Cheap & Quick Inline Volt & Amp Meter!
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2018
- Build yourself a super cheap and easy inline volt and amp meter using only $3 worth of stuff.
The video is longer than how long it will take you to make this!
It has a standard 2.1 DC input and 2.1 DC ouput so you can place it inline with a tonne of different projects and devices. Supported voltage 4 - 30V, max amp is 10A.
This was just a proof of concept, I will make a more permanent one later down the line, but really happy with how it came out.
Wiring Diagram: i.imgur.com/dxjZCGr.png
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Parts Needed
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Volt & Amp Meter Display* - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/bbkN3LUU
Male and Female DC Terminals* (set of 5 each) - s.click.aliexpress.com/e/byAH1iEc
Some wire - Anywhere!
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This is a great little cheap meter is you don't need a lot of accuracy. I actually used this in a project of mine. Just for some gobal volt and amp indication.
I wanted to use 2 of these when making a PC Power Supply based desktop PSU. One on the 5V and another in the 12V. But because of the Gnd wire measuring method I don't think you can. Any idea what will happen if you do this, but tie the grounds together at the load as would happen if you powered a Raspberry Pi with the 5V and a LED display that took 12V ?
Thanks for the video. Can you tell what is the connector used on the voltmeter PCB's for the current ? (the larger connector). I want to place the same on my PCB.
I've not had a lot of joy with those little meters. My first order came in with a faulty display and the second wouldn't measure current. The third one "worked" but the measured current was 20-25% low. My current solution is a cable assembly, using the same plug/jack gismos, which plugs into my two multimeters.
Hi! Do you know of this meter can be wired to be an inline meter that detects current coming in (from say a small 12v 1A solar panel to a solar charger)? In see it detects negative draw but what about charge? If it can which wiring diagram would one use?
Can you purchase ones that take the amps reading from the + rail instead of the - rail?
If so what are they called please?
Can you tell me where you got that sweet clip-mount LED Light? Thanks!
It's a video light with a separate clip (you'll also need a 12v power supply)
Light: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XDFGDCX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7hvgEbNNMNRB5
Clamp: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MR0VPOQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_QkvgEb4DTEJ5N
Great Video!
Question, I am using a single power source for my meter but I want to be
able to turn off the meter while leaving the line power on. Do I
interrupt the yellow wire for a switch?
Thanks
Use a switch for the ammeter Red wire
@@davekleiboeker4614 Thank You for your response!
How do I use this with solar charge controller and lithium battery🔋?
I found the ammeter part is wildly inaccurate over the 30v operating range and I would have to use another meter to calibrate it (adjust the screw on the back) depending on whether my applications was down the lower end (~5v) or closer to re higher end (~20v) of the range. This was frustrating and means it’s not terribly useful as a general purpose utility. Fine however if your voltage range is narrow enough for the error introduced is sufficiently low.
I didn't even play with that at all, will make sure to give it a look when making the more permanent one. I would be using this mainly for 5v or 12v stuff so hopefully will do the trick for that ok
Could easily add a remote switch by connecting a relay connected to an esp8266 module. Current and volt data could also be fed to a program which in turn could output electricity cost to a separate display module or upload to a server via MQTT.
Is there a good way to read the volts and amp using an esp?
Absolutely, I have found a number of sensors that can be connected to an esp to measure voltage and current, they can even be connected via I2c to an ESP. take a look at the ACS712 board, they're very common and cheap to find.
Thanks Andrew, will take a look! My credit card is on fire at the moment so I might just add it to the wishlist 😋
haha, it couldn't be anywhere close to as bad as mine, I might do something like that as a project myself, if I decide to I will keep you in the loop. My coding skills are quite rusty.
@@BrianLoughyou can make one for about 10€ using one of these modules... You'll see there are 2 models, 1 with lcd and case, one without, but both can be monitored via serial... And are supported by espeasy and tasmota, and i think espurna, too ua-cam.com/video/NeHH1ZfErfQ/v-deo.html
edited: found the diagram in the description...cheers
Andreas Spieß did a similar project a while ago using another meter that seems to be more accurate and is also showing more data like wattage and Ah. But for a rough indication of the amps this is the cheapest way you can go. And we all know you like cheap 😏
Is there a meters always have to be calibrated on the back .One screw is where the ampsThe other for the VOLTS
can you please share a clear image of the connections you made? Thanks
here at 4:26 you can see how to connect the yellow wire in the usual wiring of this module: ua-cam.com/video/G-9er3-Tdqg/v-deo.html
Here you go! Not pretty though!
i.imgur.com/dxjZCGr.png
That Diagram does not look right to me, the yellow wire is very thin and should not be used to run current through!
@@BrianLough I've a better one somewhere, let me search
@@BrianLough you're right, but if you look online, that's the schematic... www.dropbox.com/s/ih4yn9n4qh0lbxs/volt%20amp%20meter.jpg?dl=0
9:10 I guess the current meter uses 0.1 Ohm resistor in series, that's why the the voltage drops.
I have a 140 IQ and have had to watch 5 videos before I got to this one that actually explained to someone with no electrical background what I needed to know to hook up an Amp meter in my RV. GOOD JOB.
Hi there, thanks very much for your video. Im just learning, can i ask for some advice please. Im trying to wire up the digital display but its still not working. I dont get it. I would like to monitor how much volts and amps are coming off my solar panel before it gets to the charge controller. Any help would be greatly appreciated as its confusing. All the best, kieron ibb.co/L9VWLMR
These are gabage. The load won't work through them, and the ammeter only displays 102.
"in this video we're going to take a look at building an AMP AND VOLTMETER out of one of these cheap AMP AND VOLTMETERs" And that's where I stopped watching. @ 0:06