plug in volt meter
Submitted: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 08:41
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134979
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Outback Epicurean
Hi
Wondering if it is possible to buy 12v meter that plugs into lighter socket and if so would it be reliable? Want to
check battery voltage while using fridge from main battery.
Thanks
Reply By: Gazza11 - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 09:06
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 09:06
You can go to Jaycar and buy a cheep multimeter some plugs and wire and a cigarette lighter plug and solder up an adapter connection or you can buy a Projecta Dual battery monitor and hard wire it into the car like I have. a multimeter is handy to have in the car if you travel off road anyway.
Gazza
AnswerID:
611522
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 12:45
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 12:45
If you go to Jaycar you may do better to buy
one of these.
FollowupID:
881577
Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Jun 01, 2017 at 18:27
Thursday, Jun 01, 2017 at 18:27
Yes I would endorse that one Allan.
You can buy other versions from Ebay for couple of dollars but this one is more accurate and draws about 1/2 the stand by current so you can leave it running all night.
Works for me as I mostly sleep in the car and every now and then I notice volts are lower than I like and get up to find I've left something on.
FollowupID:
881651
Reply By: Idler Chris - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 09:22
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 09:50
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 09:50
.
Here's one from a ExplorOz Business Member.
Similar meters are available online. Just Google "Cigar Socket Voltmeters".
AnswerID:
611524
Follow Up By: Member - wicket - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 10:11
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 10:11
Can vouch for this one, have had it for ages , no issues
FollowupID:
881572
Follow Up By: Gramps - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 15:33
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 15:33
Looks identical to the Jaycar one but $5 dearer ???
Regards
FollowupID:
881579
Follow Up By: Member -Dodger - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 16:50
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 16:50
I have one as
well and it works
well. As said enter cigar socket voltmeter on e bay and several will come up. They are cheap plus free postage.
FollowupID:
881580
Reply By: Sigmund - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 11:27
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 11:27
A voltmeter won't reliably show battery voltage while there's any input or output going on.
You need to stop any draw or charge and let the battery sit for 3 hours.
If there's any parasitic draw (say from a hardwired device) you need to disconnect the battery.
AnswerID:
611528
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 13:15
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 13:15
.
Although battery voltage is never an accurate indication of battery State of Charge, a voltmeter will provide a reasonable indication during moderate discharge. Certainly, it is better than no indication.
It is only when charging that the battery terminal voltage bears no relation to the battery state.
Also, immediately following charge, the terminal voltage is elevated by what is referred to as the "surface charge" which takes time to dissipate.
However, this surface charge can be removed expeditiously by applying a load, such as headlights or the fridge, for a few minutes rather than wait for several hours with no load.
FollowupID:
881578
Reply By: RMD - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 13:53
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 13:53
The problem with ciggy voltmeters is when they are used on a circuit which also has other items running off it in parallel with the meter, the battery voltage may be 14.4v when engine running, but resistance in wiring circuitry because of any load, ie, relays and other items on the same circuit as the Ciggy plug will mean a lesser voltage is read on the meter.
Hard wire to the battery bypasses such items and provides a more genuine reading.
AnswerID:
611535
Reply By: Member - shane r1 - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 14:32
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 14:32
Yep get a cigarette lighter one, it'll give you a reasonable idea of how your battery is going, without the expense of hard wiring etc. it's not perfect , as Some of the other poster's are saying, but simple and easy. Sometimes some people have just got to make it complex!
Cheers
AnswerID:
611538
Reply By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 20:18
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 20:18
Hi Outback Epicurean
As most have said they do work. If you want to read battery voltage while your fridge is been used when your parked you will have to have your ignition switch turned to acc or on for it to work in the cig lighter. Your best bet would be to buy a volt meter from jaycar, they sell rectanglar ones the size of a match box and hard wire it to your battery. You don't need to know the battery voltage while driving, but it would be handy to know that all is
well when driving.
cheers Murray
AnswerID:
611555
Reply By: lancie49 - Thursday, Jun 01, 2017 at 18:55
Reply By: dublediff - Friday, Jun 02, 2017 at 22:48
Friday, Jun 02, 2017 at 22:48
Lots of experts here telling him what not to do, maybe you could assist with a realistic solution. I am clealy not an expert but I will suggest that you try an invertor with a hard wire option, such as xantrex, seem to hold up to corrugations
well, and hav it wired in by your marine elec. 300 or 400 ah lithium should run a small a/c for your purposes and the solar panels you suggest should keep up with replenishing. I do,have lithiums and know how quickly they can be recharged.
AnswerID:
611630
Follow Up By: Gramps - Saturday, Jun 03, 2017 at 01:00
Saturday, Jun 03, 2017 at 01:00
I think you've posted in the wrong thread.
Regards
FollowupID:
881674