Dual Voltmeter Install

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

Got my voltmeters today.
They are deffinately a bit bigger than I had planned.
Might have to re-think my install.

[Perroux's Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Perroux's]

How to install a voltmeter with rocker switch

I'm fairly new to this stuff so before jumping straight into it, I wanted to get some opinions and thoughts on my proposed wiring setup (including if it'll work...) I want to do something similar to flying.kiwis setup so thought this thread would be the most appropriate to post in.

I want to mount a LED panel voltmeter (to monitor the second battery which is used to run camp lights and fridges etc) I'm looking to mount it in the rear of the car near my 12v outputs as this is where I access the car the most once setup with the rooftop camper (rear folding, enclosing the rear of the car). I want to include a rocker switch so I turn the panel off at night or when not needed.

I don't want it hooked up to the accessories power as I primarily use the second battery when the car is off, so would prefer it linked straight to the second battery (making it on all the time) and use the rocker switch to turn it on and off.

Okay so I was thinking about doing the following.

LED panel voltmeter (two wired version as shown below)

Red positive going to a rocker switch
Black negative going to the negative on the second battery terminal

then..

Rocker switch (three prong as shown below) with small led light when on

Prong 1) Red positive wire coming from voltmeter
Prong 2) Wire going to the positive terminal on the second battery
Prong 3) And Ground the third prong

First question I do have is...will this work how I described above?

Secondly, instead of running the wires all the way to the dual battery terminals in the front of the car, can I connect them directly to the 6mm dual core cable already coming from the battery for the 12v outlets? Because I want to mount the LED and switch in the rear of the car, I don’t really want to run cabling from the front of the car to the back when it’s already been done to provide for the 12v outlets in the rear. (But I will if I have to)

Also where would be the best place to ground the rocker switch in the rear of the car

and is there any benefit in me using the 3 wired LED voltmeters in this setup, and lastly do I need to included any fuses in this set up?

Any and all feedback is appreciated

[Guest Close Guest]

Wiring seems right although I don't know which prong will power the LED, so you will have to work that out through the wiring diagram of the switch.

Tapping the wires near your outlet should be fine. There will be minimal losses if your wire size is sufficient, so the readings will be negligible.

There shouldn't be any issue grounding the switch to the negative of the outlet.

Fuses aren't required for such small current draw.

[Perroux's Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Perroux's]

Thanks atms! I've got 6mm wires running to the back for the deep cycle battery and the main thing I run is my Chescold fridge which pulls 10amps, although it's really only on there whilst travelling and for short stops before being transferred to the gas, I do need to keep an eye on the battery because it can run it flat pretty quick. With it pulling 10amps and also having the small draw for the LED, will the 6mm wires still be sufficient?

Also does anyone know by any chance what size wires have been used in the factory fitted rear 12v outlet (main starter battery) in the 2005 Prado Grande?

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

Tapping the wires near your outlet should be fine. There will be minimal losses if your wire size is sufficient, so the readings will be negligible.

Fuses aren't required for such small current draw.

If you get a short in the wiring or the voltmeter you'll have a nice little fire on your hands. Presumably the 6mm to the rear is fused but that won't blow if the 2mm or whatever is used to the voltmeter is shorted to ground. Put a fuse holder in that circuit where the 6mm is tapped and a small (2A) fuse to protect it.

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

Have a look at my build up on the last or second last page too if you want to see where I installed these volt meters as well, great bit of gear.

[HugoStiglitz Member Find all posts View Profile Close HugoStiglitz]

Hey everyone, been reading this forum for a little while and recently got my prado and started on my long list of extras.

one of the first was dual batteries. I put in a roof console to house the single din UHF I purchased so this was an obvious location for the voltmeters however I did try them out at night and decided they were too bright and needed to be hidden or dimmed.

So I came up with the below solution

First is the console as it sits normally


2nd is car / accessories off


3rd is accessories on


4th is picture of the wiring

[J Janke Member Find all posts View Profile Close J Janke]

Hey Craig. I really like your voltmeter install. I have got my two voltmeters and planning on mounting in the large square blank just to the left of the steering wheel.
Couple questions
1.With your led to indicate red arc being joined, are you using a over ride switch and if so have you installed a diode as per the redarc setup instructions?

2. The grey perspective you put in front of the meters. Does it do enough to ensure it's not to bright at night time?

Thanks again mate

Jamie

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

2. The grey perspective you put in front of the meters. Does it do enough to ensure it's not to bright at night time?

Jamie

This is a good point, I purposely placed mine behind the gear shifter so they are not facing me straight in the face, they are seriously bright.

My left one corresponds with battery on that side of the car which is cranking battery, then the one closest to the driver is the aux battery. Great bit of kit, I've had mine in the car for a while now and no dramas. Very handy.

[Shangus Find all posts View Profile Close Shangus]

Nice job everyone they look great. Got myself one of the projecta dual volt meters on sale and installed it awhile ago haven't got a second battery wired in yet. Can monitor each battery individually or both at once and can set peak and minimum voltage alarms on it and u can wire it up to headlight circuit and it dims when the lights are on. Great to be able to see what your batteries are doing hey. Was going to put it where you guys have done yours but decided to put it just under the steering wheel. Still easy to see while your drivin.

Both batteries


Single battery


Where I mounted it