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Battery Monitoring System

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DKCruzser

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Battery Monitoring System
« on: September 15, 2020, 11:14:08 am »
After our recent trip of boondocking I realize the importance of having a battery monitoring system.   What system to you use and why did you choose your system over others.

thanks

dave
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donc13

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Re: Battery Monitoring System
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2020, 01:51:32 pm »
I just use the inverter panel.  If I don't have the inverter on, only takes a few seconds to turn on, read the voltage and then turn off.

Don
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fandj

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Re: Battery Monitoring System
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2020, 03:36:06 pm »
We have the Victron battery monitor. I installed it shortly after picking up our PC at the factory.  We also have two 160 watt solar panels.


The Victron unit provides a reliable SOC (state of charge), battery voltage, current into or out of the battery, and amp hours consumed.  There are other parameters available but these are the main ones I use.


We frequently boondock and would be lost without the Victron.  In a previous RV we tried just using a voltmeter and found it lacking.  Our BMS is very useful in trouble shooting for most things 12 volt related.


There are other brands of BMS units but we are seeing more Victron units now than other brands.  We could not be happier.

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2 Lucky

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Re: Battery Monitoring System
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2020, 03:45:12 pm »
There are many 12v lighter-socket type displays, some with usb ports like this:

 https://www.amazon.com/Palumma-Charger-Adapter-Display-Battery/dp/B0773BYS6P/ref=sr_1_36?dchild=1&keywords=12+volt+battery+charge+gauge&qid=1600198626&sr=8-36 .)

If you boondock a lot, invest in solar (permanent or portable,) to keep your batteries up each day. Most systems will have a charge controller that displays many factors.
Riding the fine line between bravery and stupidity since infancy.

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keelhauler

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Re: Battery Monitoring System
« Reply #4 on: September 15, 2020, 05:03:21 pm »
Voltmeters give a general idea about what the battery charge is but you really need a system that keeps track of how many amps you use and how many amps you put back.

I like the Bogart Trimetric TM-2030 Battery-Monitor
http://www.bogartengineering.com/products/battery-monitor.html




John

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mikeh

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Re: Battery Monitoring System
« Reply #5 on: September 15, 2020, 06:10:20 pm »
Dave,

I second John on the Trimetric TM-2030. It was an option from Phoenix on my 2019 build--and based on other experiences that I read on the forum I opted for it.  Since I also went with solar, Bogart makes a solar controller that interfaces with the TM-2030 which allows you to tweak your solar charge parameters through the battery monitor--that made it all the more attractive. With the Trimetric, I know exactly what my percent of charge on my house bank is at any given time, and can monitor amperage flow (to the tenths of amp) into or out of the bank, which means you can instantly see the effect of any load change or any charge input change and know what effect it's going to have. I have certainly heard good things about the Victron unit that F&J recommends, and I suspect that you would be happy with either the Bogart or Victron system, but in my application the Trimetric TM-2030 has been excellent.

Mike

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Battery Monitoring System
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2020, 12:46:29 am »
As keelhauler mentioned, a simple volt meter provides something.  Though it can be misleading, it is better than nothing.

I installed a voltmeter in our stove hood.
CLICK HERE for pictures of the volt meter and installation, applicable to PCs with the older stove hood design.  Because it is in plain sight, I learned how to interpret the reading.  It basically comes down to what is turned on at the time you look at the voltage.  The voltage drops with more stuff running.  It does help me understand what things turned on, are hard on my batteries.

Though the volt meter is not ideal, I still find it very useful, so much better than relying on the PC-supplied LED lights on the inverter and stove hood read-out.  By the time both read-outs said it is time to charge the batteries, I waited way too long.  I made a decal of how to interpret the voltage reading and stuck it on the inside of the cabinet door above the sink.


We boon dock almost exclusively and we have a tow vehicle which keeps our PC parked.  I learned it is best to run the generator every morning for about an hour, and sometimes a little more when we return from a day out.  I prefer using a secondary battery charger instead of the on-board Tripp-Lite because it charges faster and tells me how it's going.

Here is how I utilize my charging time more effectively.  The readout is "charging amperage" which never gets to say "FULL" when camping because something in the rig is always running.  I really need to update this picture now that I have two 6V batteries without a battery tray.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2020, 11:29:02 am by Ron Dittmer »
Ron (& Irene) Dittmer

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fandj

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Re: Battery Monitoring System
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2020, 09:51:39 am »
I have attached a photo of our Victron Battery Monitor. On our PC 2552 it is mounted just under the kitchen counter.  In this location it is easily seen plus it offers advantage when doing the wiring.


Most higher end monitors like the Trimetric and the Victron require installing a shunt. The shunt is used to sense the amount of current (amps) going to and from the battery. It should be installed on the large gauge ground wire going to the battery. They also require connecting a small power wire to the plus 12 volt.  Since the batteries are underneath the kitchen sink area on the 2552 it simplifies installing the monitor wiring as all wiring can be done in the sink cabinet thus shorter wire runs.


I think the newer Victron units also offer the ability to view the monitor data from your phone.  This could be a useful feature.  When I purchased our unit this remote monitoring was not available.


Dave, I am not familiar with the layout of your 2910 but I thought explaining my mounting logic might be helpful in installing your monitor.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2020, 10:10:23 am by fandj »

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hutch42

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Re: Battery Monitoring System
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2020, 03:04:48 pm »
Weve used Xantrex Link 2000 on our two boats.  Gives you more info then you need.  A little overkill for an RV I think.  Although some of the new class B's with the honking big Lithium packages and solar have started to use.  Victron looks like a real nice easy system.