Aftermarket Battery Monitor

[rock and roll]

Well, now that I have the battery type and charge figured out, it's time to figure out how to monitor. While I do plan to carry a multimeter, I would like to have something hard wired in for regular monitoring. I've seen some elaborate monitoring systems, but I just want a battery level indicator at a glance. Will probably mount it right next to the battery.

What do you use?

 

[Barko1]

I use the inverter that is connected to the batteries, gives me a good figure not just green, yellow, or red.

 

[leadsled9]

What do you use?


Why not mount one of these voltmeters directly to the monitoring panel?

 

[rock and roll]

Why not mount one of these voltmeters directly to the monitoring panel?


Looks great, where'd you pick that up and how accurate is it?

 

[leadsled9]

Looks great, where'd you pick that up and how accurate is it?



Here is the original link by "b team" (half way down the page) that gave me the idea:

http://www.wanderthe...70/page__st__30




Here's a link for the meter. Note that this meter comes in two versions....one with a maximum of 24 volts and another with a maximum of 40 volts (same price). You may as well get the 40 volt version for a little protection against burning out during a voltage spike. That's the one I got and it works great. Very accurate...as it agrees exactly with my regular volt meter.

http://www.newark.co...eter/dp/28K2619





There is an issue with the monitoring panel when you view it from standing....the light bleeds through and gives a false reading unless you bend over and look directly at it. I came up with a fix. Small strips of velcro laced in between the lights to keep the glow directed at the correct window. Here is that link.

http://www.wanderthe...__fromsearch__1

 

[HERR42]

they are good. the 24 volt unit is safe and reliable. the electronic diff between the two meters is not going to provide any measure of "toughness", just a different full scale limit.

i mounted mine on the wood panel near the battery facing rear so i could see it while standing outside the camper.

i can start the truck engine and watch as the battery separator finally kicks in (there is a delay) and allows the engine to charge the house batt. it confirms the plug is connected and that we are good to go.

you can see the solar charge controller as is progresses through its charging sequence....over and over, as long as there is adequate light. having a meter helps you to get a feel for how much light really is requred.

and you can see when the 12v converter is active - brute force 13.5 (with no smart chg adapter)

 

[pods8]

With the lascar I'd suggest running some lines directly from the battery to wherever you mount the meter to isolate it as best as you can (speaker wire should be fine). I had poached the power from the monitor panel for mine and when I used the water pump it created a voltage spike that fried it.

Someone else of the forum uses this meter: Powerwerx Watt Meter, DC Inline Power Analyzer, 45A Continuous, 12 Gauge, Powerpole Connectors and that looked interesting as well.

I just haven't bothered to buy/install anything else yet since I toasted the lascar since a multimeter is working fine for me currently.

 

[Bajaxplorer]

I use one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Vector-VEC008-Digital-Voltmeter-Volt/dp/B0002ISEQW?tag=dogpile-20

BX