profdant139 wrote:
In your opinion, which is the most basic and inexpensive monitor? Are shunts sold separately from the monitors? What gauge cable does the shunt/monitor require?
I use this Voltminder and a battery state of charge chart. You can set an alarm on it if wanted. I bought mine direct from Voltminder, but Amazon sells them too, just you get free freight if you buy direct. They charge freight on Amazon. It is the same seller.
http://www.voltminder.com/I use this chart off the Trojan web site, scroll down to the voltage chart.
https://www.trojanbattery.com/tech-support/battery-maintenance/Take note, the battery needs to be at rest (not charging and no practical power draws) for 6 to 8 hours to not have a surface charge that can be misleading (false high voltage). It talks about this just above the chart.
It has a 12 volt cigarette charge plug if you have a socket in the camper or your can hard wire it in. Ideal is to tie in close to the battery inside the camper if possible to avoid a long run voltage drop.
While this does not count coulombs like the Victron,(a very good feature) knowing good voltage readings and understanding what they mean, works for us while boondocking. It simple and it is close enough on SOC. Everyone has different needs when it comes to battery power draw measurement.
I do not have the need for an inverter (yet anyway) and I can manage our 12 volt power draws to minimum. If I end up getting an inverter or solar some day, then yes I would go the Victron route.
Hope this helps,
John
