battery power monitors

[sonicj]

Originally Posted by langstonjones

OLD MEC can you elaborate on the fuse for wing meter protection?

here ya go

*note* not all meters connect in this fashion. some require a power source other than the circuit under test.

[langstonjones]

thanks sj

I have an analog meter at the moment. should I have it fused?

[sonicj]

Originally Posted by langstonjones

thanks sj

I have an analog meter at the moment. should I have it fused?

fuses are cheap, fires are expensive! these sorts of failures are rare, but given the right conditions, are certainly possible. always better to err on the side of safety!
-sj

[sonicj]

actually, my diagram is correct for negative chassis ground (automotive style), but since our carts do not use chassis ground, best practice would be to fuse both the negative & positive leads.
-sj

[OLD MEC]

LANGSTONJONES When I hook up any battery meter I install a in line fuse holder with a 3-5amp fuse to protect the light guage wiring ( most use 16 to 20 guage ) and meter itself next to my power sourse point. I find that installing wiring directly to battery terminals at pack positive and negative gives me the best readings and the fuse is mounted right at positive pack post connection. If you are installing into switch circuit behind dash I find that not all switches are protected by a fuse to start with, and besides it would be normaly too high rated for meter only so I add my own fuse into curcuit on meter power input side.
Many people ( that dont hook to key switch ) will add a dash switch to cut off power when not using cart. I find such a tiny amount of draw with a analog meter ( not digital as most manuafcturers recommend some way of shutting off ) that unless I am asked to I hard wire so meter is on all the time.