What is a battery monitor?
I bought this inexpensive one on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/300696028021?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 It shows voltage and current flowing out of the battery or power out and...
Forum Discussion
In case anyone else is trying the ebay one I have, I must report that I broke mine connecting a 12 AWG wire to the small terminal. It seems I lifted the terminal strip and broke one of the contacts away from the circuit board as well as the trace on the board under it.
Ebay
I was able to repair it. Removed the terminal with a desoldering tool and soldered in a piece of wire to connect the terminal to the shunt on the board. I would recommend using only 14 AWG wire to connect to the terminals and avoid pulling on them. Incidentally, the two positive terminals are connected together so you only need one connection. I will now connect to the battery positive with just a light wire to provide power to the monitor and connect my positive wires from the engine, solar and house direct to the battery. The shunt is between the two negative terminals so all the current to and from the battery must go through those terminals in order to be measured. If you get one, immediately change the labelling - "input" should be called "battery" and "output" should be called outside world or "everything else".
Ebay
I was able to repair it. Removed the terminal with a desoldering tool and soldered in a piece of wire to connect the terminal to the shunt on the board. I would recommend using only 14 AWG wire to connect to the terminals and avoid pulling on them. Incidentally, the two positive terminals are connected together so you only need one connection. I will now connect to the battery positive with just a light wire to provide power to the monitor and connect my positive wires from the engine, solar and house direct to the battery. The shunt is between the two negative terminals so all the current to and from the battery must go through those terminals in order to be measured. If you get one, immediately change the labelling - "input" should be called "battery" and "output" should be called outside world or "everything else".
