current monitor during operation

What's the best place to setup a permanent DMM to measure current on a setup with external variable current pot (so that mv readings can equate to know/measured power)? Inbetween diode and driver? Inbetween driver and battery? Thanks!

In series with the load.

I'd solder a 1 ohm resistor between driver and diode, and measure mV across that.

If the driver is linear, then it doesn't really matter, current in will equal current out. Still the best bet is to measure it on the output side, a precision 1 Ohm resistor will give you 1V per Amp. Cheap digital panel meters are available on ebay and elsewhere, although most need an isolated power source. I found some surplus DC-DC converter modules that work great.