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11-19-2013, 08:38 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1990 25' Excella
Sisters
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,195
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Simple & Inexpensive Battery Level Monitor?
I have searched on battery monitors and found the Trimetric and another more expensive one. But I haven't found a cheap and simple solution. I don't need a mission control level setup, I just want to be able to monitor the charge level of my two deep cycle 12V batteries during my upcoming 4-month trek. I plan to try and go 3-4 days dry camping from time to time and would like to monitor consumption.
Any inexpensive solutions that an electricity dummy like me can DIY?
Thanks,
Poppy
__________________
John Audette
Air Cooled Porsche Specialist -
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. ~ Robert Frost
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11-19-2013, 08:40 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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__________________
Regards,
Steve
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11-19-2013, 08:52 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1990 25' Excella
Sisters
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,195
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Thanks Steve. How would you wire that? (Did I mention that I'm an electricity dummy?)
Poppy
__________________
John Audette
Air Cooled Porsche Specialist -
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. ~ Robert Frost
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11-19-2013, 09:56 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,408
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdmaestro
Thanks Steve. How would you wire that? (Did I mention that I'm an electricity dummy?) Poppy
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Plug it into a 12volt outlet in the trailer. If the 12volt circuits are ok, you will get a really close reading.
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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11-19-2013, 10:14 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1976 Argosy 22
Pasadena
, California
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 533
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I am gonna give a vote toward the trimetric monitor. I know you want cheaper but it is an easy install and is super accurate. My favorite feature is being able to see how much amperage you are currently drawing. That way you can see exactly what certain devices take to power them...
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1976 22' Airstream Argosy
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11-19-2013, 10:20 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,376
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
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Hi, I have this same exact battery monitor in my trailer; It's plugged into the 12 volt socket in my bedroom.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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11-20-2013, 04:39 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdmaestro
Thanks Steve. How would you wire that? (Did I mention that I'm an electricity dummy?)
Poppy
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Yea, you just plug it into the cigarette lighter socket, and it will give you a digital readout of the battery voltage, as well as a green, yellow, and red status lights so you can see the battery condition at a glance.
Basically, you don't want to take your battery voltage below 12.0 volts.
Have you considered a solar panel? They work great in good sunny weather.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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11-20-2013, 04:47 AM
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#8
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Yep....KISS works for us, also plugs into the 12v power port.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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11-20-2013, 04:54 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Basically, you don't want to draw your batteries down below 12.2 VDC (the generally accepted 50% depth of discharge, measured at 77şF). While you can draw below this level, it will negatively effect the number of charge cycles, and thus the overall life, of your battery bank.
The Innova device will give you an estimate of your true battery voltage, but that measurement is really at the point of contact. You are, in effect, measuring the state of your 12VDC system at the 12VDC socket.
Due to the way Airstream connects the batteries to the power bus and distribution system, there will be a noticeable voltage drop from the battery terminals to the 12VDC socket, so the numbers on the gauge are simply an estimate.
If you also measure the true battery voltage at the battery with a multi-meter, you can compare that to the digital readout and get a pretty good idea of your voltage drop to that outlet and compensate accordingly.
Cheap is cheap. Nothing beats a shunt-based measuring system like the TriMetric, Magnum ME-BMK or the Blue Sky solar controllers with the IPN remote for complete and accurate battery monitoring and voltage measurement.
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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11-20-2013, 09:36 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1990 25' Excella
Sisters
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,195
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Thanks for the input. Solar panels are planned in the near future. In the meantime I'm going with one of the cheap devices. I just bought this one from Amazon - DROK Cigarette Lighter Digital Blue LED Voltage Monitor 12 V 24V+USB Car Charger 5V/2A For IPhone/IPad/IPod - Amazon.com - that displays voltage and also has a port for charging my iPhone or iPad. I like the idea of checking the voltage directly at the battery from time to time and comparing the two.
Poppy
__________________
John Audette
Air Cooled Porsche Specialist -
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. ~ Robert Frost
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11-20-2013, 09:57 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2010 22' Interstate
Anchorage
, Alaska
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lewster
Cheap is cheap. Nothing beats a shunt-based measuring system like the TriMetric, Magnum ME-BMK or the Blue Sky solar controllers with the IPN remote for complete and accurate battery monitoring and voltage measurement.
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I agree 110% with lewster. In addition to the voltage drop issue he mentions, there is this; SOC tables are based on open circuit voltage. So ideally you would read the voltage with EVERYTHING disconnected from the battery which is difficult to do. Further, for the voltage reading to be a meaningful indicator of SOC, you have to let the batteries sit for an hour or so after any charging activity to allow time for the surface charge to dissipate. A device that gives you a digital reading of the voltage at a 12v outlet is better than nothing I suppose but only barely. IMHO
__________________
- wayne
2010 Interstate 3500 Twin Bed
(2008 Freightliner CRD Sprinter)
AIR #44779
TAC AK-1 !!
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11-20-2013, 10:08 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,408
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdmaestro
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Poppy,
If power at outlet is low then you can check at battery. The voltage won't be greater at outlet.
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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11-20-2013, 10:16 AM
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#13
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3 Rivet Member
2003 25' Safari
Riverside
, California
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 234
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Most of my camping is boondocking,even with a 50 watt solar system my wife could kill the batteries in 2 days.Now at 200 watts we get by pretty good.I don't see getting 4 days out of batteries unless you are very frugal with power useage
__________________
2003 25' Safari
2005 Ram 2500 4x4
1994 Ram 2500 4x4
2015 Toyota Tacoma trd 4x4
2000 Jeep Wrangler 4x4
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11-20-2013, 10:24 AM
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#14
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdmaestro
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Poppy,
We tink alike...
I just bought two of these.
One to keep track of the 6v in the Ford. (mounted in a box w/on/off switch)
The other will get put in the glove box of the boat.
POI...these are within .1-.2v on my Fluke VO. I would think yours would be comparable. Take a reading at the batt's for a baseline to compare with the power port.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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11-20-2013, 02:50 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,376
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Hi, there is the possibility that my battery monitor won't read exactly the same as my Fluke meter. Without a load on the system, I don't believe that there would, could, should, or will be any difference in the 12 volt reading at the battery or any other place on my trailer. To be actually different there has to be a load, short, poor hot, or poor ground connection. Your 12 Volt battery/ies aren't trying to start an engine. There is no major load on your 12 Volt system in your trailer.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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11-20-2013, 03:30 PM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member
1967 22' Safari
Long Beach
, California
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 88
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Hi Birdmaestro:
The cigarette lighter voltage meter method mentioned here is easy, cheap and works great.
(A little off topic, but I believe it relates). Years ago I temporarily put an amp hour meter between the battery and the 12 volt fuse box. I turned on one 12 volt item at a time and wrote down how much each item was drawing from the battery. I posted the list inside a cabinet and used it to estimate how much was being taken from the battery. Not perfect, but it works for me. -- Enjoy!
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11-20-2013, 03:46 PM
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#17
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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meter not load...
The difference for me is in the $39.00 Volt-Minder & $11.00 Druk.
I just note that both cheep meters are consistently low.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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