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Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:03 pm
by daveblueozzie
Have just bought the item listed below. Ste (woodenwheel) kindly gave me the wireing details ,as none came with it.
red +
black -
green and white to leisure battery
yellow (not used)(not sure why )
This is to give me a reading so as i can keep an eye on the power usage/loss from leisure battery.
Now to my question (eventually

) can this be wired so that it is only turned on by the ignition key
(the red wire +) as i dont want the display on all the time ,only when i am in the bongo.
Woodenwheel has his connected to a small 9v battery with a switch to turn the display off, which is ok and works, but would like it to work via the ignition. it has a working range of 5 to 15 volts.
Any thoughts from the whizz kids out there
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LCD-Digital-Voltm ... 240%3A1318
Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:12 pm
by mikeonb4c
Ah yes, I got one of these little fellas. The way it worked for me was I had already fitted a 3 x ciggie socket unit from Halfords, wired direct from the LB. It had a little 'power on' light on it and I didnt like that being on all hte time so fitted an illuminated on/off switch to control it and took the feed off the same switch. Works very well. But the point of this was that the 3 x ciggie socket (which is mounted very neatly to the back face of the centre console) is very handy and worth fitting anyway.
Not really answering your question as you'd like Dave, but thought I'd put it in for thought anyway.
Mike

Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:52 am
by dandywarhol
Yes. Feed it with whichever wire gives power out from the ign. switch - use a test lamp to find out.
Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:25 am
by stringman
If you wire it to and ignition feed it will give you the main (Starter) battery voltage
What you would need to do is wire it via a relay so the voltage from the leisure battery goes to the voltmeter via the relay then use an ignition feed to switch the relay
Let me know if you want to do this and I'll send you a relay (I've got loads of em)and draw you a diagram of how to do it.
Steve
Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:50 am
by daveblueozzie
Thanks for the info ,dont think it needs a relay as the main battery feed is only for the display, the green and the white wires go to the leisure battery, and its those (i think) that will give me the LB readout.
will let you know this weekend if i get chance to fit it.
Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:22 am
by bigdaddycain
Ooh, that's convenient david... I think i may be visiting you over the weekend...I may have mine in the glovebox...

Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:29 am
by missfixit70
Have you guys patched your LB's into the fuse box by removing the fuse & connecting in the lower fuse connection? If so you've got a choice of ignition feeds on the top fuse connections.
Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:32 am
by bigdaddycain
missfixit70 wrote:Have you guys patched your LB's into the fuse box by removing the fuse & connecting in the lower fuse connection? If so you've got a choice of ignition feeds on the top fuse connections.
AHA!
I'll text you a joke for that kirsty....

Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:43 am
by dvisor
daveblueozzie wrote:Have just bought the item listed below. Ste (woodenwheel) kindly gave me the wireing details ,as none came with it.
red +
black -
green and white to leisure battery
yellow (not used)(not sure why )
This is to give me a reading so as i can keep an eye on the power usage/loss from leisure battery.
Now to my question (eventually

) can this be wired so that it is only turned on by the ignition key
(the red wire +) as i dont want the display on all the time ,only when i am in the bongo.
Woodenwheel has his connected to a small 9v battery with a switch to turn the display off, which is ok and works, but would like it to work via the ignition. it has a working range of 5 to 15 volts.
Any thoughts from the whizz kids out there
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LCD-Digital-Voltm ... 240%3A1318
Wish you guys would stop linking to goods on eBay. It's costing me a fortune

Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:56 am
by teenmal
Hi Dave,it looks like the back light is 9 VOLTS.They also state that it requires an external power source,and cannot be powered by the source being tested.
Cheers Mal.
Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:11 pm
by bigdaddycain
teenmal wrote:Hi Dave,it looks like the back light is 9 VOLTS.They also state that it requires an external power source,and cannot be powered by the source being tested.
Cheers Mal.
Hi Mal, we were thinking the main battery will power the gauge, (switched via the ignition) and the gauge is to monitor the leisure battery.
Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:38 pm
by teenmal
bigdaddycain wrote:teenmal wrote:Hi Dave,it looks like the back light is 9 VOLTS.They also state that it requires an external power source,and cannot be powered by the source being tested.
Cheers Mal.
Hi Mal, we were thinking the main battery will power the gauge, (switched via the ignition) and the gauge is to monitor the leisure battery.
Hi Dave,
If your back light is 9Volt,I would not go near the ignition to power it,I thing your pal Woodenwheel got it right.
As the supplier states a seperate supply ie a PP3.
Cheers Mal..
Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:44 pm
by mikeonb4c
teenmal wrote:bigdaddycain wrote:teenmal wrote:Hi Dave,it looks like the back light is 9 VOLTS.They also state that it requires an external power source,and cannot be powered by the source being tested.
Cheers Mal.
Hi Mal, we were thinking the main battery will power the gauge, (switched via the ignition) and the gauge is to monitor the leisure battery.
Hi Dave,
If your back light is 9Volt,I would not go near the ignition to power it,I thing your pal Woodenwheel got it right.
As the supplier states a seperate supply ie a PP3.
Cheers Mal..
Oh cripes, its all coming back to me now. (Luckily) I noticed this on ebay and identified a type that was able to take power for its lighting from the same source it was measuring. It cost more, but I went for it cos it least I didn't have yet another battery to check on and replace (which struck me as potentially ironic in a device designed to check battery condition - ha ha!). Mind you, the pp3 should last a long time so not a problem. One year after installation, mine has become a little bit fussy about lighting up in (I think) damp/cold conditions, although it kicks in eventually. I dunno, these cheap ebay goods.

Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:23 pm
by missfixit70
Looking at the specs -
Operating voltage: 5V - 15V
Measuring range: 0- + -20V
Unless I'm reading it wrong, that means it can be powered by anything from 5 to 15v, But it measures 0 to 20v, so what the guys are proposing to do should be fine. I hope so, cause I bought one a few months ago, just havn't got around to fitting it yet as I want to make up a little switch & display panel. I also intend to make it switchable so I can check main battery voltage too.
Re: Battery tester for leisure battery.
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:49 pm
by teenmal
missfixit70 wrote:Looking at the specs -
Operating voltage: 5V - 15V
Measuring range: 0- + -20V
Unless I'm reading it wrong, that means it can be powered by anything from 5 to 15v, But it measures 0 to 20v, so what the guys are proposing to do should be fine. I hope so, cause I bought one a few months ago, just havn't got around to fitting it yet as I want to make up a little switch & display panel. I also intend to make it switchable so I can check main battery voltage too.
Hi Kirsty,the display operates,ie displays your voltage from 5V to 15V,the back light operates on 9Volts.
It needs a seperate power source to operate the light (9Volts)
Cheers Mal..