battery monitoring

[sdb1103]

Hello,

I am planning on expanding my battery bank from the single one it came with to two better batteries. I am going to purchase the blue seal switch and wanted to know what people are using for monitoring usage. I have looked at several monitors from simple voltage lcd's to a watts up in line tester.

Does anyone have advice on what is the better units or able to share their experience doing this?

thanks,
-Steve

[time2roll]

Dakota98 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
I push the button on my monitoring panel. if all four lights light up, I'm good.
bumpy

Bumpy,
The monitor may be fine to check the holding tanks, but is absolutely worthless for the battery system. Been there, done that.

Maybe something wrong with yours but mine works fine.
Spend the monitor money on more battery or 100+ watts of solar.
JMHO

[mrgreetis]

RoyB, I always liked your setup and was thinking of doing similar. You say that the +/- 0-70 amp meter is no longer available and what I have seen reflects that.
Have you or anybody else seen any other +/- amp meters anywhere else? Since some solar is hopefully in my future, a meter reading both ways (charging and consuming) would be extremely handy.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

[Sandia_Man]

I keep it simple and use the plug into socket type to monitor AC & DC voltages. Although the ones I use are of better quality, I've seen similar units on ebay for just a few dollars each. Either way it is a good idea to keep track of what DC voltage converter is supplying which helps to determine charging phase, and AC voltage drop when running heavy amperage items.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

If you want the very best, then get a Victron. Otherwise a simple (and inexpensive) volt meter will cover you quite nicely.

Be sure to wire the new batteries in a balanced manner.

[westend]

I use a Victron, it does everything short of stock market reports. I've found that after I got to know my battery system well, a simple voltage meter works to tell me what shape my system is in.

[RoyB]

I like to build my own projects whenever I can...

My battery bank has two zones and I made up this three meter panel to monitor the battery banks using a three-gang panel electrical specialty switch box and cover from LOWES.... I glued the meter panels behind the specialty switch panel openings. All cabling to/fm the battery switch connection are protected with 3/4 PVC flexible PVC tubing. Each leg is protected using a 1 AMP 12VDC fuse.



I use a 12VDC METER (ebay Sure Electronics) to monitor each BATTERY zone (Two meters)..

I use a +/- 0-70 DC AMP meter (ebay Sure Electronics - no longer avail) to monitor the selected battery bank. This current meter monitors how much power is be demanded from the battery bank when being charged and also shows how much current is being pulled from the selected battery banks when being used camping off the power grid.


The smart monitors like the Trimetric TM-2025-RV has an alarm feature built-in which is a nice thing I wish I had but cost more.

I use my meter panel when camping off the power grid to give me an idea when my batteries are approaching their 50% charge state. Most helpful...

Roy Ken

[sdb1103]

Dakota98 .... I dont even trust it for the holding tanks. I was dry camping this past weekend and had to have my black tank pumped (me + 5 girls = full tank quick). Right after pumping the tank still read full and even my grey was reading full but that was dumped earlier. Only thing it measures right is my fresh water.

Yes, good volts equals good amps. I remember reading a post from someone that listed the volts and how they equated to amps on a battery. Was helpful for a high level view into the battery status.

I will check out the trimetric and volt minder. Thanks for the advice.

[popeyemth]

We added AC and DC meters from eBay for less than $6.00 and find them to be very useful.
Good Luck, Mike

[Dakota98]

Bumpyroad wrote:
I push the button on my monitoring panel. if all four lights light up, I'm good.
bumpy

Bumpy,

The monitor may be fine to check the holding tanks, but is absolutely worthless for the battery system. Been there, done that.

[Bumpyroad]

I push the button on my monitoring panel. if all four lights light up, I'm good.
bumpy

[Dakota98]

I think it depends on just how much information you want or need. I use a VOLT MINDER in my TT. As far as my use goes, I'm mostly concerned if my batteries have enough volts to make sure the furnace & refer don't shut down in the middle of the night. I believe good volts equate to good amps., IMHO

[lasttruck]

I use a Trimetric 2025 in our Chalet. It monitors 4-6vdc GC batteries.

There is a brief description of the install in our blog under "tutorials".