i have had a voltmeter i wanted to install in my room for months and im finally going to install it lol but i just wanted to know exactly where to splice into for the positive lead-alternator wire? something along those lines? it has to be something that only turns on when my car is on right? let me know where all you guys spliced into -thanks

 

bump for some info

 

i went right into the cigg lighter

 

cig lighter for me aswell

 

but doesnt the cig lighter still work when the car is off? maybe im wrong

 

Nope - it doesn't get power when the car is off.

 

ight man thanks a lot -ill do it 2m morning

 

excuse my n00bness but shouldn't the voltage across the cig lighter always be 12v? what's the point of the voltmeter?

 

The 12V supply is used to power the gauge (backlight, etc.)
The gauge itself gets a signal from elsewhere..

Or at least that's my understanding...

 

i'm never taking advice from you.
ever.
this is BASIC **** man. it's like not understanding how an engine works or what really is happening when you turn the key...
instead of explaining this all to you. which would take longer then either of us would like i'm going to give you a link. when you've read it all you will have the answer to your question: http://www.bcae1.com/directr3.htm
i'm not trying to be an *** but...basic electronics could save your life. like do you understand what a ground is? or what would happen if you bridge you batt?

the best place to grab a 12v signal is from the battery silly. if you don't want to run long wires i would tap from either under the seats or the cig lighter. volt meters are nice...

 

That comment was not necessary. I already explained it to him.

His question was sincere, courteous and he acknowledged the fact that it was "noobish"... Everyone here has differing levels of knowledge and no one knows it all. If we all knew the answers to everything, you wouldn't even need the forum.

 

thanks for the most idiotically hostile response i've ever seen on the .org.

 

well i will always have a voltmeter in any car that i own with any type of stereo equipment. it has saved me abotu 5 times when i was having problems blowing through stock alternators. as soon as that needed wouldnt go above 13 i would know right then and there the alternator was shot. its a great guage to have, unlike a stupid A/F guage which ives u a seizure at night.

 

Don't sweat it.

 

Having to little knowledge can/will be dangerous. also questions like his could be answered in a 1 minute google search. i wasn't trying to be an ***. whatever peace.

oh and wouldn't you, before asking a stupid question, go look for yourself when you know its an extremly basic and simple question? hell goto howstuffworks.com
sorry i shouldn't have said stupid question. there are no stupid questions. only stupid people.

 

Again - your point is well-taken.... but the reality is 90% of the posts we see have either been answered before, are in the stickies or can be answered via a quick ... but that's how it's going to be... if you think a question about a voltmeter is basic, just read back a few pages and see some of the stuff that gets posted. I take a break from here every now and then just to keep my own sanity. No offence intented and none taken. Peace to you too.