I've been into car audio for a while, used HO alts and extra batteries before but I always just relied on the math to tell me my electrical was sufficient. I'm going to be using a bigger amp in my new install and just want to make sure I don't damage it so I'm thinking about buying a voltage meter for my new setup.
I'm just wondering who uses them, what kind, where do you measure your voltage from, and do you think they are reliable?
Id say its best to wire it at the amp. Who cares what your voltage is at anywhere besides the amp! I dont have a volt meter I just keep my DMM hooked up to my amp the whole time.
i had mine wired to my sub amp. it seem'd to read pretty accurate. mine is just a apc needle guage. i just threw a single pod on my a pillar so its right there and i can always keep a eye on it
I've also been considering this, and I think I found a good spot to mount mine... Any brands that people suggest? Also, I was looking at some and they said you have to pull power from somewhere other than the place being measured. If you're measuring the output at a battery (or input at the amp) where do you get power from, if it's on the same circuit as everything else?
I have a Stinger volt meter mounted right no my dash just above the head unit so I can keep a constant eye on my voltage. It's good to know just where it's at when doing long demos. I have some 18awg wire ran directly into the positive terminal on my amp so it reads exactly what the amp is seeing.
I have a stinger in my dash where the control panel used to be for the factory radio, seen here,
I have it hooked to my amp+ and rem from the H/U and set it with a DVOM with the engine running. I have found mine is only accurate one way. If you set it engine running, it will be low with the engine off.
Oh yeah, I went overkill like normal, and used 14AWG for it. It has like 18 or 20 coming off the back of it. I kinda have an obsession with 14...
Well it's not technically a "gain" but it acts similarly. It is to make up for resistance in the wire you use I guess. You just have to hook a DVOM up to the same place as the volt meter is connected, and turn a screw on the back side till they read the same.
i gotz da red stinger volt meter.... run on amp.... scarry when i used to drop it down to 10.9 volts... but i didnt care then... those damn alpine amps kept on truckin....
And I took advice from you????? :dontknow::runaround:
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