Volt gauge help

Hi all

I'm running twin battery and twin alternator set up, I have a volt gauge directly wired to each battery to tell me the voltage when winching etc, but this means I have to remove the wires to the battery at the end of every day, could I add an inline switch or something so I can turn them on and off as required and won't run the battery's down over night that way?

Cheers

Yes, you could either use two single pole switches, one for each meter (so you can select an individual battery) or one double pole switch to turn both gauges on/off at the same time.

The battery that's connected to the ignition switch could have its voltmeter wired directly into that- that way it will switch on and off with the key. For the other battery, you could tie that into the ignition switch too, using a relay to keep them separate.

as above, use relays to power up the meters when the aux circuit goes high.

Don't suppose there is a wire diagram anywhere to follow and to make it simple be ideal if I could have both on separate switch on and off

.

Dippypud said:

On the 300 each headlamp has a different feed from the fuse box, check and clean each ...
If both lights are not working properly, it narrows down the problem to the areas where the feed is the same i.e switch and relay, (there's a switching relay located in the passenger footwell side panel)....

Don't forget to check the wiring harness feeding the wires to the headlights, they have their own earth wire, bolted onto a stud on the side of the engine bay...

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Think you may be replying to the wrong thread, either that or you are trying to confuse the OP

gazza1591 said:

Don't suppose there is a wire diagram anywhere to follow and to make it simple be ideal if I could have both on separate switch on and off

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If you want a single switch to turn both gauges on and off (independent of the ignition) buy a 'double pole' switch that aesthetically meets your needs, voltage and current rating are pretty well irrelevant in this installation. Take a positive lead from each battery (preferably fused near the battery, 3 to 5 Amp is fine) to the switch connect leads to the switch (one on the left set of terminals, one on the right). Then connect a lead from one empty terminal on each side of the switch to the voltmeter +ve terminal of each meter. Join both meter -ve terminals together and then to a common earth point (or you could run individual cables if you wish)

I just wired an ordinary switch into the live feed from battery 2 and turn it on when I'm driving.

Could I use the above method with just a normal switch not a double one as u have said? I have a load of these bough in will they do the job eBay number 231602170288

There is one way that will work, as long as both batteries share a common ground path (i.e through the chassis.) You could then switch the negative side of the voltmeters, since they will both be linked to the common ground anyway. Wire the positive feed for each to their respective batteries, join the negatives together and earth through an on/off switch. A double-pole switch is a much better solution though, as this method does theoretically allow some cross-feeding of current between the batteries.

Anyone provide a link to a double pole switch

Kwakerman said:

Think you may be replying to the wrong thread, either that or you are trying to confuse the OP

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Yup, made a complete mess of that, many appy ologies to the OP ...

gazza1591 said:

Anyone provide a link to a double pole switch

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Google 'DPST Switch' and read the Wiki page or click here and also look to see what style you need / want. DPST means Double Pole Single Throw which is basically two (Double Pole) On-Off (Single Throw) switches. You can also get DPDT switches which is basically two (Double Pole) On-Off-On (Double Throw). or SPST and SPDT (where SP is Single Pole or one switch). A DPST will be the easiest if you are a bit unsure of wiring as there are only 4 switch terminals (if you exclude any backlighting options) and you will use them all, you can use a DPDT but there is more scope for wiring errors as there is 6 terminals but you will still only use 4 of them. HTH