power consumption audit

[ColinR]

is there a simple way of doing this without trying to find the consumption of each instrument and adding it all up? Cant you put a meter on the lead from the domestic battery and switch things on one by one? Any suggestions?

Many thanks

colin

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

The NASA Battery monitor is a good buy, and very useful for seeing charge and discharge in rel time.

Costs a ton.

Certainly brought out the power miser in me )

 

[bobgoode]

Well the easy way is to tot up the wattage of each....butyou can also put am ammeter in the lead from the battery. This option does have it's difficulties. If going down this route then a normal digital meter on 10A setting but only turn one one thing at a time.

 

[bobgoode]

Whilst writing the reply just thought of NASA but MarkJohnson 12345 beat me to it.

 

[ColinR]

I have the remote control which goes with the sterling digital regulator. It shows battery charge but doesn't seem to monitor amps used.

 

[homa]

NASA battery monitor

I don't mean to hijack the thread but...
I've been thinking about fitting one of these NASA Battery monitors.
Where exactly do these things connect - can it be done by a DIYer like myself

 

[CPD]

Re: NASA battery monitor

Colin, I have fitted two of these now, not the NASA one, but DCM600's. they are great bits of kit and easy to connect. They are essentially AH counters. You programme it with your battery capacity and it measures (via a shunt that comes with it) the current draw from/to the battery, and tells you AH left or as a %. It will also measure battery voltages. Get one.