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Aftermarket voltmeter
Posted: 12 Feb 2019, 22:48
by Sir Brixalot
I've got a 52mm rev counter that's been always been broken. I was thinking of swapping it for a voltmeter wired direct to starter battery. Anyone know whether one would drain the battery quickly?
Re: Aftermarket voltmeter
Posted: 13 Feb 2019, 07:45
by sarran1955
Hello,
Well, as you have a leisure battery, why not wire both batteries via a 3 position switch to your volt meter...
That way you can see the batteries condition and avoid 'phantom' drain
Pretty much anything that has diodes will drain.... hence master cutoff keyed switch..
The changeover switch can be anywhere convenient.
Cordialement,

Re: Aftermarket voltmeter
Posted: 13 Feb 2019, 17:01
by Sir Brixalot
Good Idea. There's already an unconnected switch so I'll just swap it out
Re: Aftermarket voltmeter
Posted: 13 Feb 2019, 20:55
by shepster
Depends if you want a rev counter or a volt meter?
Why not fit a clock, or a temperature gauge?
The options are endless.
Re: Aftermarket voltmeter
Posted: 15 Feb 2019, 20:41
by nesty
I have 2 voltmeters fitted exactly like in the video, 1 for starter battery and 1 for leisure battery. I have a switch so can turn display on and off as chosen.
I also have a rev counter, which didn't work for years, I just replaced it and it worked fine though I re-wired the power feed up to my auxiliary busbar fuse box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVkR4EG2nO8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Aftermarket voltmeter
Posted: 15 Feb 2019, 22:05
by Sir Brixalot
As its an auto, don't really see the point in having a rev counter. Clock is standard fit. I think I'd find a voltmeter slotting into the existing cut-out the most useful but thanks for the ideas
Re: Aftermarket voltmeter
Posted: 20 Feb 2019, 10:49
by LeeME3
Albeit not in that location i did exactly this - a voltmeter controller by an on-off-on switch so I can monitor both batteries but also turn the meter off to stop that (admittedly very small) residual current draw.
Link to a video of it at this post:
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... it=+switch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I do find it rather useful and watching for a voltage jump even tells me when the split charge relay has kicked in (obviously do not distract yourself whilst driving etc etc!)