Forgive me for asking this because I know the answer is very simple but I can't seem to remember how to do this. I currently own a very nice volt meter that I would like to setup to monitor the voltage that my servos draw. I just can't remember how to wire it up in series with my servos so that I can read the voltage. Call me stupid but I truly cant remember.


Thanks in advance.

Patrick

You can put the meter onto the current scale and place it in series with the posative (+) lead from your battery. set the meter to an appropriate scale. You will need to cut the (+) lead to do this.

Or if your meter does not have a current range then you can place a 1 Ohm resister in series with the posative lead and put the voltmeter accross the 1 Ohm resister. The current is found by the formula I=E/R where E= the voltage read on the meter and R= 1. So for a voltage of say 2volts the current would be 2 amps. The resister should be of sufficent wattage to carry the expected current.

P=I*E so for an expected current of 2 amps the power rating of the resister should be at least 4 watts.

Regards

Two easy solutions for you Patrick...


[link=http://www.electrodynam.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/new/EDR-201/index.shtml?L+scstore+tqnl8709ff42bc42+1140480954]THIS[/link]

or

[link=http://dreamworksrc.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=278]THIS[/link]

Great stuff Todd, I have been doing this for years with bits of wire and old plugs etc. Your meter is perfect.

Regards

If you really care about the voltage, then you do NOT connect the meter in series - you connect it in parallel ; you only connect in series for measuring the current, not the voltage.

Todd,
I wanted an interim solution that I could hook up quickly with minimum expense. Read the PM I just sent you and you will understand why.



Gordon,
Thanks for the clarification. This is why I ask these questions before I attempt to do any of this. .

Patrick.

Understood Patrick .... I knew exactly what you where looking for since you where present when I demonstrated the benifits of having such a tool on hand. 40.00 investment may just save your $?0000.00 plane. I know it has for me.
Tommy... one of those "you wont know how you did without it" tools. Good decision
Regards,
Todd