Baterry condition meters.

[ccscott49]

Peeps!
What is the best and I mean dogs danglies best, battery monitor system for three banks of batteries, 2 x 24v and 1 x 12v. I have a sterling right now and its been OK, but is now not working correctly and if I'm going to replace, would like something better, with newer tech etc. If it would use the existing ballast resistors (shunts) this would be a benefit.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[pvb]

The nicest looking unit with the best display is the BEP MS3 monitor, but it only shows 2 banks (like most monitors).

 

[halcyon]

Peeps!
What is the best and I mean dogs danglies best, battery monitor system for three banks of batteries, 2 x 24v and 1 x 12v. I have a sterling right now and its been OK, but is now not working correctly and if I'm going to replace, would like something better, with newer tech etc. If it would use the existing ballast resistors (shunts) this would be a benefit.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Are saying battery monitor, as volts and amps, or battery monitor as in amphour ?

Brian

 

[Stu Jackson]

Try Victron, very easy install. If you have a DVM, use it to check your start bank, and use the Victron for the house bank. The start bank is almost always full and rarely does it need an amp hour meter like the house bank does.

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=125606

 

[ianj99]

Easy to fit led voltmeter

If you just want accurate volts, then 3 of these will work and are easy to fit.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-panel-voltmeters/4554494/

You'd need a 5volt supply to run them off and a couple of resistors to drop the input voltage from 24 and 12v. (so they read 199.9v for the 24v batteries and 19.99v for the 12v battery)

They aren't cheap though.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-panel-voltmeters/4199356/

Is a cheaper option but not illuminated. Even easier to fit as only needs a 6mm hole. 5 to 7v supply needed (one for all 3 modules)

 

[bigwow]

I;ve got one of these, they monitor three battery banks

http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/42787/BEP-600-DCM-Contour-Matrix-DC-Battery-Monitor.html

 

[pvb]

I;ve got one of these, they monitor three battery banks

http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/42787/BEP-600-DCM-Contour-Matrix-DC-Battery-Monitor.html

Doesn't it simply monitor voltage on 3 banks? For Ah capacity, it can only monitor 1 bank.

 

[grumpygit]

Peeps!
What is the best and I mean dogs danglies best, battery monitor system for three banks of batteries, 2 x 24v and 1 x 12v. I have a sterling right now and its been OK, but is now not working correctly and if I'm going to replace, would like something better, with newer tech etc. If it would use the existing ballast resistors (shunts) this would be a benefit.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

I use one of these http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/smartgauge.html for the domestic bank. It does up to 2 battery banks. (No shunts required). It works for us and is reasonably priced.
Then there is this http://www.masterplex.co.uk/index.html which I have no experience of.

____________________________________________________________________

 

[pvb]

I use one of these http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/smartgauge.html for the domestic bank. It does up to 2 battery banks.

It only measures simple voltage on the second bank. Like the 600DCM, it can only monitor the capacity of one bank.

 

[grumpygit]

It only measures simple voltage on the second bank. Like the 600DCM, it can only monitor the capacity of one bank.

You are right sorry I'd forgot. I only added one on to my one domestic bank (4 x 6volt in series = 24v@450ah) My engine and gen batteries are on the panel V and A digital meters.

____________________________________________________________________

 

[William_H]

If you just want accurate volts, then 3 of these will work and are easy to fit.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-panel-voltmeters/4554494/

You'd need a 5volt supply to run them off and a couple of resistors to drop the input voltage from 24 and 12v. (so they read 199.9v for the 24v batteries and 19.99v for the 12v battery)

They aren't cheap though.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-panel-voltmeters/4199356/

Is a cheaper option but not illuminated. Even easier to fit as only needs a 6mm hole. 5 to 7v supply needed (one for all 3 modules)

The links don't specify that the supply voltage needs to be provided 5 to 7 volts though this is typical of old technology DVM chips. The problem is that the negative of the supply is different to the negative of the supply of the voltage being measured so a small battery is the only realistic option. In the same way I think you would get confusing results if you tried to use the same 7v supply for DVM measuring 3 batteries.
If you want just volt meter then more modern types can use the measured voltage as a supply voltage
so much more convenient.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blue-Digi..._Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item19cbd0d3e5
This one claims no external power supply needed.
To measure 24v system you need to set the meter for 0 to 199.9 volts to give actual voltage readout. To use a meter 0 to 19.99 volts will give greater precision but you would have to double the readout to give actual volts.
Back to the OP question. I feel suspect about any device purporting to give battery condition like a "fuel gauge" IMHO batteries are not able to be measured realistically in this way.
I would go for Amp hour logging both in and out, volt meter and amp meter so that you can recharge when it seems necessary and be able to assess the worth of your recharging. (I mean here stop the engine when using it for recharge when the charge rate falls to a value that means a lot of engine run for little return)
Surely the Stirling system can be fixed? good luck olewill

 

[longjohnsilver]

Try Victron, very easy install. If you have a DVM, use it to check your start bank, and use the Victron for the house bank. The start bank is almost always full and rarely does it need an amp hour meter like the house bank does.

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=125606

I have 2 of these, one for each battery bank. They do everything I want. Easy to use and install and they look good (and small).
http://www.victronenergy.com/battery-monitors/bmv-600s%20and%20bmv-602s/

 

[ccscott49]

Are saying battery monitor, as volts and amps, or battery monitor as in amphour ?

Brian

I only need battery capacity, ah or puekerts would be better, for one bank, I have two 24v banks, one engine, one domestic and a 12v genny battery, all I need for those is volatge.

 

[SailorBill]

Peeps!
What is the best and I mean dogs danglies best, battery monitor system for three banks of batteries, 2 x 24v and 1 x 12v. I have a sterling right now and its been OK, but is now not working correctly and if I'm going to replace, would like something better, with newer tech etc. If it would use the existing ballast resistors (shunts) this would be a benefit.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Sterling's products have a very good reputation. Why not contact them, tell them what the problem is and see what they recommend?

 

[ccscott49]

Sterling's products have a very good reputation. Why not contact them, tell them what the problem is and see what they recommend?

I would like to go for a more modern system, using the puekerts method of capacity calculation, but failing all else, will send it back to them for a look see, always a problem when living overseas though.