So you put a voltmeter in your Pcar? Please show me how.

[Jdub]

I have recently seen the bouncing tach just one day, and off times smelled the evil sulfur of overcharge, but my grounds appear solid and readings of 12.5 up to 14.4 (at rest; at 2k rpm). I need to catch these spikes (if that is what is going on) via a gauge, so my questions - thank you for reading and replying!

So I am thinking I would like to remove the oil level gauge and go with a voltmeter there instead. Has anyone done this? For any placement of the gauge, what are the best locations to draw the readings - directly off the battery?

Many thanks for your input!

[bpu699]

Buy an AFR meter with a built in voltmeter display. Serves 2 functions at once - very useful...

[DaveE]

You don't want the positive directly off the battery, otherwise your voltmeter will be on all the time. Find a switched positive.

[Pstallo]

Is there an easily accessible switched wire from one of the other gauges that can be tapped?

[timmy2]

I just used a plug in digital unit in my lighter socket. It showed me all I needed to know before I replaced my VR.

[heimtun]

I put in a couple of power outlets (cigarette lighter sized ones) inside the center console of my 911 SC. I wired it up to fuse box with a separate fuse - I hooked it up to have power when the car is on. I then purchased a volt meter that plugs into said adapter. This gives voltage as soon as the car ignition is turned on and when running the car - it also offers the option to unplug it and have two outlets to say, charge a phone and power a GPS.
You could just plug in the voltmeter to your stock cigarette lighter (if you have one) - if it fits properly.
YMMV

[KTL]

I would suggest a digital meter so you can watch the fluctuation of voltage more easily. Or make sure whatever analog gauge you use is not one with heavily damped needle movement. Reason I say this is because I have used the common VDO volt gauge that does a nice job of matching the other VDO gauges. But it's needle is REALLY slow to move and doesn't reveal the voltage fluctuation very well.

[Chuck.H]

I think with any gauge, even an analog with minimal dampening, it will be hard to catch small spikes.

That said, I have a voltmeter in my car, on a bracket that fits where the ashtray was. Bracket also holds my 12 year old XM radio module.

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 392k miles

[DRACO A5OG]

Here is mine, after test driving the fist Gen Tesla. I was diggin on the Stereo it had:





Sorry about the bad pic.

[darrin]

I configured my passport 9500ix to show voltage as the default display preference -- plugs right into my cigarette lighter and does a good job of showing voltage fluctuations (1/10th of a volt) -- bit pricey for a voltmeter, but it performs other jobs for me quite well.

Others have had North Hollywood Speedometer add a voltmeter to the bottom of their tachometers . . .

[Jim Richards]

This is what I had North Hollywood Speedometer do to the tach on my old 73E:

[pavegeno]

Keep this permanently plugged into a receptacle I installed under the dash...working for years without a problem.

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3721-Battery-Charging-Monitor/dp/B000EVWDU0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427398331&sr=8-1&keywords=innova+3721

[Stutzdriver]

Here is mine before the console was reinstalled. I had the gauge in a box so I used what I had. Covered the bracket with some black leather I had laying around from another project.

I wired it into the fuel pump fuse so I can see if the DME relay ever fails, No DME workie, no fuel pump circuit energized, no volt meter workie (reads zero).

[Pstallo]

Every tutorial online says to connect the voltmeter to a wire that has power when the battery is off. Is that really recommended? I've got enough of a parasitic drain as it is.

[Stutzdriver]

Personally I would put it on a switched circuit. Like I said above I used the fuel pump fuse connection, hid the wire well and there is no evidence its there.
The gauge works fine when the fuel pump come on when starting and its an indicator if I ever have a DME relay failure.

[vinny c]

Another NH Speedo

[Vereeken]

Originally Posted by vinny c

Another NH Speedo

That is simply well excecuted.....I wish we had that over here.

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by Vereeken

That is simply well excecuted.....I wish we had that over here.

Easy enough, I sold a spare tach to a bloke down under, he had me ship the tach to North Hollywood, they did the mod and shipped it to him. Easy peasy!
BTW, NH will locate the meter where you want it I have had 2 done, one for the 75 at the 6:00 position and for the 84 at the 3:00 position. The mod that I see every time I drive the car, 5 star mod, and the eliminated the stupid mini- van shift light. They can also make the red line mark wherever tou would like it.

[TheSt|G]

What was the cost of the voltmeter retro from NH? I certainly wouldn't mind ditching the pointless shift light.

[dicklague]

get something like this and put it anywhere......if you can afford it!!

Mini DC 0 1 30V LED Panel Voltage Meter 3 Digital Display Voltmeter Motorcycle | eBay