I purchased a DROK® Digital Multimeter DC 6.5-100V 20A Voltage Amperage Power Energy Meter DC Volt Amp Tester Gauge Monitor LCD Digital Display with Blue Backlight Measuring Volts Current with Built-in Shunt to monitor my battery. I'm having trouble figuring out how to install this device and support from DROK is less than useless. Judging from the time stamp on there responses, I think they are in the UK and don't understand us yanks. Have in of you folks successfully installed one of the devices?

Please post a link to what you bought.The voltage meter part is easy enough, the ammeter a bit trickier especially only 20amps.Is this for a solar system?

So this is the gizmo?DrokThis picture shows what connections are needed:The middle two screws are your +/- for the battery connection... connect these to any fused circuit that is handy. + to positive, and - to either ground or the rv's frameThe outside two screws are for the ammeter. Since it's only 20a, you won't be able to monitor your entire DC system, but you can measure any single circuit with up to a 15 amp fuse. Maybe your water pump, or your interior lights, or a small solar panel system.The meter needs to be IN SERIES with the "load", which is what you want to monitor. This part gets tricky, since every model RV is a little different inside.My KZ uses a WFCO fuse box and converter all in one unit. Each fuse is labeled with a color, that corresponds to a colored wire coming out the back. The fuse for my pump is a brown wire as I recall. So if I wanted to put this meter in to monitor energy usage by the pump, I would disconnect the brown wire from the wire that disappears into the rv (the wire going to the pump). The brown wire, from the fuse box, would connect to the (+) load terminal on the meter. The wire leading off into the RV, going to the pump, would connect to the (-) load terminal of the meter.Your fuse box could be completely different. If you're uncomfortable messing with the wires, find an electrician to help you.

Maybe I bought the wrong device. What I want to do is a simple volt meter function to measure battery status and amps the 12 volt systems are using from the battery. What I want is for the load to be the entire trailer. Does this make since?

To measure energy usage for the whole trailer, look for a module that handles at least 100amps.Consider something like a Tri Metric.Something like this might work, a lot less expensive than the Tri Metric:eBay 100A meterEssentially, you connect it in series between your battery's (+) positive terminal and everything else. For safety's sake, leave your break-away switch connected to the battery (+).

i think this one is easier to understand and hook upbaylite 100 amp & volt meterthe donut aka "hall effect sensor" does around main power cable either positive or negativeplug cable into meter, then connect power leadsNot sure if it indicates PLUS/minus flow on amps,these have a switch, to choose mode, amps, volts OR alternating amps/voltsswitch in on the back, set the mode before you mount the meter in the wall

Drok DC monitor | Good Sam Community

MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 20, 2016
Glad to help out
chiefward
Explorer
Aug 20, 2016
Thanks for all the advise. I'm going to order the one MrWizard is using because if I have an installation problem I know who to contact.
jhilley
Explorer
Aug 19, 2016
The DROK has a serious disadvantage for measuring the current for the whole trailer. The shunt is built into the meter requiring it to be put in the large wire from battery. The other devices with external shunt are a better application for a trailer.
MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 18, 2016
took this video last night of the battery meter
showing 21 amps discharge ,12.75v during discharge AKA load
608amphrs remaining capacity of 674 (aka down 66amphrs), 90.2 percent SOC

click on image to play video
MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 18, 2016
That sensor is less than 2" across, outside diameter
I have the meter I haven't mounted yet
Because i really like the power meter I'm using
The 200 amp meter that counts the amp hours and shows the capacity/soc
GordonThree
Explorer
Aug 18, 2016
I didn't realize the hall effect was accurate over such great distance... at least from the picture, that sensor donut looks huge.

I've used some very expensive calibrated hall effect current monitors from Allegro Microsystems, and the sensing conductor is built right into the microchip, so it can be microns away from the hall effect sensor. For very high current, they advise you can stick the chip on top of a heavy copper bar conductor, but still the separation is hundredths of an inch.

I've only used AC clampmeters, never studied a DC clampmeter. The ac meter used a split core transformer built into the jaws... wasn't very accurate, range was 1 to 1000 amps AC, not even tenths let alone hundredths were measured.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2016
I assume that you might be looking for a clamp style meter like those listed here:
Fluke Amp Meters
These allow you to get an instant check of usage on any one line. It can also be used on incoming power lines but it likely most useful at identifying loads on individual circuits.
MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 17, 2016
this is a good meter, it uses a SHUNT to measure amps
and it tracks amp hrs in and out to show the percent of charge/capacity
members of the forum call it ,the 'poor mans trimetric'

http://goo.gl/e66TcH

i have the 200amp version on the dining area wall

here is link to a video of mine in operation
MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 17, 2016
YES.. "Hall Effect"
its for DC, works the same way as the 'clamp on' DC amp meters
GordonThree
Explorer
Aug 17, 2016
That inductive sensor works with DC current ?