12v voltage meter

I read up on another forum tale of a 12v battery voltage meter.

You plug it into the cig lighter ( 12v ) and it displays your battery voltage.

Are these things worth having?

 

I guess it beats a idiot light.

$17 12V Plug in Car Battery and Charging System Tester, Test Battery Condition & Alternator Charging (LCD Display Car Battery Monitor)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07422ZPT4.

 

When I need to know the exact voltage of my battery, for me nothing beats my Simpson 260 ANALOG multimeter. I’ve had it for over 50 years and it still works great.

 

I have one similar and like it. Minimizes surprises on battery health or alternator issues on the old junk I drive.

I leave mine in the socket most of the time, so I prefer smaller red led numbers over the bright blue backlight. If you only test with it temporarily any of them are fine.

I'm having trouble getting the link, but it's the 4-6 dollar one on Amazon.

 

Do you have either the Ultra Gauge or the Scan Gauge? If so, you already have the capability to display voltage.

 

No, would like to have one in general but they are pretty expensive.
I'm a cheap bstard like Hyman Roth... living on a small pension....

 

Save your 4 bucks. Turn the key. Starts = battery okay, does not start = battery dead. Knowing the number does not matter. As @TA2016 says though and actual multi meter will stay with you your lifetime and provide actual value.

 

The old but goody Simpson. Get meter. Had that for years.

I would NOT go with an idiot light. Buy yourself a meter. Then you get an exact number.. 12.7 Or there about. Plus getting a multi meter you can measure resistance to check fuses, milliamperes for that overnight draw that leaves the battery weak in the morning.
I said my piece

 

I have a more modern Fluke multimeter that has paid for itself in spades. It's great for working on vehicles but I've used it way more to help me household electrical projects. I agree with @Greg-tacoma, those idiot lights just not worth trusting, especially if you're doing anything with household voltage (120/240).

 

I think you’re overthinking it, you can buy a cheap OBII Bluetooth dongle and app, that can get you much much more….. probably so much, it’ll drive you nuts.

 

Not really. But this question doesn't stop the majority of us from buying stuff for our trucks for no good reason, so if you want one, go for it. If you have a legitimate reason to monitor battery voltage, there are other options out there that will yield a lot more function for roughly the same price. If you don't really have any good reason to monitor battery voltage, it'll be great for that (being able to see voltage and not really do anything with that info).

 

Get a multimeter, learn to use it and put it in your tool bag. $30 or less, they dont need to be fancy to be useful.

A display on the dash just gives you more information to think about that will be noise 99.9% of the time.

 

I agree with those that said get a proper multimeter. Can use it for the car battery, any battery, house outlets, house switches and many more things.