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Automotive question about voltage

Se7en

Se7en

Well-Known Member
Jun 27, 2010
4,573
223
73
Ca
So i picked up a $9 Volt analog meter from ebay for a spot in my dash that was perfect for a meter and the diameter of the hole: (60mm). So here's my problem, The meter reads 12vdc when clearly my real voltage is 14.XX ( my Chevy truck has 6 gauges including voltage in the dash cluster) but i wanted to utilize the hole with a meter! Why is the meter reading constant 12v? I feel the meter is more of a dummy meter than an actual real reading meter. Do any of you know a place that sells a 60mm meter that is analog and isn't going to kill the bank?
Here's a picture of the meter ( I wired the DRL to the backed lit LED display to come on when DRL's or headlights are manually switched& its also wired to the dash dimmer).



Here's a picture:
2012-08-08_20-04-55_74.jpg
 

are you wired to the battery? the alt? or the fuse panel?

find the spot under the hood for the lug for jump starts, run a tempory wire to that is see if the voltage reads correct.


alot of the newwer cars and trucks have regulated fuse box that will onlt show a max of 12 volt at the fuse box, i have even seen some circuts that only show 8 volt. i am not sure why the car companies are starting to do this.
 
What's wrong with the OEM volt meter or do you just want an additional meter? If that is the case you should install a second speedometer so you can go twice as fast. :whistle:
 
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Assuming that the voltmeter isn't 'junk' to start with, then the place you've connected it to has a constant 12 volts through it. I'd like to think I would have checked the accuracy of the thing before I installed it, but like most people, I'd probably just have thought it was going to be right, you know? (All it would take would be a 9 volt battery.) I think I'd do like 'oldslowchevy' said, try connecting it to somewhere else to check it. And/or to the existing voltmeter if it wasn't a huge problem getting to it.
Don't do like 'Captain Kilowatt' said! They don't pass out speeding tickets up there like they do down here... them mounties on horses you know.
- 'Doc
 
If it turns out that your new gauge isn't as accurate as you need, try one of many aftermarket online catalogs. There is JEGS, Summit Racing, JC Whitney, etc. They should carry something that will suit your needs and be pretty accurate as well. I think you're right not to trust your factory gauges. I haven't worked in the auto industry since 1998. Back then the internal gauges weren't very accurate. The typical soccer mom/dad isn't going to know what they're looking at anyway. Most of the time autos have indicator (idiot) lights and not gauges. I am sure that things are probably about the same as they were then. If there even is a gauge, and not an "idiot light", it will be there for general refference and not a spot on accurate reading. Pretty much when you are sitting in a cloud of smoke on the side of the interstate you can look at your dash just as the light pops on. An after market type from one of the above listed sites will be for an enthusiast that needs to know what is going on under the hood. Someone who has $5-$20,000 in parts in their engine isn't going to trust a light or a factory gauge to tell them all their money is about to go up in smoke. JEGS and Summit cater to the consumer with high performance car or truck applications and amature racers. They should carry a variety of sizes as well external gauge pods/clusters.

This is just under 53MM. About 1/4" smaller for under $40
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SWW-82309/

This one comes with its ow mount for under $20
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SWW-82309/
 
Last edited:
Measure the voltage at the meter terminals with a known-good meter and see about how far off it really is. There may be an adjustment on it somewhere.
 
Some really funny comments. LoL ! Ok before I installed the gauge I tried it directly on the battery with the engine running. Only read 12v. Used my brand new fluke it read 14.8+/- at the battery. So it is safe to say the meter is a (dummy) meter. I dont mind spending $75 on a gauge it just better read "accurate" readings. FYI the factory vdc gauge is pretty hard to read as it only shows 9v in red 14v on green and I think 16v there isn't any numbers in-between.
The whole point of this extra gauge is so I dont have to turn the ignition to the ON position to read my voltage.
 
This is a subject that has always irritated me. Back when I was wrenching for a living, before my carpal tunnel, I used to install custom parts of all kinds for customers.

I remember getting a few of these aftermarket voltmeters that would read no more than 12 volts. I don't remember the brand names at this point.

I called customer service on a few of them and was talking to someone who had no clue what I was trying to ask about. The one guy I got ahold of that gave me somewhat of a real answer said that gauge that they make isn't designed to display accurate voltage. It reads no more than 12 volts because that's what most people think their car should have is 12 volts.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
 
Sorry typo. I didn't try the meter right at the battery I used an 8' of 22awg wire. So I figured there was a voltage drop....after I installed it it still read 12vdc. So...here's my sign. Anyways anyone know a good brand name to stick with? I prefer led back lit.
Not finding much of a variety at Whitney's.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-4-60mm-2-COLORS-STEPPER-VOLTMETERS-VOLT-VOLTAGE-GAUGE-CAR-MOTOR-TRUCK-BOATS-/300714992798


Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2
 

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