Volt meter question

bruceb58

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Mar 5, 2006
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30,613
Re: Volt meter question

Those analog dash volt meters are notoriously innacurate. If you think you can trust the voltmeter to let you distinguish between 14.0V and 14.4V, its not going to happen.
 

PolishPrince

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Jun 6, 2009
Messages
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Re: Volt meter question

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get yourself a digital volt-ohm meter. They are inexpensive and will pay dividends down the road when troubleshooting electrical problems. Analog gauges were good in a 1956 Ford when volts and amps were rarely measured in tenths.
 

fucawi

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Re: Volt meter question

From my comments earlier I indicated that you check the gauge to see if its in its normal position ....14..14.5..15 whatever as long as you know that means 14.4v at the battery cus you checked with your digital meter .....hey why not install a digital meter to start with ... this one goes to 20v and draws 0.007 A costs under $5
 

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bruceb58

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Re: Volt meter question

The regulated voltage range is anywhere from 14.0 to 14.7(from Volvo Service Manual but Merc uses same or similar alternator). As long as he knows he is in the ballpark when running his boat he is fine. Also, those cheap LCD panel meters have no place on a boat and they can get water behind them...poor choice.
 

Aquatron

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Apr 17, 2011
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Re: Volt meter question

Good idea on the digital VM. When I get some time I will put my digital MM on the battery while it is running and see what kind of voltage I?m getting. Thanks again. I have a few more issue that need worked first, like no water out exhaust while muffs are on suspect water pump but haven?t had any time to investigate. My job gets in the way.. UGH
 

Aquatron

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Re: Volt meter question

Not really sure where I purchased my M/M is a concern, but sense you asked I purchased it from FLUKE. It?s a Fluke 77 and it works great I have been using it for about 5 years. I have been working on aircraft for 30 years and Fluke is all I use.
 

bruceb58

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Re: Volt meter question

Not really sure where I purchased my M/M is a concern, but sense you asked I purchased it from FLUKE. It?s a Fluke 77 and it works great I have been using it for about 5 years. I have been working on aircraft for 30 years and Fluke is all I use.
I have 2 Fluke 77s. One is in the house and one is always in the boat.

Previous poster was probably asking about the digital panel meter. They do make marine digital meters that are round and fit in the normal gauge hole.

Since Fucawi is so hung up on his digital gauge , I would sure like to see a picture of his dash with this gauge on it.
 
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