finding all my tools and hardware to get the job done. I had a great spot available above the converter which was easy to access and view from inside the TT.

At a glance I can tell....

What's my battery voltage? (unhooked from shore power / TV)
Is my converter charging my battery? (connected to shore power)
What mode is the charger working? (absorption, bulk, float)
Is the TV charging my TT battery? (when connected via 7-Pin connector)
Did I remember to disconnect the battery for storage?

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I'm happy with it.....[ATTACH][/ATTACH]
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Old 06-19-2013, 07:44 PM   #2
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Great mod. Where did you get the volt meter??
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Old 06-19-2013, 07:54 PM   #3
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Here's a link to the auction. Unfortunately, they shipped me a 3-wire instead of a 2-wire....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261215843753...84.m1497.l2649

ebay is littered with them at cheap prices from China....I tried to find one stateside, but couldn't find one in the display color (blue) and style I wanted.

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Old 06-19-2013, 08:00 PM   #4
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Do you just connect to the large wires going to the battery at the converter?
great mode and low $$

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Old 06-19-2013, 08:12 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dougtoms01 View Post
Do you just connect to the large wires going to the battery at the converter?
great mode and low $$

Doug
Yes, sir....WFCO had a nice wiring diagram on the back of the converter
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Old 06-19-2013, 10:31 PM   #6
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Nice job! Bet it makes a great nite-lite for the kids
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Old 06-20-2013, 04:07 AM   #7
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Very cool! I like that idea!
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Old 07-07-2013, 08:39 PM   #8
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First time connecting the TT to the TV 7-Pin today....according to the meter - all is well with the TV charging voltage..... I'm liking this...

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Old 07-07-2013, 10:22 PM   #9
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I like it! (and the price)
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Old 07-08-2013, 06:15 AM   #10
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Nice job

I did the same idea here and installed additional meters. I used the 3-gang electrical switch box from Lowes to mount mine in. All of the cables that are routed to the battery switch area are ran through 3/4-inch flex PVC conduit. I also included in-line 1A fuses in each of the lines coming back to the meter panel to protect the wiring in case of short circuit. I also included ON-OFF switches for the meters to keep them from being the "EXCELLENT" night lights. Mine were way to bright to do this... My meter panel is actually a SPECIALTY SWITCH COVER where the large opening is perfect to mount the meter behind the switch panel opening. I used RTV to glue the meters to the switch cover.



This is a simplified wiring diagram for my meter panel


Have found when camping off the power grid this is a MUST HAVE item to be able to watch the status of your battery bank. It is very important for us to know when our battery bank is approaching their 50% charge state (around 12.0VDC) when camping off the power grid. We have planned our battery consumption to get to this charge state at 8AM the next morning so we can start our Battery Bank re-charging procedures.
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Old 07-08-2013, 12:45 PM   #11
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Is 50% the same on all batteries or how do you know how many volts it is at 50%?
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Old 07-08-2013, 04:05 PM   #12
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I use this chart showing DC Voltage verses deep cycle battery state of charge



This gives me an approximate state of charge. To be more specific you should use the specific gravity of the electrolyte method for each cell.

Hasn't let me down yet just reading the DC VOLTAGE and it is slowly being discharged.

When it gets around 12.0VDC I go into battery disconnect mode until I am able to do my re-charge battery routine...

Roy ken
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Old 07-08-2013, 07:17 PM   #13
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Ok that is very helpful thanks.
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Old 07-10-2013, 09:27 AM   #14
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I like it! Couple of questions -

- the link on the ebay auction says in one place up to 99.9 but then in the specs says 0-9.99 volts...can you verify that is the right one?
- Did you check the accuracy with a known good meter? I have had a couple of those cheap meters be off quite a bit - is it pretty accurate?
- Do you know how much current it draws? Thinking about putting a switch on mine so it wont drain the battery.

thx!



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Old 07-10-2013, 10:13 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry View Post
I like it! Couple of questions -

- the link on the ebay auction says in one place up to 99.9 but then in the specs says 0-9.99 volts...can you verify that is the right one?
- Did you check the accuracy with a known good meter? I have had a couple of those cheap meters be off quite a bit - is it pretty accurate?
- Do you know how much current it draws? Thinking about putting a switch on mine so it wont drain the battery.

thx!
Terry...it's a convoluted auction description to say the least! The Main Auction Description and picture shows a XX.X Meter and that's what I received. However, I must add that I received a (3) wire meter vs the (2) wire meter as pictured. It was no problem as I simply tied the source and variable voltage wires together. The meter I received had a wide source operating range (something like 3-99VDC)

I did not check the meter accuracy with my (2) digital meters...however, there is a tweaking potentiometer on the back (should the meter voltage be off)

Lastly, I wasn't worried about the draw as I wanted the meter visible at all times. I wanted the meter (off) to give me a visual that I had disconnected the battery. However, I bunched plenty of slack to add a switch later if I changed my mind. The in-line blade fuse I installed is easy access and I can pull that if I want to kill the meter.

Hope that helps! - B
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Old 07-10-2013, 10:51 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by Threebutchers View Post
Terry...it's a convoluted auction description to say the least! The Main Auction Description and picture shows a XX.X Meter and that's what I received. However, I must add that I received a (3) wire meter vs the (2) wire meter as pictured. It was no problem as I simply tied the source and variable voltage wires together. The meter I received had a wide source operating range (something like 3-99VDC)

I did not check the meter accuracy with my (2) digital meters...however, there is a tweaking potentiometer on the back (should the meter voltage be off)

Lastly, I wasn't worried about the draw as I wanted the meter visible at all times. I wanted the meter (off) to give me a visual that I had disconnected the battery. However, I bunched plenty of slack to add a switch later if I changed my mind. The in-line blade fuse I installed is easy access and I can pull that if I want to kill the meter.

Hope that helps! - B
Thanks....that guy has some pretty neat tinkering stuff...... I might need to get one of his voltage and amp meters and try it out. I have always wanted to monitor DC current as well as I do on the AC side with my EMS. It looks like his show negative current as well so I could monitor both battery pull and charge output



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Old 06-13-2014, 05:13 AM   #17
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Nice idea guys. Question for RoyBraddy. where did you get all three of those meters? Thanks
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Old 06-13-2014, 05:45 AM   #18
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There is a company in the US called Datel that sells all sorts of panel meters. Not for $10 from Hong Kong on Ebay price, but they look pretty good. http://www.datelmeters.com

The sell one that measures AC volts, AC current, Hz, and watts, along with all sorts of DC volt and amp meters.
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Old 06-13-2014, 06:19 AM   #19
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CHUCKWORKB - I got my meters from SURE ELECTRONICS ebay/china some six years ago now... Good prices on all three meters then. Now the HALL EFFECT +/- 75AMP DC CURRENT is not available anymore and the only place I find the exact unit cost over $800.. Sure wish I bought several from SURE ELECTRONICS when they were $30...

Plenty of the 2" by 3" Digital AC and DC meters this size on the markets now at good prices. Just do a google search and when it loads up select IMAGES and pick your poision....

I need to get a DC VOLTMETER installed in my 2010 F150 truck dash. It has an unused hole already there I can use. I would like to watch the Truck Alternator go through its smart mode charging as well...

One post above said something about it being a good NITE LIGHT. My meters were super bright at night. Made me install an ON-OFF switch in the trailer for them...

Ordering from ebay/china is a great way to go for good prices. Delivery is just a few days - Didn't have to pay any extra fees to get them here. I imagine some items are drop shipped from a stateside location. Using PAYPAL is a great insurance for what you are getting to your satisfaction...

Roy Ken
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Old 06-19-2014, 05:20 PM   #20
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You may want to compare your meter's output with that of a VOLT meter. If need be, you can fine tune the voltage reading on the meter by turning the little PHILLIPS slotted Potentiometer (POT) on the back side of the meter. One of my meters was .5volts off the other was .3volts off, and I had one that was right on the money. Just do not put much pressure on the POT. .

Don
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