12V monitoring system wiring

Be sure to read This battery monitor thread
The $30 eBay monitor pictured on the second page is a great way to know your per cent of full charge anytime. It includes voltage and current readings. Some models have a separate shunt so the readout can be in a convenient location.

Ed- The last three years has been somewhat of a bust for us. Retired without alot of monies stashed away... We are making it OK but no monies for the camping and hobbies... We are just sitting here in front of the wood burning fireplace killing time haha...

Been looking at electrical upgrading here as well... My last round of this was in 2008 and all of that is just now starting to need attention... You know the routine - newer batteries, better monitoring, and perhaps a touch of solar...

Once you sit for a couple of years is probably the worse thing you can do to the systems haha... Once you start up again everything will start breaking down...

Roy Ken
Northern Neck VA

I put mine in a standard pvc electrical box even though it is inside out of the weather.

The negative cable for my batteries bolts to the frame of my RV. I bolted one end of my shunt to the frame then bolted the cable to the other end of the shunt. Since it's on the negative side there's no danger of shorting. I did not put it in a box. If you are concerned about it being exposed to the elements, put it in a box.

Hi Roy. I've been here from time to time. Last season was a bust...because I busted the TT. It's ready to roll this year though and I have the battery connection all pulled apart right now for maintenance. It got me wondering if now is the time to try and wire some kind of system amp meter up before putting it all back together again. Not that I have a shunt monitor in hand, but it got me thinking so I have asked the question.

Ed - havent seen you online much of late - Hope all is OK... We still kicking here in Northern Virginia...

I would put mine inside a PVC box of some sort with a removable lid... Especially if it is in the POSITIVE side of the battery. You would be prone to external short to ground with the open lug nuts etc...

If it is on the NEGATIVE side of the battery this will not be prone to arcing over anywhere however the ring terminals and crimp wiring will be prone to corrosion and all...

For me it just makes sense to put all of that in a PVC box from LOWES if you can... They have all sizes of PVC electrical junction boxes... I just don't like to see things like that out in the open...

You may remember some of the correspondence we have had over the years. I like to put all of my cables and wiring inside PVC junction boxes with lids and flexible PVC conduct haha... Then when back off the road way back in the wooded trails I have less chance of things getting drug off by underbrush in my OFF-ROAD camper haha...

Roy Ken