Battery monitors... (1 Viewer)

Charlie

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On the sergeant control panel in our MH there is a button we can press that shows the remaining charge left in the vehicle battery or the leisure battery .. But it's basic to say the least. Not sure I would trust it to be honest.

So I'm thinking along the lines of either a battery monitor for just the leisure battery or one for each battery.

How easy are these things to wire ? Is it just a simple wire to each terminal on the battery up to the monitor display or is there more to it ?

Cheers
 
May 29, 2013
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As you say, two wires from simple digital voltmeter one to each terminal, but you want a very low current fuse in the positive line right on the terminal
 

pappajohn

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Monitors such as the NASA BM1 require a 100amp shunt on the battery but it still only calculates from a known capacity and voltage in much the same way as the sergeant unit.
The difference being it will show you in real time what current (amps) is being drawn and replaced at any give time.

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andy63

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The Stirling monitor shown in the first photo..would be capable of doing what you want... you would need a shunt for each battery bank you want to monitor for current and the amp hour function is only available on one circuit. ...There is no estimating and inputting the battery bank capacity... simply start off from fully charged batteries and a zero reading on the amp hr's.
20151112_122407.jpg


I'll add a photo of a Chinese version at a fraction of the cost but not got round to playing with it yet..The instructions for setting it up were a bit more involved and put me off :).. With that one you might need one for each battery bank... can't remember...
Some say they are unnecessary,but I find the Stirling one great..and judging by the number of people who keep asking what their electrical usage and state is ,a worthwhile device if you have the money to get and fit one..
Ta Andy.
20151112_122620.jpg

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Charlie

Charlie

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Monitors such as the NASA BM1 require a 100amp shunt on the battery but it still only calculates from a known capacity and voltage in much the same way as the sergeant unit.
The difference being it will show you in real time what current (amps) is being drawn and replaced at any give time.

The Nasa is the one I like the look of. I saw it has a "shunt" but a bit unsure what it does or how it would wire in which is why I asked the question above.

What is this shunt and what does it do ?

Would I need one panel for the leisure battery and another for the vehicle battery ?

Is the Nasa BM1 a surface mount panel ? It looks in the pictures like a thin panel and that would suit what I have in mind..

Thanks !
 

andy63

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What is this shunt and what does it do ?

Would I need one panel for the leisure battery and another for the vehicle battery

the shunt is just a very low known resistance which is wired in series with the battery bank in quite often either the positive or negative side.. the wires (light duty) off each end of the shunt measure the small volt drop for a given current and displays that current flow on the panel..
not sure whether the Nasa one has the facility for more than one shunt to be connected but know the stirling one in the photo above has..
ta andy
 

Lenny HB

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I'll add a photo of a Chinese version at a fraction of the cost but not got round to playing with it yet..The instructions for setting it up were a bit more involved and put me off :).. With that one you might need one for each battery bank... can't remember...
Some say they are unnecessary,but I find the Stirling one great..and judging by the number of people who keep asking what their electrical usage and state is ,a worthwhile device if you have the money to get and fit one..
Ta Andy.
View attachment 82765
I think you will find the factory settings as it comes work fine. If you want to make wiring easy they now do a wireless add on for about 20 quid so you don't need to run any wires from the shunt to the meter.
 
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Charlie

Charlie

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I seem to remember a thread perhaps a couple of years ago (by Gromett I think) based on experience of both the Nasa and Victron battery monitors and the writer came down in favour of the Victron unit.
http://www.victronenergy.com/battery-monitors/bmv-700
The victron as far as I can work out is not a flat panel.. For the installation I plan to do I need a flat panel that doesent stick out far.

Thanks.
 
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Charlie

Charlie

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No you will need to cut no matter what monitoring system you fit.
View attachment 82826
I think the Nasa one if a flat panel... If it's not the Nasa compact is. I can't cut behind where I want to mount it so its s flat one or I have to start again.

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The wire is no problem.. Cutting the panel is not possible.. I think the standard Nasa BM1 is also s flat panel.. Flatter in fact than the one in your link.
No, not true. I have a NASA-BM1 in my self-build and it definitely needed a round hole cutting for the body to drop into. The square display that sits on top of the panel is about 1cm thick but the round body extends rearwards form the back.

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Charlie

Charlie

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No, not true. I have a NASA-BM1 in my self-build and it definitely needed a round hole cutting for the body to drop into. The square display that sits on top of the panel is about 1cm thick but the round body extends rearwards form the back.

Mmmmm . When I googled the Nasa BM1 dimensions it said 110 X 110 X 27...... There was no mention about it requiring a cut out at the rear . I sent a message to an EBay seller asking if the item was as it appeared a flat screen device which required no cutting behind it as I have no space to cut. The reply was that it is just as it appears a flat screen....

Back to square one .
 

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