jaycar battery terminal question

[roon_VR]

Hi guys,

Just recently bought a Jaycar battery terminal and it has a black and red wire coming out of the LCD display. Just quickly, where do i connect these wires?

Thanks,

P.S. i have uploaded a picture to show you

[1991_Vn2nV]

Being red and black I would say Positive and Negative?

I would assume you would only need to connect on, as surely it would get ground or power from whichever terminal it sits on (meaning the other needs to be connected for the voltmeter).

Most people use it on the positive terminal, so I guess black goes to ground?

[azkwazere]

I would assume you would only need to connect on, as surely it would get ground or power from whichever terminal it sits on (meaning the other needs to be connected for the voltmeter).

Youd think that but you'd be wrong!

You need to connect both wires (i did) to both terminals, the LCD is isolated form the terminal for some crazy mofo reason... im sure its valid.

Red = +
Black = -

aZk.

[roon_VR]

I just figured it out and i needed to put it on the positive and negative terminal on the battery (as azk said)

thanks anyways!

[1991_Vn2nV]

Youd think that but you'd be wrong!

You need to connect both wires (i did) to both terminals, the LCD is isolated form the terminal for some crazy mofo reason... im sure its valid.

Red = +
Black = -

aZk.

lol someone at Jaycar got lazy

[immortality]

lol someone at Jaycar got lazy

you can wire it 2 ways. directly to the positive and negative terminals which means it's always on (possible drain on battery if you don't use car regularly) or wire one of the wires through a excisting relay meaning it's only on when you have the ignition switched on

[blueholden]

or wire it through an alarm style bonnet pin so it works when your bonnet is open regardless of the ignition being on it will still work but only when your bonnet is open


thats how i have my civic one wired just connect one of the wires straight to battery and put the other through the pin switch

[commsirac]

Doesnt look like it would go under the bonnet? or be durable to last.

How to wire it, depends what you want it for?

Most multimeter displays will stay on for weeks at a time, not even flattening a small 9V battery, but perhaps check if there is a current rating for the device before wiring it to live 12V.

Perhaps just wire it after the ignition switch,(like what is done on all cars that come equipped with voltmeters) ie on the fuse for the radio, or anything else that becomes live when you turn the ignition on....its going to use only a tiny amount of current regardless and wont overload any circuit. (you wont need a relay) Actually the indicator fuse would be good as it would allow you see the voltage while the starter is cranking.

Yes it will read slightly lower than the voltage measured at the battery if your accessory load is high, however, doubt you will be even able to measure this given that the display is only to the nearest 0.1V.

[Mike S]

Doesnt look like it would go under the bonnet? or be durable to last.

I might be stating the obvious but dosn't a battery normally go under the bonnet ?

I like the idea of having a bonnet switch to turn it on as you won't be able to see it when the bonnets closed anyway (stating the obvious again .. lol)

[commsirac]

Could be right above......my first look at the item and it looked like got dual cigarette lighter type sockets for powering other devices as well, hence thinking it was a voltmeter for inside the car......but those sockets are actually for battery cables?

Strange device, why would you need a permanent voltmeter under the bonnet?, why not have it inside the car so you can see it all the time?

[hakhawk]

Actually, looking closely at the item it looks like its got dual cigarette lighter type sockets for powering other devices as well. So I definitely dont think it belongs under the bonnet......who is going to be using it under there.....LOL.....geez hope Im not wrong.......will look a little silly......the risks we take.

Possibly if actual cigarette lighters were going to be run of this device then it would be best to have a relayed supply, however, the leads dont look like that is the intended use and that the sockets would be only light duty.....mobile phone chargers etc.

definately not cigarette lighter sockets.

the holes are a couple of 8 gauge, a 4 gauge and a 0 gauge i think wire terminals, with allen keys to keep the wire in place. the unit replaces either of your battery terminals, ie, sits on the battery as is.

[azkwazere]

Actually, looking closely at the item it looks like its got dual cigarette lighter type sockets for powering other devices as well. So I definitely dont think it belongs under the bonnet......who is going to be using it under there.....LOL.....geez hope Im not wrong.......will look a little silly......the risks we take.

Possibly if actual cigarette lighters were going to be run of this device then it would be best to have a relayed supply, however, the leads dont look like that is the intended use and that the sockets would be only light duty.....mobile phone chargers etc.

sorry mate you fail at jaycar products, there not ciggy lights sockets, there 2GA Power lead sockets, its 2GA,4GA and then 2X8GA from memory... There is a plastic sheath over the whole unit as you can see.

That is a battery terminal, i really cant see how you cant make it out...lol... but i have two of them, one for positive and one for negative. The negative doesnt have the LCD display though.

I dont see why its not safe to use under the bonnet either.... lol...

As for the bonnet alarm pressure switch, thats what use, bonnet up, gauage displays! simple!

Its not 100% accurate but close... i like the lights

aZk.

[immortality]

gotta love those "expert" opinions by someone who doesn't have one or know what it is.

if you check the jaycar catalogue it will give the the current draw, which is approx 35mA

[commsirac]

I was very quick to make an admission that I didnt make out what the photo was showing(hopefully Ill get a bigger screen soon).........end of story?

But guess who has to say something......gotta luv those trying to score points........dont know who is keeping score or what the winner gets.

.....and there was a part no. there to go and check what this device actually was? must have missed that.

...who said it was unsafe....I suggested perhaps the display might not last in an underbonnet environment.......ie high temperatures depending on where the battery is.

Im sure the original question has been answered, lets see if everyone has the maturity to move on.

[hakhawk]

what sort of screen are you looking at it on? an old black n white telly?

the pic is the same resolution on any pc.

for curiosities sake i just went to jaycar site and typed "battery terminal" into the search, it comes up as the third one in a list of 3 products. not hard to find.

[azkwazere]

Everyone is just saying that the uneducated answers need to stop.

People have been doing it and its not good for new members needing acurate advice.

Its a simple rule, if you dont know....dont post crap. If someone wants an opionion, then you can speculate, but a simple thing such as this could have been easily researched and answered.

aZk.

[commsirac]

Obviously the maturity I spoke of that is required is missing.
for curiosities sake i just went to jaycar site and typed "battery terminal" into the search, it comes up as the third one in a list of 3 products. not hard to find.

I didnt type battery terminal into any search because I didnt believe I was looking at a battery terminal......just assumed that the poster had misnamed the item they were posting.........how many times do people on here not give the right name to things?

No, I didnt post crap, or claim any intricate knowledge on jaycar devices, this is in fact what I wrote:
Doesnt look like it would go under the bonnet? or be durable to last.

It should have been clear to all and sundry that I had not correctly recognised the battery terminal in the photo.......(too much glossy glare for me to see it unfortunately), and all the advice given was clearly based on my observation of the photo. Hopefully this was obvious to even the most challenged of souls.


Anyway, I admitted I had made a mistake(more than most are capable of here), hopefully no one died or was injured in the few seconds you experts took to notice it.

Just a simple," Commsirac, you need your eyes tested" was all that was needed Mr Akwazare.
Go in peace and get on with your lives.

[azkwazere]

okey Dokey,

Commsirac, you need your eyes tested

All the best,

Mr. aZkwazere.

P.S. Post 1200

[commsirac]

Eye test booked for 2moro, cheers!

[DannyboyDS]

OrgyBarn also sells these for $40 dollers, what are the Jaycar models worth?

[SweetWagon]

OrgyBarn also sells these for $40 dollers, what are the Jaycar models worth?

It tells you on their website.. Think everyones hopeless around here!!

[roon_VR]

OrgyBarn also sells these for $40 dollers, what are the Jaycar models worth?

When i bought mine, it costed $35.