With a voltmeter the only power that travels through the meter is enough to move the needle, it is milliamps, very small gauge will do the job.
If you all want to know what your electrical system is doing, you need both a ammeter AND a voltmeter, that's what they do in large trucks and airplanes.


1951 Chevy 3600 rust bucket with GarWood dump bed conversion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeybs51chevy