Help locating analog voltmeter

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by smac999

go digital.... easy to read from far away. and you'll get 2 decimal places... analog meters are for museums.

It depends on what you are reading. Digital requires you to interpret the numbers but analog only requires you to determine if the dial is where it belongs.

[coopec43]

There's quite a few available but I haven't checked sizes.

The 12V shop has 10-16V. The make is Arrid

The 12 Volt Shop

ARRID Australia - Products (Voltmeters)

DC Analog Voltmeter with a 8-16V Range | BEP

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free...345505175.html

https://shop.pkys.com/Blue-Sea-8028-...6V_p_2190.html

https://www.trademe.co.nz/electronic...1922755193.htm

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10-16V-D...-/391418584189

http://www.fymeter.com/productshow/

https://www.google.com.au/search?tbm...mg.q5RWgm4l-c8


NOTE
I just tried that link above "fymeter"and it does not work.(I don't know why)
Why don't you do a google (image) "expanded scale panel mount 10-16V analog DC"?


Clive

[dfelsent]

Why did the meter fail? If the internal movement is still good there is a chance the failure is due to a bad solder joint or zener. It may be repairable.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by dfelsent

Why did the meter fail? If the internal movement is still good there is a chance the failure is due to a bad solder joint or zener. It may be repairable.

But you can buy them very cheaply $10?

[mikecambrai]

I would only ever use digital meters now. You will only ever be using a small part of its range ie 11v to 15v And the differences are so important. An analogue can't give you the accuracy that you really need. Just get a good digital and make up a matching backing plate to blend with the current panel and hole.
Same applies to AC , 160v to240v if on a 220v system.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

It's fairly easy to make a meter with an expanded scale using a zener diode in series with the meter. If you do it, it is fairly easy to get a good calibration by swapping the zeners, they have a bit of variation in the zenering voltage and since you only need a 1/4 Watt unit they are cheap to buy.

Getting what you want on the face is a little more difficult but I have made them using a drafting program, printed and trimmed then epoxy sealed and glued on the new face. The result actually looked pretty good.

Yup, I did just this on our boat. I found a very high quality analog edge meter of the required sensitivity, made the zener/resistor network, including a trimmer for fine calibration, and used a laser printer to make the scale.



Google "expanded scale voltmeter schematic" for more details.


The digital meters are also good, and getting quite cheap, as long as you check their accuracy first.

[oleman]

I have been in electronics for many years and my test bench has all the latest high tech metering BUT for a cosmetic presentation I prefer a good Simpson analog meter, because the 3 dimensional display is far easier to read from multiple angles. Only down side I see is they require back lighting. They have one advantage that is often overlooked, they can measure voltage without having an external power source to run the meter.

Their accuracy is certainly sufficient for power panel monitors and make a nice presentation.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by smac999

go digital.... easy to read from far away. and you'll get 2 decimal places... analog meters are for museums.

Opinion from an old "museum aged" bacon earner.


Digitals are extremely accurate to as many decimal places as you want when measuring static or very slowly changing values.


Analogues still shine when adjusting for a particular "digit".


You will know the difference when you meet the problem.


I have each in my tool bag . /Len

[TEV]

Len hit it right on point why I wanted to keep an analog meter. I didn't mention as I was looking for analog meter only, is that I actually already have three digital meters reading my batteries, one on my outback inverter display and on both my solar controllers. Thanks for all the ideas I'll send my meter off to my electrical engineer daughter to check/replace resistors and I ordered a Trumeter which should be interesting to try.

[RaymondR]

I have both analog and digital battery voltage meters and find them both very handy to have.

The analog is great for the quick glance to check whether the batteries are charging or discharging during the passage of the day, the digital if I want to see the effect of something drawing down a battery when I switch the item on or want to know a fairly exact voltage, say to check the charging voltage of the solar or alternator regulator.