Replace clock with voltmeter

[Justin@Athens]

Hey guys,

I am looking to replace my clock with an analog voltmeter and was wondering if any of you have and input on what unit might be best?

I believe that is a 3" guage, but I can only locate smaller diameter units on amazon.

I note that pelican sells a unit, but its $44!!!

[James Brown]

Try Palo Alto speedometer or North Hollywood Speedometer for a nice looking one. Or replace the oil quantity gauge with a volt meter. Keep the clock.

[gulf908]

Justin,

This is what I did with mine.
I prefer to keep an eye on the charging rate in the batteries rather than watching the time !
Quite some time ago I bought a clock blank from the local Porsche dealer when they weren't too pricey.
I subsequently went to the local VDO store and picked a voltmeter I liked that was closest to the other instruments in appearance.
This is the result.
Going the OEM clock blank way may be a bit more $pendy these days but it looks a bit more authentic to me.
BTW,the voltmeter has saved my batteries from frying twice due to an overenthusiastic regulator.

HTH,
Dennis.

[woland]

Justin

Considering that the 911's oil level gauge is quite inuseful, I'm looking to turn it in an analogic voltmeter using a variable resistence connected with a positive wire.
In this way I'll keep the splendid Porsche clock with his white arrow that tells me the trip duration.

I let you know the results when done

[JeremyD]

I had North Hollywood convert my tach and install a voltmeter

[Winter]

These are some nice looking solutions. I'm not there yet with my ongoing improvements to the much neglected '75, but will be at some point. I'll keep what you guys have done in mind. Good work and thanks for sharing

---

Tom '75 targa

[Drdogface]

Originally Posted by woland

Justin

Considering that the 911's oil level gauge is quite inuseful, I'm looking to turn it in an analogic voltmeter using a variable resistence connected with a positive wire.
In this way I'll keep the splendid Porsche clock with his white arrow that tells me the trip duration.

I let you know the results when done

I did just that and it's worked out well....but pricey. I think I uses No. Hollywood. I like having the clock there for the original look if nothing else.

[lin7310948]

several solutions but i prefer the factory gauge look. i do not use the clock as i use it for a fuel pressure and and oil temperature gauge combination gauge...gauges converted by n. hollywood speedometer.

[poorsche930]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

I had North Hollywood convert my tach and install a voltmeter

Thats bad ass! I have a 930 with the boost gauge at the bottom so it would get cluttered for me. Maybe they can convert my oil level into a volt meter?

[JeremyD]

I'm having them do that now with the gauges from my 1974 911.

[lhoudyshell]

Take a look at Bigmarkdesign, he has a really great stock appearing voltmeter that he installs in the lower part of the tack, at a very reasonable cost. Did mine and I am very happy with it. Try a search here may turn up the info you need. Lynn

[kodioneill]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

I had North Hollywood convert my tach and install a voltmeter

I like! What did that cost?

[JeremyD]

Call North Hollywood - they are very reasonable. I didn't just get that done = so not sure what the cost to just do that is.

[gbradcsi]

I went through two clocks which are not cheap. i read the article regarding swapping out the clock for a voltmeter and thought about doing this. i should have done it sooner, because my alternator went out last week 76 miles away from home so i needed a tow.
i used the outer metal ring and the rubber gasket/grommet that hold the clock in the dash from my again non-working clock for this project. i purchased the same VDO Voltmeter as shown on this forum. i bought a set of hole saws, plywood, black spray paint, and a black vinyl/plastic.
i purchased a non working clock on ebay for $25, in case i sell the 911 in the future to make it original again. if i had to do the job over again i would have made it a little differently, because it would have saved me a lot of time. it turned out excellent.

[Joe Bob]

Wesstach, aircraft gauge manufacturer....

[a_bayuga]

Got mine from north hollywood. I do not recall the price though.

[KTL]

Originally Posted by lhoudyshell

Take a look at Bigmarkdesign, he has a really great stock appearing voltmeter that he installs in the lower part of the tack, at a very reasonable cost. Did mine and I am very happy with it. Try a search here may turn up the info you need. Lynn

Yep. I agree Mark does very nice work. His website is New Vintage USA

New Vintage USA-Our Original Porsche Work

He is "marks914" here on Pelican

[dshepp806]

Thanks for the info here,...

I'm up for exorcising my clock on my '89. It has worked flawlessly during it's six years with me...(I surely would stow it away),..and make use of a voltmeter in it's place. Maybe a combinational gauge,..we'll see.....had been using R/L detector to monitor voltage (saved my arse' on an alt/reg going bad)....am coverting R/L detector to wireless or hidden cables to rid myself of (exposed) cables.......will be cool to NOT have to occasionally check the cig lighter output DC level vs. the actual battery (compensating for the differential-while "monitoring"------,..albeit small, but still existent).. A voltmeter with the rest of the instrumentation will be nice.... (usefully: i.e., REQUIRED).

It's amazing that they would omit such crucial voltage monitoring,........I can assure you that nothing lit up my (stock) dash when that reg output +16.0 volts for a brief moment,..caught (and alarmed) when it happened by the R/L detector.....then it happened once more on a different day....BAM,..fresh alt/Reg......DONE. Found the original 1989 alternator in my 1989, BTW!!!!! Guess it was done after all of those years of service (ahem).

Will check this guy out,...thanks, again.

BEST!

Doyle

[Balisong]

I am wondering if I added a volt meter if I might not notice a spike for a while. Has anyone added a warning light somewhere instead? Would be interesting if someone made a replacement cigar lighter that was a voltage warning lights with a buzzer perhaps.

[darrin]

Originally Posted by Balisong

I am wondering if I added a volt meter if I might not notice a spike for a while. Has anyone added a warning light somewhere instead? Would be interesting if someone made a replacement cigar lighter that was a voltage warning lights with a buzzer perhaps.

lots of volt meter options for the lighter socket. See, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Cigarette-Lighter-Voltage-Digital-Voltmeter/dp/B00UCEAKYU