Vehicle & Technical > Discovery

Electric Question

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defuzz:
So, I've been having problems recently with alternators and battteryies


to this end, I'd like to be able to monitor battery voltage from the cab,  to achieve this I am lookign to run a small cable from each terminal into the cab which will allow me to attach the voltmeter for constant or time to time readings of voltage.

Now, obviously  I will make sure the terminals in the cab are insulated and protected from shorting together by an errant spanner etc.... but if I were to leave the terminals in the vehiclke indefinately potentially with the voltmeter connected permantely, will it cause problems? eg will it drain the battery?

If needs be I'd put a push button on the circuit so the live terminal in the cab is only live when the button is pushed.

As you can see my electrical knowledge is pretty low..........

ChrisW:

--- Quote from: "defuzz" ---will it drain the battery?
--- End quote ---

Eventually yes, depends on use of vehicle and how long it stands doing nothing for.

--- Quote ---I'd put a push button on the circuit so the live terminal in the cab is only live when the button is pushed.
--- End quote ---

Go for it  :wink:

karloss:
Alternatively buy a proper gauge for next to nothing, wire it up properly and have constant checking of battery status with no draining. Works for me.

Bulli:
You dont have to run a wire to the battery, all you need ot do is find an ignition live and run the earth to a suitable earth. That way the gauge will only be on when your ignition is on. There is no difference between the reading if you do it this way or run to the battery as it is one big circuit.
Hope that helps, bulli

muddyweb:
Depends if you want to monitor the battery voltage or the system voltage.

They aren't *always* the same due to the number of connections in a vehicle loom.  If the problems he's having are being cause by a dry joint / bad earth / wiring fault  then there may well be a disparity between the voltage at the terminals and the voltage at the dashboard.


IMHO, the better solution is to fit an ammeter so you can monitor the charge / discharge of the battery, rather than just the voltage.. since that doesn't give you as much idea what is going on.  But, that is a slightly bigger job :-(

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