3-Digit Voltmeter Dongle

thingiverse

This little project showcases an economical and versatile USB dongle housing a low-cost LED-based voltmeter. The enclosure boasts a conveniently positioned opening for accommodating standard 0.36-inch 3-digit modules, widely available and costing less than $US 2 on online auction sites like eBay. In addition to this module space, the rear of the case features a sliding cover that allows easy access to the USB connectors and cables. Notably, both male and female USB ports have designated openings or holes for connecting cables. This box serves as an excellent testing device for directly monitoring USB voltage levels. It proves particularly useful when analyzing charging voltages in solar-powered chargers, tracking drops in voltage along the USB power supply due to overloading issues, or keeping tabs on voltage output from your foldable 5V solar panels used with small solar cells. Alternatively, this enclosure is ideal for building simple USB-based voltmeters. With a powered connection at one end and plus and minus probe connections attached at the opposite end, you can monitor DC circuits directly without need for complicated equipment. For users familiar with SCAD source files, it's good news that they remain fully editable and easy to adapt for your individual projects. Alongside the provided source file, we also have ready-to-print STL configurations suitable for use in multiple applications: either with both male and female USB connectors; or, depending on user needs, having a cable instead of one type of connector. Users must keep their grounding in check as some voltmeters share the host's power source. When choosing a device from which you are to choose from it can easily confuse some people when making their purchasing decision. In preparing for the printing process, make sure to solder both connectors onto an adequate 2.54mm spaced strip prototyping board - preferably with size measuring no larger than four x nineteen holes if your order requires a version with connectors on either side. Since not all display color modules available offer high-quality outputs in real time measurement there is something more that the end-user may want from when shopping and choosing what works best in relation with different volt meter requirements, for monitoring purposes and low-end volt ranges measuring up to ten-volts on any particular scale it's recommended they seek products featuring an average accuracy and two decimal digit precision in displaying their current value as needed during monitoring operation at least when building something you know what your device will end up needing