Fried a lascar LCD voltmeter out?

[pods8]

So I had a lascar digital LCD voltmeter installed on my factory water/power panel by tapping it into the pump switch (yellow output) and then the negative on the panel (white). I did this so I could leave the meter on more than just momentarily with the other switch but still be able to turn it off. It was working fine while I didn't have a pump installed in the meantime. I just installed and wired up a shurflo faucet and pump (the switch on the panel makes/breaks the circuit up to the faucet and then the faucet lets you have on demand water with its integral switch). The LCD was working fine when the pump switch was thrown but after playing with the faucet, thus turning the pump on and off, it toasted out. The wife saw the meter and said if flickered and then went blank. I noted when the faucet was turned lower the pump slowed down (not sure if the it was lowering the voltage or what off hand).

The only wiring these two share is the yellow positive wire right after the pump switch on the control panel. The meter then goes to the panel negative (white) and the pump line goes through the faucet, pump, then to the main negative terminal.

I don't see how I could have forced the meter to pull to many amps to juice it and even with voltage swings the meter is supposed to be good for 3-50vdc???

With shipping the dang thing ran about $40 and I'm struggling to figure out what I did to kill it (and if it was truly my issue or the meter didn't live up to some of the ratings it supposed to handle).

Data sheet for meter: http://www.alliedelec.com/Images/Products/Datasheets/BM/LASCAR_ELECTRONICS/572-0002.PDF

Faucet: http://www.shurflo.com/pages/RV/rv_categories/faucets.html

 

[camelracer]

I'm not an electronics expert but I believe an induction motor can cause large voltage spikes when started or stopped. These are short duration events so most equipment isn't damaged but the meter may be more sensitive.

I installed my meter next to the 12vdc outlet and wired it into that circuit. Haven't had any problems with it yet.

Dick

 

[pods8]

I'm not an electronics expert but I believe an induction motor can cause large voltage spikes when started or stopped. These are short duration events so most equipment isn't damaged but the meter may be more sensitive.

I installed my meter next to the 12vdc outlet and wired it into that circuit. Haven't had any problems with it yet.

Dick

Someone else mentioned that too me as well, looks like my likely culprit. What a buzzkill.

Yeah that would have been a decent location as well.

 

[brett13]

Don't feel too bad- the exact same thing happened to me. I just threw it out and haven't replaced it yet because I don't know what did it. If you figure it out, please let me know because I'd like to have the always on meter too.

 

[HERR42]

your best bet is to connect the meter direct to the battery.

direct...with wires going right to the battery terminals.
thats the best way.

after all ... thats really what your monitoring.

Dick is absolutly correct. Any motorized item can cause that...or connecting to power feeding a solenoid coil can do it too.