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

[tenbear]

SkiSmuggs wrote:
Very impressive, TenBear! I hope to see you this winter. I just ordered my $99 geezer pass for Sugarbush just in case, but am working Smuggs again.

Glad to hear that. See you at Smuggs. For me, Sugarbush is just too far once the notch is closed.

[SkiSmuggs]

Very impressive, TenBear! I hope to see you this winter. I just ordered my $99 geezer pass for Sugarbush just in case, but am working Smuggs again.

[bshpilot]

very nice install TenBear, I've got the same panel meters.

I put my AC panel meters on a separate breakers (one per 50A leg), just in case i needed to turn them off, but I've never turned 'em off in 3 years. I figure the AC meters don't cost me anything (as I'm either on shore power or generator) & the DC meter draws so little i figure it doesnt matter.

these panel meters run very cool - and the blue light makes for a reasonable "night light" (ours are in the bath area).

[tenbear]

Like others, I like volt meters and ammeters. Here is my monitoring panel. The meters were all bought on eBay. The switches on the lower left turn the meters on and off.

[pianotuna]

Hi Matt,

The Trimetric doesn't do a peukert calculation. It appears to be the first recommended for threads about RV's.

[Matt_Colie]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Wayne,

Ask mena how he likes his Victron. At that time there was only one. The difference between the Victron and other meters is that it does a peukert calculation, so it gives a better "snapshot" of actual capacity.

I don't like such meters and prefer a simple voltmeter and a hall effect ammeter.

Piano,

All of the good monitors do that now. That is why I keep advising owners to install them in cruisers.

Matt

[pianotuna]

Hi Wayne,

Ask mena how he likes his Victron. At that time there was only one. The difference between the Victron and other meters is that it does a peukert calculation, so it gives a better "snapshot" of actual capacity.

I don't like such meters and prefer a simple voltmeter and a hall effect ammeter.

[jmckelvy]

I use a Xantrex XBM system. Tells you everything you need to know. I have two expensive Lifeline AGM batteries that are coming up on 7 years old. Still working great. Hope they last another 7 years.:)

[Bumpyroad]

pianotuna wrote:
X 2

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

x3
if anything doesn't work right, it is the black water tank sensors.
bumpy

[wmoses]

Sandia Man wrote:
I keep it simple and use the plug into socket type to monitor AC & DC voltages.

My approach also. Leaves more time for camping ... 😉

[wmoses]

"A" Victron and "the Victron"? According to the webpage in this link Victron appears to have more than one - which one?

[Matt_Colie]

Steve,

You don't have to pay attention to what lasttruck or I write, but you can save yourself a lot of grief here (and maybe some money too)..

For batteries, use GC2 series (anybody's bets 12V in parallel).
Get a real monitor like Trimetric, Xantrex or Victron.
Get a good converter charger that is smart, and three or four stage. Suppliers are Progressive Dynamics, Iota and (Iforgot).

Lead/Acid batteries do not like to play well in parallel.
A volt meter can tell you if you might be in trouble.
An amp meter can tell you what is happening right this moment only.
A real monitor will tell you if and when you might start to worry and a lot more.

This is the sort of thing on other people's expensive performance cruisers (read racing yachts put out to pasture) before the depression. I am trying to pass along other peoples costly lessons.

Matt

[pianotuna]

X 2

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

[bshpilot]

Inside the coach I monitor DC Volts (only) - its not very sophisticated i know, but its better than nothing.
I also monitor my AC Volts & Current (2 10 dollar LCD Panel meters).

I just added a external AC Volt (only) panel meter (its only connected to one of my 50a legs) but it tells me what the pedestal (or generator) are putting out - so i don't have to go into the coach to check.

I also added a DC Volt member (outside) so i could keep my eyes on the converter/charger & the batteries.

Im not running any Solar Panels (yet)....so i added an Onan EC-30W auto-start for the gen....it will start the generator if the battery voltage gets too low (so the generator can re-charge the batteries), the EC-30w also will start the generator if the coach (interior gets too hot or too cold)

Inside panel Meters:



outside monitors: