what should my voltmeter read? how to adjust?

[kustomciv 10+ year member]

I got one of the stinger voltage meters and I'm going to hook it up straight into my amplifier (power/remote) but I don't even know what it's supposed to read? like what the normal/safe/bad reading should be.

I hooked it up to my battery and it gave me 12.6, but after watching youtube videos of people who have it I noticed they have 13.7 ect so I'm confused, (not sure what they had it powered to exactly) is there a set reading I should be looking for or is it dependent on the application? again, I will be hooking it straight into my amp

also, for anyone who uses the stinger voltmeter. Can you tell me what the adjustment is about? do I need to adjust it? if you know I would appreciate it because I'm confused about how I am supposed to adjust it, It said to hook up the black and red wire and get the reading then hook up the blue and adjust it to the first reading. But the meter doesn't come on when I have just the black and red hooked up.

Also most I have seen that do the adjustment are when they have it hooked up to alternator not the amp,

thanks guys

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[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

You should be around 12.3-12.8 with the car off. While running, anywhere from 13.2-14.8.

Some of those meters have an adjustment on them. If you have a good DMM, check your new gauge against the dmm and adjust as necessary(If you can)

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Take the blue or red filter screen off the front, and set it with a dmm. There's a little dial that turns.

 

[kustomciv 10+ year member]

yeah I saw the adjustment thing, I'm guessing I can take it to the auto part store and have them test it for me, I know they'll test the alternator so I don't see why they wont test the amp wire.

Will the alternator/battery/amp be all the same voltage? or is it different

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

yeah I saw the adjustment thing, I'm guessing I can take it to the auto part store and have them test it for me, I know they'll test the alternator so I don't see why they wont test the amp wire.
Will the alternator/battery/amp be all the same voltage? or is it different

You may have a slight different reading from you front battery to your amp. Should not be very much thou, no more than .3v??

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Wait why have them test it? Just get a dmm. If you're in to car audio you are going to need one anyways.

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

Yes^^

In all honesty, a DMM is a very important tool for a car audio...

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

It is your friend when things start going wrong.

 

[kustomciv 10+ year member]

do I need to buy an expensive one? I found a few for like 10 bucks

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Nah. I think mine was 20 bucks.

 

[kustomciv 10+ year member]

okay thanks guys