Volt Gauge, to keep or not.

Do you guys think a having a real volt gauge is necessary?

Right now I am running oil pressure, water temp, and volts with my aftermarket gauges mounted where the OBC generally is.

Gauges are coming with me to the new car, but I'm thinking of re mounting them on the steering column with the rally road bracket. But that means I will lose a gauge, the volt gauge seems the least important and almost unnecessary all together. Won't the dummy light let me know when/if the alternator kicks the bucket?

Thanks

Voltmeter will tell you BEFORE the alternator dies (although I prefer and amp gauge).

A friend of mine says a voltmeter will tell you where you're going; and ammeter will tell you where you've been (electrically). ??? Anyone care to translate? He's an electronics genius and frequently talks over my head.

Well, an amp meter measures electrical going to certain equipment, so it will tell you how much current (or something) is coming from the battery to electrical devices and having a volt meter will tell you when your car is about to shut off in the middle of the 210 freeway by how charged the battery is.

Ask me how I know

An ammeter, if properly connected tells you if current is going into or being drawn from the battery. If your alternator dies the ammeter instantly shows discharge from the battery instead of charging into the battery. The voltmeter will show a drop in voltage from 13.5V-14V down to 12V-12.5V if your alternator dies.
Soooo.....both will indicate a failed alternator, but the ammeter is a bit more blatant about.

The side benefit of an ammeter is it will show marginal charge or parasitic discharge conditions more readily than the volt meter will.