KILR0Y
Gone Traveling
- Joined
- May 27, 2011
- Messages
- 585
Sorry, but I'm removing all my contributions to this site.
I won't be taking deliver until sometime in July, but I'm interested this voltage meter also. I'm not mechanically inclinded, so I would appreciate more information on the installation. I think I get the part of the cutting of the cabinet, but I need the steps on the wiring. Did you have to remove the screws on the 12-volt plate to access the back. and how did you attach the wires? I would like to be able to do some of these things myself. Thanks,KILR0Y said:Greetings,
I wanted to post about a small but useful item I've installed on my Hawk recently, and also give a short review on the product.
Here is what I purchased from Amazon for $7.39. It is obviously made overseas, but for the price I purchased 2 so I could have a backup if this one would ever go out. It has good reviews with mostly positive comments about the quality and longevity of this product. It seems like everything is made overseas nowadays as I've noticed when I tried to buy an American flag for our boat, and had a hard time finding one that was actually made in the USA. This item was an easy choice for me to make due to the cost and ease of install and operation for my specific needs.
I started by cutting out a template using card stock. I made it just a tad bit too small so I could use a wood file and open up the hole in small increments due to the trim being pretty slim. If you cut the hole a bit big, you'll see the edges because the edge trim won't fill the gap. After cutting the template I drew out my area needing removed on the counter, making sure there wasn't anything behind it that would cause me issue. I chose this location due to the proximity to the 12v receptacle using an on/off switch. My plan is to wire directly into those wires, and have the ability to turn the meter on and off as needed. Why run wires down to the battery when FWC has already done it for me? It only draws approximately 0.1 watt of juice and I'm not sure about amperage.
I drilled one hole in each corner big enough to fit a small wood saw blade, then I simply cut the wood out and filed out each corner carefully up to the lines I drew earlier.
Next I snapped off one of the plastic keepers on the meter so that I only had one keeper holding the meter in place. Both of them made the device just too tight and having one keeps the meter quite snug into the cutout. I then just wired the leads (red/black) to the positive and negative posts on the cigarette lighter so I could turn it on and off when we wanted. Whalah!
Nice clean install and i have used it for the past week (turned on the entire time) with zero issues. It's nice to have the display showing what the power is in the camper. It has a nice and bright screen, quite pleasing to the eye, and matching the Silver Spur quire well. My plan is to only use it when I'm in the camper so I can save the life of the meter. Zero problems thus far, and I'm seeing on the Amazon reviews that guys are using this to monitor their solar as well. Obviously there are other units out there with more capabilities, but this works well when they want cheap and simple monitoring capabilities. Personally, I'm a Honda EU1000 genny guy when I have long dry camping needs that requires additional power, so no solar in this Hawk (although it's pre-wired).
Here are a couple of pictures. Note the position of the switch on the power receptacle when the unit is on and off.
And one with it powered on:
Let me know what you all think, and if I can send any more information about the unit. I hope it will help others on here who may have similar needs for a really low cost.
[SIZE=10pt]..............[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]\|||/[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]..........................[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]..............[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt](@@)[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt].........................[/SIZE]
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_____|_KILROY_WAS_HERE_|____|_____|____|[/SIZE]
Hmmm...from what vendor? (there are several, including several affiliated with Amazon that ship Prime)...So I just ordered one of the Amazon meters. Sure shows a long delivery.
Used the one that was on a link on this thread. Trying to cancel and will get with PrimeMarkBC said:Hmmm...from what vendor? (there are several, including several affiliated with Amazon that ship Prime)
Mine (from "Bees Clover") shows In Stock, and I'll receive it Wednesday.
KILR0Y said:Greetings,
I wanted to post about a small but useful item I've installed on my Hawk recently, and also give a short review on the product.
Here is what I purchased from Amazon for $7.39. It is obviously made overseas, but for the price I purchased 2 so I could have a backup if this one would ever go out. It has good reviews with mostly positive comments about the quality and longevity of this product. It seems like everything is made overseas nowadays as I've noticed when I tried to buy an American flag for our boat, and had a hard time finding one that was actually made in the USA. This item was an easy choice for me to make due to the cost and ease of install and operation for my specific needs.
I started by cutting out a template using card stock. I made it just a tad bit too small so I could use a wood file and open up the hole in small increments due to the trim being pretty slim. If you cut the hole a bit big, you'll see the edges because the edge trim won't fill the gap. After cutting the template I drew out my area needing removed on the counter, making sure there wasn't anything behind it that would cause me issue. I chose this location due to the proximity to the 12v receptacle using an on/off switch. My plan is to wire directly into those wires, and have the ability to turn the meter on and off as needed. Why run wires down to the battery when FWC has already done it for me? It only draws approximately 0.1 watt of juice and I'm not sure about amperage.
I drilled one hole in each corner big enough to fit a small wood saw blade, then I simply cut the wood out and filed out each corner carefully up to the lines I drew earlier.
Next I snapped off one of the plastic keepers on the meter so that I only had one keeper holding the meter in place. Both of them made the device just too tight and having one keeps the meter quite snug into the cutout. I then just wired the leads (red/black) to the positive and negative posts on the cigarette lighter so I could turn it on and off when we wanted. Whalah!
Nice clean install and i have used it for the past week (turned on the entire time) with zero issues. It's nice to have the display showing what the power is in the camper. It has a nice and bright screen, quite pleasing to the eye, and matching the Silver Spur quire well. My plan is to only use it when I'm in the camper so I can save the life of the meter. Zero problems thus far, and I'm seeing on the Amazon reviews that guys are using this to monitor their solar as well. Obviously there are other units out there with more capabilities, but this works well when they want cheap and simple monitoring capabilities. Personally, I'm a Honda EU1000 genny guy when I have long dry camping needs that requires additional power, so no solar in this Hawk (although it's pre-wired).
Here are a couple of pictures. Note the position of the switch on the power receptacle when the unit is on and off.
And one with it powered on:
Added this photo (weeks later) so you can see how simple it is to jump over to the socket:
Let me know what you all think, and if I can send any more information about the unit. I hope it will help others on here who may have similar needs for a really low cost.