Volt Guage Woes

[Astyl 10+ year member]

Alright so ive been lookin around for some Voltage Indicators that i can put in the cabin area to keep tabs on my voltage

At first i was going to buy this one that goes in ur cig lighter, because it was cheap, easy to install and seemed to be a good deal

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/digital-voltmeter-volt-meter-plug-into-cigarette-lightr_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33573QQihZ018QQitemZ280152983043

But then someone told me that running one of those would NOT be accurate as to what your amps are actually seeing, and that i might aswell flush it down the toilet if i buy it and he recommended that i get one of these and mount it in the cabin somewere and run the wires back to the amp terminals

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Stinger-Digital-Red-Voltage-Meter-Amp-Amplifier-SVMR_W0QQitemZ170171088059QQihZ007QQcategoryZ38655QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Is the second one really necessary? I understand that it MIGHT give a more accurate reading to what im actually seeing, but im kinda into keeping my car stock looking, and i dont like the idea of having to possibly cut a hole in my dashboard to mount this somewere, and then having to crimp 20 feet of wire onto the leads and run it back to my trunk area, which one is more economical? and if i did get the second do i have to cut and mount it somewere or can i just use like a velcro strip or something and stick it on my dash somewere so its not permanent and wont leave any lasting impression if i ever want to sell my car... just seems like a PITA to have to crimp leads on and run more wires all the way to the back when u can just plug something in

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[energizedsbs 10+ year member]

the first one will be fine... i have one and it works pretty good... they have better ones at wal-mart that plug in your lighter for $15...

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

The first one will tell you voltage at your cigarette lighter, the second one will tell you voltage where ever you splice it into a circuit. The difference being, if you suspect voltage problems AT your amp(s) due to line loss, bad ground, whatever... how much voltage you have in your cigarette lighter wont help alot. But for most cases a cig lighter would prolly be fine.

 

[energizedsbs 10+ year member]

i played some test tones and with a dmm at the amp and the cig voltage gauge was within .03-.04

 

[Astyl 10+ year member]

really? ive heard of them being sometimes up to a entire volt off

 

[fbi90909 5,000+ posts]

i use the stinger in my car.

the way my wire is run is the power is mounted directly to the side terminal of my trunk batt. remote is hooked up to a relay running from my H.U right under the center dash and grouned to my cig lighter. though i did not have to fabricate anything for mine i just removed a little panel and ran the wires in it. then used 2 sided tape.

i don't know much of your car but if you have one of those retracting change trays you could mount it in there. sit it in there and when you want to peak at it just open it.

either way they'll do the job your looking for.