IronFist

iTrader: (3)

Why did you feel you needed one, where did you put it, etc. Please answer all followup questions you anticipate me asking

tbaleno

My battery terminal has one built in. Doesn't do me much good while I'm driving but it looks neat

I'm constantly thinking of getting a voltmeter and ammeter and that gauge cluster thing that lets you put them on eaither side of the cluster. But I haven't decided yet.

IronFist

iTrader: (3)

What does an ammeter measure?

I don't think that make that cluster for our cars, do they? If you have an 01 or 02 it would kind of block the water and fuel gauges.

tbaleno

ammeter measures how many amps.

rickinthescv

actually, an amp meter is useless on a car. It only shows when the alternator is charging, but does not show the status. A volt gauge is far more useful. I.e. 14 volts, everything is fine. Lower than 12, battery is discharging and alternator is not working.

shmik1

iTrader: (6)

i wouldnt mind getting an ammeter and volt meter that sits by the gauges.. but my radar has a volt meter on it, and the gauges + bezel piece or wutever u call it is wut like $50 total?.. but it'd b neat

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

My vafcII has a voltmeter, so I guess I really didin't need my old one.

tripledoublegs

iTrader: (11)

I'm thinking about getting the Audiobahn volt meter to go w/ my amp.

LudlamTheory

ive got one now, i wanna get two more for in the cabin. one to monitor my front battery, one for the rear, just so i can know if i've killed the battery/batteries

J187

I've got one in my GrandPrix and it's saved my *** a few times from a dead battery. Also pretty good indication of when your alternators on it's way out.

Regularjoe

There are different types of meters. Overall though an ammeter measures amps. I think it would be cool to have one that measures the current draw from your amplifiers.

These guys make some cool stuff like that: http://www.dakotadigital.com/

MegaHurtz

iTrader: (6)

IronFist

iTrader: (3)

It would be cool if the head unit had a voltmeter built in.

MegaHurtz

iTrader: (6)

Hey that WOULD be cool, never thought of that...

I believe the AVIC-N1 has a few gauges, maybe a voltmeter is one of them

IronFist

iTrader: (3)

Is a voltmeter hard to install?

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

Easiest gauge ever. power and ground for the gauge, power and ground for the light (if backlight is separate).

IronFist

iTrader: (3)

Does it light up with the other gauges (when you turn the headlights on)? Does the dimmer switch on the dashboard control the light on those gauges as well? I was surprised that my dash dimmer switch didn't control the brightness of my aftermarket head unit, but it has it's own brightness control built in so it doesn't matter.

shmik1

iTrader: (6)

so any connection to a power source is plenty accurate? or are different sources more accurate than others?

alex053

iTrader: (9)

i have one. it was free.

takumi

iTrader: (3)

I have a portable multimeter

evilone

But with an ammeter and a voltmeter (providing you get digital for both), you can get a rough estimate of alternator wattage, so you can have a rough idea of alternator efficiency. This way, if your alternator starts to crap out, you'll know from the beginning, and you can replace/upgrade when you need to. Strictly a tool, and mainly for looks, but definately not useless.

evilone

Me too. Gotta love digital electronics class.

Vinnie

iTrader: (1)

The reason i got a volt meter was because one time i drained my battery while listening to my system. That scared me when i had to jump the car so i installed a volt meter so i could always check the battery.

I put the volt meter in the driver side vent. I used bondo and like sealed it in. I bought an S7 voltage, cuz i like the colors

sry i dont have a day time pix:

IronFist

iTrader: (3)

^ Does the needle light up, too?

Vinnie

iTrader: (1)

yea its orange, i think i took the pic w/o my car on thats why its dark and it reads 0 on the gauge

IronFist

iTrader: (3)

But the other numbers look lit up so I thought your car was on.

Vinnie

iTrader: (1)

The needle is orange, i guess its just not visible in the picture. Anyway i think the pic is with my lights on but not the car itself. I wired the gauge so that it illuminates when i turn on the lights.

IronFist

iTrader: (3)

Nice. Where'd you get that? What are the buttons for? M and S? Minutes and seconds?

IronFist

iTrader: (3)

Dude, seriously, that's tight. Where'd you get it?

IronFist

iTrader: (3)

^ bump.