Amp hour meter wire run...

[jmccen58]

Will the length of the wire run to an amp hour meter affect the accuracy?

[RVWithTito]

jmccen58 wrote:
Any tips on where to get the best price on a cummulative amp hour meter?

I've got a TriMetric battery monitor that I picked up here (Northern Arizona Wind and Sun). Once you program it with the amp hours of your battery bank, it will track cumulative amp hours and indicate percent remaining. I'm pretty happy with it.

You can watch my video review for it.

[ronfisherman]

Harvey51 wrote:
Got a refund on the ebay one I bought that measured discharge but not charging. This one says it does both - and amp hours to get % charge. $25.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/161120594598?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

If the wring diagrams are correct you can read one or the other but not both. To read both you would need a switch to change the wiring input to match drawings. To read both you may need something like this one. DC 10-90V 250A Volt Current Meter Capacity Power Charge Discharge

[Harvey51]

Got a refund on the ebay one I bought that measured discharge but not charging. This one says it does both - and amp hours to get % charge. $25.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/161120594598?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[jmccen58]

Thanks Westend......

[westend]

I bought a Victron at Jamestown distributors but I paid less than their current price. They do price match if you can find one for sale lower.

[jmccen58]

Any tips on where to get the best price on a cummulative amp hour meter?

[RoyB]

This is another good reason to run your SHUNT TYPE sample in the NEGATIVE side of the battery circuit.

Otherwise you will a HOT 12VDC potential on the DC sample wiring routing back to your meter panel which could easily short out to frame ground and burn the whole length of the wiring back to the battery source.

The USE of the TRANSFORMER (HALL EFFECT) type DC current sample is a much better method to monitor your high currents but they are expensive to purchase.

SURE ELECTRONICS EBAY CHINA had a great $30 purchase for this years back but are no longer available unless you want to shell out over $800 or so... With this unit you just run your battery cable thru the opening and only small low voltage-low current sample signals are sent to the meter panel. No HAZARD potential present...



Roy Ken

[Matt_Colie]

If it is like all the other Xantrex monitors that I installed before the depression. It uses very small wire between the battery(ies) and shunt and the actual instrument. Distance is not an issue at all.

Matt

[westend]

Presumably requires a shunt. The shunt is usually in the ground path, closer to the frame ground so that you measure all of the DC current passed.

Xantrex Link-Lite Pro installation instructions

[jmccen58]

I will be using a Xantrex Battery Monitor that will keep track of several things. I'm not sure yet if it requires a shunt, I assume it will. If so, where should it be put? Close to actual meter or near the main DC output?

[Harvey51]

Are these leads from a shunt to a remote meter? The vast majority of the current to be measured goes through the shunt; only a tiny current goes through the meter. For an analog meter, it would be something like 50 micro amps. Less for digital. The voltage drop in the wire to the meter is proportional to this current. A very light gauge wire, such as you would find in a telephone or computer network cable should be fine.

[Matt_Colie]

If you really mean an amp-hour meter, then you are talking about a Bogart Trimetric or a Xantrex Battery Monitor. Then the answer is no. I used to install these all the time before the depression, and sailboat batteries are never near any display can be.

If that is not what you are thinking about come back with a better description or an actual maker and model number.

Matt

[myredracer]

No.

Firstly, I think you mean ammeter in order to read amps? "Amp-hours" isn't something you'd normally measure.

Assuming you mean amps, if you add to long a run or use too small a gauge wire, if you add enough resistance to the circuit (and cause voltage drop across the new wire), there will be less current flowing through the circuit.

If a relatively short distance, always keep the wire the same gauge as what's there. Wire length will be much more important at 12VDC. For longer runs, use heavier gauge wire. Not knowing if you are taking about 120VAC or 12VDC, and other details like current level and length of wire, it's not possible to recommend what to do. Are you talking about a digital ammeter or analog? I assume you mean within your camper?

ps: I sure hope this is'nt some kind of trick question - it's too early in the morning.... :S

[TakingThe5th]

12 volt - any type of long wire run might have an impact due to loss. Heavier gauge wire will help a lot. 120 volt - not so much.