paulajayne
Active member
I am looking to log my house bank amps draw .
Suggestions of best way or tool to gather data over a long period please.
Suggestions of best way or tool to gather data over a long period please.
I was going to suggest something similar. I bought a slightly more expensive one years ago and it is still going strong. I just slipped the current sensor over the wire and connected 12V to get it going and it had a Bluetooth app as well as a LCD. Unfortunately, I've never seen that model again. Ones on eBay will probably not have Bluetooth and use a shunt or be wired in-line but seem good value for under £10. I imagine they will meet OP's requirements if manual readings are collected at intervals.Would one of these do the job? Digital Monitor LCD Watt Meter Ammeter RC Battery Power Amp Analyzer DC 60V/100A | eBay
This sounds very useful. Do you have the name/model etc - might be able to find something similarI was going to suggest something similar. I bought a slightly more expensive one years ago and it is still going strong. I just slipped the current sensor over the wire and connected 12V to get it going and it had a Bluetooth app as well as a LCD. Unfortunately, I've never seen that model again. Ones on eBay will probably not have Bluetooth and use a shunt or be wired in-line but seem good value for under £10. I imagine they will meet OP's requirements if manual readings are collected at intervals.
Not very granular data but OP could get that from an ESP32 if he wanted a winter project to collect current data over time.
This sounds very useful. Do you have the name/model etc - might be able to find something similar
It is feasible that the Bluetooth link would be between the sensor and the display but not the most likely option. Bluetooth is usually used to provide a remote display rather than a data link from a sensor. It could be used to remove wiring between sensor and a display box but is more likely to be another type of wireless link in that case. Could be Bluetooth of course and the sensor would provide data to a phone and a dedicated display, just a less common option.I see there are a couple of bluetooth models curently being advertised. How accurate are they likely to be?
Does the bluetooth operate between the sensor and the fixed display, or between sensor and phone/pc?
I think the instruments the OP already has on his boat will simply display a single reading with no logging feature. The super-cheap Chinese Bluetooth box I have can be used to collect data because it is a Bluetooth device and uses a known standard for data transmission. I can't remember what it is called off-hand. The app. supplied does produce a graph but has no means of saving the data. However, I did once connect to a Bluetooth terminal type app. on my phone and it spooled out lines of data in an easily read format. I was able to copy and paste the output but a bit clunky. I think I'd need to find an app designed to collect the data and tweak frequency etc. Probably not very difficult to write as the functionality isn't very complex.Do the instruments listed above log* or just display the current amps being used?
log = record the date, time, amps drawn and perhaps the voltage; in a format that can be used at a later date, e.g. a CSV file?
Do the instruments listed above log* or just display the current amps being used?
log = record the date, time, amps drawn and perhaps the voltage; in a format that can be used at a later date, e.g. a CSV file?
Very useful to have anyway. I remember when I bought one years ago that it was tricky to get one to handle DC current with the clamp. I had to read the small print carefully as many only worked with AC or required direct wired connection for AC current. The adverts were often vague and led you to believe the clamp could measure AC and DC current. I did eventually find one with AC/DC current at a reasonable price.Yes just display data with no logging ability.
I have ordered this:-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07Q6HJRYR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Spec seems to indicate it will do what I require.
@Mistroma I will Update here if the above works.
Paula
Good grief with all that power why do you need to monitor current draw ? !!!!!! ?I have a Nasa BM2 fitted at present which displays amp draw and voltage as well at percentage battery state.
What I would like to do it poll the amp data at say 10 minute intervals for several weeks to do a trend analysis and then plan for solar upgrade.
Currently have victron quatro 12/5000/120 on my 960 amp/h house bank with two 320 solar panels running into victron 75/10 solar units.
Good grief with all that power why do you need to monitor current draw ? !!!!!! ?
You’ll just have to temper the use of the washing machine!Atlantic crossing and trying to go off grid, apart from diesel.
Need to ensure that solar and wind will keep up with our normal usage.
Washing machine is wired to shore power only so cannot run at sea.You’ll just have to temper the use of the washing machine!