Voltmeter?

[fannin88 10+ year member]

Is something along the lines of this ok?

Amazon.com: 3½ Digital Red LED DC 5V 0~50A Amp Panel Meter + Shunt: Electronics

I guess the really cheap price kinda worried me.

Click to read more...

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

you usually get what you pay for

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

you realize it takes a 5V supply? try to find one that doesn't require you build a DC-DC supply. or build your own with a voltage regulator circuit.

also, you need to buy a shunt resistor that has a voltage drop the ammeter will accurately register. so a 50A shut resistor is about $10. then the meter monitors the voltage drop across the shunt (usually 75mV). and the shunt goes in-line with the ground wire. the current on the ground wire causes a voltage drop across teh resistor, the ammeter measures the voltage and calculates the current.

for car audio, a 100A ammeter with a 100A shunt makes more sense (and costs the same). look on eBay instead of Amazon for a larger selection.

 

[fannin88 10+ year member]

Oh! I clicked the one beside it, it was the same price and looked the same ect. Good eye.

I plan to flush mount one, and would rather it be the small compact style like that so my mounting options would be muuuch wider. Any suggestions as far as where to look for something like that?

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

i've owned those type before. they aren't as small as you think once you get them mounted. they do work, but will fry the instant you wire them wrong.

it says it includes the shunt, but it's not pictured and the price is too low to include the shunt.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

3 ½ 12V Digital Blue LED DC 100A Amp Panel Meter Shunt | eBay

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

wait, do you want a voltmeter or an amp meter?

 

---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:48 PM ----------

 

3 1/2 12v Digital Blue LED 20V DC Volt panel meter New | eBay

 

---------- Post added at 09:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:49 PM ----------

 

honestly, if you have both - you can know actual power draw of the system (just multiply) and if you know amp efficiency you can quickly determine power delivered to the subs/speakers.

 

[fannin88 10+ year member]

Voltmeter

 

[fannin88 10+ year member]

I was just looking at the same one on ebay. Are they 3 wire Im assuming?

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

 

[MANTI5 10+ year member]

Which meter is that?

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

the meters are usually 4 wire. two for supply voltage, two for monitor voltage. that way you can monitor from back at the amps at constant 12V but supply voltage can be switched ignition.

 

[fannin88 10+ year member]

Not mine, but, the hole in the top right corner. Thats where Id like to put it.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

Which meter is that?

i got it off ebay and installed it in my Wrangler it was around $50

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Digital Panel Meters by Martel - Products - Digital Panel Meters, Voltmeters, Ammeters, Digital Displays

this looks slick.