Ebbie,
Get a JP Instruments EDM electronic engine monitor. Not only will it help you manage your engine more efficiently, but it has a setting that shows your battery voltage. The key feature of this instrument is that regardless of what you are currently displaying, if any of the the preset limits are exceeded - low voltage for example, the display will flash and show you the current voltage. It's diagnosed alternator problems for me twice - once a real alternator failure and once because I forgot to turn on the Alternator Field part of a Cessna split-master switch!
It's such a long time since I've flown a Piper, that I had forgotten about the stupid load meter. I much prefer a proper ammeter that shows when the battery is being charged and when it is being discharged.