Panel Mount Digital Volt Meter [Archive]

Dan Marotta

October 29th 13, 03:53 PM

Looking for a very small, simple, panel mount DVM. I've looked all over
eBay and Amazon and haven't found anything that suits my needs.

I can find plenty of LED versions, but they likely won't be satisfactory in
bright sunlight, and all the LCD meters I can find are huge. Something on
the order of 1/2 inch high by 1 1/2 inches wide, by 1/4 inch thick, that
could simply be gluded to the surface of the panel with a small hole to feed
the wires through would be ideal.

Just like OAT, I like to know my current power situation without fiddling
with the 302.

Soartech

October 29th 13, 04:41 PM

On Tuesday, October 29, 2013 11:53:18 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Looking for a very small, simple, panel mount DVM.

Here is one that is 0.82 inches high and 1.73 inches wide.
https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_2095040_-1
Supply current is only 3 mA.

October 29th 13, 04:48 PM

Easier than 302... See if there's one in your moving map display or COM radio.
Some examples:
ClearNav can be set to display a meter only when the battery drops to a user-selected voltage. AR6201 and I believe 4201 show voltage when in frequency adjust mode.
Jim

Dan Marotta

October 29th 13, 05:00 PM

That's the one!

Thanks, I've been looking for days.

"Soartech" > wrote in message
...
> On Tuesday, October 29, 2013 11:53:18 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
>> Looking for a very small, simple, panel mount DVM.
>
> Here is one that is 0.82 inches high and 1.73 inches wide.
> https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_2095040_-1
> Supply current is only 3 mA.

JohnDeRosa

October 29th 13, 09:15 PM

Here is the voltmeter that I use - the Lascar EM1200. http://www.lascarelectronics.com/temperaturedatalogger.php?datalogger=116

What is so nice about this unit is how it mounts using only one threaded (hollow) stud through which all the wires run. Drill one hole and you are set. Great stuff.

There is also an analog version. http://www.lascarelectronics.com/temperaturedatalogger.php?datalogger=111

Simpler still is the single multi-color LED from http://www.gliderguider.net/batttery_monitor.htm.

Enjoy! - John

Kimmo Hytoenen

October 29th 13, 09:18 PM

If you use IOIO card for communication and XCSoar or TopHat SW
you can use battery voltage infobox.
-kimmo

Dan Marotta

October 30th 13, 12:27 AM

The battery info box on my Streak running XCSoar (Top Hat is based on that)
shows only percent of charge of its internal battery.

"Kimmo Hytoenen" > wrote in message
...
> If you use IOIO card for communication and XCSoar or TopHat SW
> you can use battery voltage infobox.
> -kimmo
>

Jim White[_3_]

October 30th 13, 09:16 AM

At 17:00 29 October 2013, Dan Marotta wrote:
>That's the one!
>
>Thanks, I've been looking for days.
>
>
>"Soartech" wrote in message
...
>> On Tuesday, October 29, 2013 11:53:18 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
>>> Looking for a very small, simple, panel mount DVM.
>>
>> Here is one that is 0.82 inches high and 1.73 inches wide.
>>
>https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_2095040_-1
>> Supply current is only 3 mA.
>
>
Bought and fitted one of these. Threw it away when it failed a month later!

Soartech

October 30th 13, 05:04 PM

> Bought and fitted one of these. Threw it away when it failed a month later!

Then you lost your $34. Should have returned it. A certain small percentage of electronic devices are subject to "infant mortality". Sorry you were the unlucky one that time. All high reliability electronics (jet engine fuel controls for example) are subjected to a lengthy burn-in period in a temperature chamber to weed out bad parts. But this is expensive and is not done for inexpensive consumer electronics.

Kimmo Hytoenen

October 30th 13, 11:58 PM

The voltage measurement is made in the IOIO card using analog
input. And you have to select voltage measurement under devices
menu.

At 00:27 30 October 2013, Dan Marotta wrote:
>The battery info box on my Streak running XCSoar (Top Hat is
based on that)
>
>shows only percent of charge of its internal battery.
>
>
>"Kimmo Hytoenen" wrote in message
...
>> If you use IOIO card for communication and XCSoar or TopHat
SW
>> you can use battery voltage infobox.
>> -kimmo
>>
>
>

Dan Marotta

October 31st 13, 08:21 PM

I don't use an IOIO card, I use a K6BT. I wonder if voltage is transmitted
in the data stream from my 302.

Doesn't really matter any more. I received my digital volt meter today and
am very pleased with it. I'll install it tomorrow.

"Kimmo Hytoenen" > wrote in message
...
> The voltage measurement is made in the IOIO card using analog
> input. And you have to select voltage measurement under devices
> menu.
>
> At 00:27 30 October 2013, Dan Marotta wrote:
>>The battery info box on my Streak running XCSoar (Top Hat is
> based on that)
>>
>>shows only percent of charge of its internal battery.
>>
>>
>>"Kimmo Hytoenen" wrote in message
...
>>> If you use IOIO card for communication and XCSoar or TopHat
> SW
>>> you can use battery voltage infobox.
>>> -kimmo
>>>
>>
>>
>

StaPo

October 31st 13, 11:39 PM

the smallest LCD indicator I can find is
http://www.lascarelectronics.com/temperaturedatalogger.php?datalogger=36
but it needs some soldering work (shunt) to display range of 12V pwr.

son_of_flubber

November 1st 13, 01:09 AM

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 1:04:37 PM UTC-4, Soartech wrote:
> A certain small percentage of electronic devices are subject to "infant mortality". Sorry you were the unlucky one that time. All high reliability electronics (jet engine fuel controls for example) are subjected to a lengthy burn-in period in a temperature chamber to weed out bad parts.

So I could hook up a new meter up a battery and put it in the oven (on warm) for a few hours to promote "infant mortality" before I go to the trouble of installing it? If it fails, I return it as defective.

bumper[_4_]

November 1st 13, 03:29 AM

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 2:16:10 AM UTC-7, Jim White wrote:

> >>
>
> >https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_2095040_-1
>
> >> Supply current is only 3 mA.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> Bought and fitted one of these. Threw it away when it failed a month later!

My experience is quite different. I've used this meter in two gliders starting in 1998. Never a problem. I used black paint for plastic to paint the frames, as the silver color didn't match the panels.

This meter, unlike the meter in your soaring computer or Becker radio, gives "unloaded" battery voltage which I find more useful for assessing battery charge status.

bumper

Dan Marotta

November 1st 13, 03:01 PM

Not sure what you mean by "unloaded" in this context, Bumper. I plan to
install mine across my main bus such that, if all equipment is off, then
it'll read whichever battery is turned on (connected to the bus). As I turn
on equipment, it will read the loaded battery voltage.

Now, if you're talking about a high current battery load test, that's a
different animal. I'm not trying to do that.

"bumper" > wrote in message
...
> On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 2:16:10 AM UTC-7, Jim White wrote:
>
>> >>
>>
>> >https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_2095040_-1
>>
>> >> Supply current is only 3 mA.
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> Bought and fitted one of these. Threw it away when it failed a month
>> later!
>
> My experience is quite different. I've used this meter in two gliders
> starting in 1998. Never a problem. I used black paint for plastic to paint
> the frames, as the silver color didn't match the panels.
>
> This meter, unlike the meter in your soaring computer or Becker radio,
> gives "unloaded" battery voltage which I find more useful for assessing
> battery charge status.
>
> bumper
>
>

Admin Gliderguider

November 1st 13, 03:45 PM

At 23:39 31 October 2013, StaPo wrote:
>the smallest LCD indicator I can find is
>http://www.lascarelectronics.com/temperaturedatalogger.php?
datalogger=36
>but it needs some soldering work (shunt) to display range of 12V
pwr.
>

http://www.gliderguider.net/batttery_monitor.htm

Just a single 6.5mm hole in the panel and two wires across your
on-board battery supply. Developed specifically for use with 12V
Sealed Lead Acid/Gel Cell batteries in the range 7-18 Ahr. Notably,
the three thresholds (for Green, Yellow & Red) have been preset
for batteries which are NOT used while connected to a charger.

Regards
Allan
www.gliderguider.net

Admin Gliderguider

November 1st 13, 03:46 PM

Soartech

November 1st 13, 04:36 PM

On Thursday, October 31, 2013 son_of_flubber wrote:

> So I could hook up a new meter up a battery and put it in the oven (on warm) for a few hours to promote "infant mortality" before I go to the trouble of installing it? If it fails, I return it as defective.

To do it correctly you should put it in the oven at around 175F for an hour, then immediately transfer it to your freezer for an hour. Repeat 12 times. This is commonly called burn-in or ESS, environmental stress screening.
Do not do this with any equipment that has an LCD display or a battery. They don't like heat. You would have to power it with long wires.

Eric Greenwell[_4_]

November 1st 13, 09:52 PM

Soartech wrote, On 11/1/2013 9:36 AM:
> On Thursday, October 31, 2013 son_of_flubber wrote:
>
>> So I could hook up a new meter up a battery and put it in the oven
>> (on warm) for a few hours to promote "infant mortality" before I go
>> to the trouble of installing it? If it fails, I return it as
>> defective.
>
> To do it correctly you should put it in the oven at around 175F for
> an hour, then immediately transfer it to your freezer for an hour.
> Repeat 12 times. This is commonly called burn-in or ESS,
> environmental stress screening. Do not do this with any equipment
> that has an LCD display or a battery. They don't like heat. You would
> have to power it with long wires.

The appropriate "burn-in" procedure will vary considerably, depending
the device and it's intended use. For "consumer" devices that aren't
critical to flight safety (like a voltmeter), don't waste your time even
thinking about it: buy and try it, and if it fails, ask for another one
or your money back. If it is critical to flight safety, buy one that's
intended for critical use (it will cost a lot more), and have a back-up
plan for if/when it fails.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

bumper[_4_]

November 2nd 13, 05:38 AM

On Friday, November 1, 2013 8:01:34 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Not sure what you mean by "unloaded" in this context, Bumper.

Dan, That's the way my meter is connected as well, "across the bus" and so reads the voltage of whichever battery is connected. What I meant by "unloaded" is also as you describe . . . you can read each battery with no additional load on it if desired. The point being that to use the voltage function of say a Becker radio, the radio has to be turned on to view the voltage and so it applying at least standby current load to the battery.

bumper

Dan Marotta

November 2nd 13, 03:59 PM

Got'cha!

"bumper" > wrote in message
...
On Friday, November 1, 2013 8:01:34 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Not sure what you mean by "unloaded" in this context, Bumper.

Dan, That's the way my meter is connected as well, "across the bus" and so
reads the voltage of whichever battery is connected. What I meant by
"unloaded" is also as you describe . . . you can read each battery with no
additional load on it if desired. The point being that to use the voltage
function of say a Becker radio, the radio has to be turned on to view the
voltage and so it applying at least standby current load to the battery.

bumper

Dan Marotta

November 2nd 13, 04:23 PM

Got my panel mounted meter installed yesterday and love it. But then I
found that my radio, transponder, and power supplies for PCAS and Streak no
longer worked. I found an unknown in-line fuse in the spaghetti behind the
panel and it was blown. I replaced it and recovered the radio but not the
others. I'm going back in today...

I have fuses at the terminals of my batteries, so the in-line fuse must have
been there a long time without my knowledge. The wire was labeled "Battery
1". Maybe there's another. I'll remove them.

"bumper" > wrote in message
...
On Friday, November 1, 2013 8:01:34 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Not sure what you mean by "unloaded" in this context, Bumper.

Dan, That's the way my meter is connected as well, "across the bus" and so
reads the voltage of whichever battery is connected. What I meant by
"unloaded" is also as you describe . . . you can read each battery with no
additional load on it if desired. The point being that to use the voltage
function of say a Becker radio, the radio has to be turned on to view the
voltage and so it applying at least standby current load to the battery.

bumper

JohnDeRosa

November 3rd 13, 04:02 AM

Jim,

Sorry to hear about the infant death on your LASCAR LM1200. I also have been using mine for a long time (>6 years) without any issue. Try another and get your money back if you can.

The super mini LASCAR 1AS-BL, with its 0.22" high LCD, looks really interesting (maybe too small?) but the single threaded stud on the LM series sure is slick!

- John

kirk.stant

November 4th 13, 05:55 PM

On Friday, November 1, 2013 10:45:56 AM UTC-5, Admin Gliderguider wrote:
> http://www.gliderguider.net/batttery_monitor.htm
>
>
>
> Just a single 6.5mm hole in the panel and two wires across your
>
> on-board battery supply. Developed specifically for use with 12V
>
> Sealed Lead Acid/Gel Cell batteries in the range 7-18 Ahr. Notably,
>
> the three thresholds (for Green, Yellow & Red) have been preset
>
> for batteries which are NOT used while connected to a charger.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Allan
>
> www.gliderguider.net

Will this indicator work with these batteries: http://www.eglider.org/battery-12-volt-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery.html ?

Kirk
66

Bryan Searle

December 4th 13, 08:38 AM

Check out this one - it's the smallest I can find...
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?sku=1215412

At 04:02 03 November 2013, JohnDeRosa wrote:
>Jim,
>
>Sorry to hear about the infant death on your LASCAR LM1200. I also have
>been using mine for a long time (>6 years) without any issue. Try
another
>and get your money back if you can.
>
>The super mini LASCAR 1AS-BL, with its 0.22" high LCD, looks really
>interesting (maybe too small?) but the single threaded stud on the LM
>series sure is slick!
>
>- John
>

Bryan Searle

December 4th 13, 08:38 AM

Dan Marotta

December 4th 13, 05:28 PM

This one requires only a 5.5 mm hole in the panel to mount the meter. I
have one in my panel and it is great:
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_2095040_-1

Of course, it ships from the USofA...

"Bryan Searle" > wrote in message
...
> Check out this one - it's the smallest I can find...
> http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?sku=1215412
>
>
>
>
> At 04:02 03 November 2013, JohnDeRosa wrote:
>>Jim,
>>
>>Sorry to hear about the infant death on your LASCAR LM1200. I also have
>>been using mine for a long time (>6 years) without any issue. Try
> another
>>and get your money back if you can.
>>
>>The super mini LASCAR 1AS-BL, with its 0.22" high LCD, looks really
>>interesting (maybe too small?) but the single threaded stud on the LM
>>series sure is slick!
>>
>>- John
>>
>