Datatek
Well-Known Member
Not sure if this will be of interest.
I have always missed having a voltmeter on the P38, finding something that could fit without altering the appearnce of the car meant I had done nothing about it todate.
With the lockdown and bad weather I had look at what could be done.
Some time ago, I think it was Dopey, mention was made of USB sockets with an integral volt meter, so I ordered a couple.
They will not fit the switch blank positions on the dash, so as the ash tray is unused, I decided to mount one in there, it has the advantage that I can shut the lid at night as the display is quite bright.
The ashtray just pops out. I made a mounting bracket from a bit of scrap 32mm x 2mm alloy bar, it's a bit rough but is not very visible. Normally I would have painted it mat black, but no paint available so just buffed it up. No measurements, I just bent it up by eye.
The USB connector is held in the bracket with a few blobs of hot glue. Before fitting the bracket, pop out the little window in the side of the ashtray to route the cables. I taped the window in the bottom of the ashtray so it would not get lost. I soldered and sleeved the wires to the socket as there was not enough clearance for the connectors.The bracket is held in the ash tray by 2 countersunk M3 screws. Self tappers would do.
To refit the astray it's necessary to remove the gearlever surround, first remove the 2 screws holding the window switch pack, lift it up enough to access the single screw holding the gear lever trim. Put the ash tray back in then lift the trim out which will expose the cigarette lighter connections. I spliced the feed into the cig lighter with soldered joints and heatshrink Scotch locks will not do because of the current draw IMO but crimps are OK. Careful to get the polarity right.
Then it's just a matter of turning on the ignition to see if it works followed by reassembly.
The car had been stood for 5 days and the battery showed 12.6 volts where it tends to stay, engine on I got 14.4 volts at idle.
The photo's will hopefully make things clear, write ups are not my thing.
I have always missed having a voltmeter on the P38, finding something that could fit without altering the appearnce of the car meant I had done nothing about it todate.
With the lockdown and bad weather I had look at what could be done.
Some time ago, I think it was Dopey, mention was made of USB sockets with an integral volt meter, so I ordered a couple.
They will not fit the switch blank positions on the dash, so as the ash tray is unused, I decided to mount one in there, it has the advantage that I can shut the lid at night as the display is quite bright.
The ashtray just pops out. I made a mounting bracket from a bit of scrap 32mm x 2mm alloy bar, it's a bit rough but is not very visible. Normally I would have painted it mat black, but no paint available so just buffed it up. No measurements, I just bent it up by eye.
The USB connector is held in the bracket with a few blobs of hot glue. Before fitting the bracket, pop out the little window in the side of the ashtray to route the cables. I taped the window in the bottom of the ashtray so it would not get lost. I soldered and sleeved the wires to the socket as there was not enough clearance for the connectors.The bracket is held in the ash tray by 2 countersunk M3 screws. Self tappers would do.
To refit the astray it's necessary to remove the gearlever surround, first remove the 2 screws holding the window switch pack, lift it up enough to access the single screw holding the gear lever trim. Put the ash tray back in then lift the trim out which will expose the cigarette lighter connections. I spliced the feed into the cig lighter with soldered joints and heatshrink Scotch locks will not do because of the current draw IMO but crimps are OK. Careful to get the polarity right.
Then it's just a matter of turning on the ignition to see if it works followed by reassembly.
The car had been stood for 5 days and the battery showed 12.6 volts where it tends to stay, engine on I got 14.4 volts at idle.
The photo's will hopefully make things clear, write ups are not my thing.
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