Should I, Shouldn't I Battery monitor

[Brakers]

Well Kiddywinks I’ve been reading “Yes I know I shouldn’t” and it’s about the controversial, should I shouldn’t I battery monitors.

I have a battery indication on my control panel which at the moment is showing my leisure battery 11.6v (Fair) but I’ve seen on another post that 11.75v is 30% charged and leaving it at that level would damage it. I think it was Techno member I saw it on. Now I’ve driven back from Birmingham about a week ago and not been out in the van since.

So I’m a bit confused, the battery was put on new when I bought the vehicle about a month ago and I’ve only done the one run as I said to Birmingham and back.

Should I rely on the control panel monitor or will I need a dedicated battery monitor like the Nasa Marine BM-2 battery monitor which is just over £100.

I have a 100watt solar panel on the roof so I would have thought that the leisure battery by now should be nearly fully charged although I do realize that with inclement weather the solar panel will be producing very little to virtually no charge.
Many Thanks Tony

 

[DavidG58]

Interesting, my opinion is just that, I am probably the least technically able on here

11.6V is not fair it is close to something far more crude beginning with the same letter though

But I agree with you totally that the solar should have more or less kept up with any consumption, albeit early season fairly low sun etc

Something is not right, it should not have gone so low, unless you have left something on, or something is wired incorrectly

or the battery fitted was not new (cynical me again sorry)

is the solar system also new?

let the experts take over where I have started to confuse

 

[SMB]

I have the Nasa BM1 compact fitted, not just so I can see the battery level but also it tells you the discharge rate amongst other things which I found handy when using different appliances. If there is a problem on your system it might highlight the problem ie rate of discharge when there is no solar power going in. I had a problem with the electrics in my van which buggered my leisure batteries so when I replaced them I had the BM-1 fitted at the same time and never let them drop below 80%. Hope this helps.

 

[Brakers]

is the solar system also new

Hi David The motorhome I bought is 2008 and I assume the solar panel was installed when the vehicle was bought. The company who sold me the vehicle when they showed me the vehicle there was no battery on it and and they said they would put a new one on for me 110amp hr.

 

[Brakers]

I have the Nasa BM1 compact fitted

Hi SMB I read another post which had a Nasa Marine BM-2 battery monitor fitted do you know what the difference is between your BM1 and the BM2.
I can understand how helpfull seeying the discharge in Amps when using various items but how reliable and accurate are these meters compared to the ones the motorhome companies fit?
Many Thanks Tony

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[Lenny HB]

Sounds like the battery has had it, if you are looking at the voltage during the day with no load on the battery and output from the solar panel I would expect 13.6 to 14.4 volts depending on the solar regulator.

Battery voltages below are off load, to get a true reading you need to check it with the solar disconnected or in the dark.

 

[SMB]

Hi SMB I read another post which had a Nasa Marine BM-2 battery monitor fitted do you know what the difference is between your BM1 and the BM2.
I can understand how helpfull seeying the discharge in Amps when using various items but how reliable and accurate are these meters compared to the ones the motorhome companies fit?
Many Thanks Tony

Hi Tony, the difference is the load and charge rating, the BM-1 is 100A and the BM-2 is ....200A! Just looked it up online and I'm hopeless with electrics (amongst other things) but I have 4 x 110A batteries fitted to mine so it mustn't relate to the batteries! The standard display in my van is just LED dots on a circular display, pretty crap really.

 

[SMB]

Interesting, my opinion is just that, I am probably the least technically able on here

I beg to differ Sir, that would be me

 

[Brakers]

Just looked it up online and I'm hopeless with electrics

Hi SMB Join the Club I too am hopless with this sort of thing. Thanks you for finding the info on the battery monitors for me. I think I might have a problem with my system as some posts have indicated.
Many Thanks Tony

 

[SMB]

Hi SMB Join the Club I too am hopless with this sort of thing. Thanks you for finding the info on the battery monitors for me. I think I might have a problem with my system as some posts have indicated.
Many Thanks Tony

I had a wiring problem in my Sargent ECU box which meant that two circuits were drawing 5A even when the fittings on the circuits were switched off. My batteries flattened on the Portsmouth to Bilbao crossing due to lack of solar power. If you do get a battery monitor and you notice a drain, I used this to diagnose which circuits were causing the trouble, then I just removed the fuses until I could get it fixed:

Amazon product ASIN B008MOPKXI

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[Brakers]

I used this to diagnose which circuits were causing the trouble

Hi SMB That looks a great bit of kit, am I correct in saying the two prongs plug in where the fuse goes with the fuse removed? If so I'll get one myself.
Many Thanks Tony

 

[SMB]

Hi SMB That looks a great bit of kit, am I correct in saying the two prongs plug in where the fuse goes with the fuse removed? If so I'll get one myself.
Many Thanks Tony

Yes, you remove the fuse, place it in the slot on the top of the circuit tester then plug the prongs into the ECU fuse slot. It then gives you a reading of how many amps are been drawn on the circuit. You can also get the standard size fuse tester for the base vehicles fusebox.

 

[Brakers]

You can also get the standard size fuse tester for the base vehicles fusebox

Hi SMB so the fuse I will be linking into to check if there is battery drain is the one directly at the battery, Is the link you provided the meter I need for that or the standard one?

 

[Deleted member 29692]

My opinion, FWIW.

I don't have a battery monitor and don't want one. I pretty much know how long my batteries last. The solar ticks along and does its own thing. If I have the opportunity to plug in then I do so. Therefore having another bit of kit to tell me my batteries are flat would be a waste of time because there would be sod all I could do about it that I wasn't already doing.

To me it's akin to going online for a weather forecast instead of looking out the window.

 

[SMB]

Hi SMB so the fuse I will be linking into to check if there is battery drain is the one directly at the battery, Is the link you provided the meter I need for that or the standard one?

The previous link is for the mini-blade fuses which are used in the ECU box controlling the appliances in the living area. The standard fuse circuit tester for the base vehicle is this one or similar, there are a few on Amazon. I have both just in case!

Amazon product ASIN B001SBFZK0

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[SMB]

My opinion, FWIW.

I don't have a battery monitor and don't want one. I pretty much know how long my batteries last. The solar ticks along and does its own thing. If I have the opportunity to plug in then I do so. Therefore having another bit of kit to tell me my batteries are flat would be a waste of time because there would be sod all I could do about it that I wasn't already doing.

To me it's akin to going online for a weather forecast instead of looking out the window.

But I like gadgets

 

[Brakers]

I have both just in case!

Sounds good to me SMB I'll buy both as well, By the way your more inteligent than you make out, I think you are a dark horse. lol. Thanks Tony

 

[Deleted member 29692]

But I like gadgets

In that case could I interest you in my new patented motorhome rain detection device?

 

[SMB]

Oo

In that case could I interest you in my new patented motorhome rain detection device?

Ooh yes please, how much is it and can I wire it directly to my leisure batteries...hang on, its not putting your hand out of the window is it

 

[SMB]

Sounds good to me SMB I'll buy both as well, By the way your more inteligent than you make out, I think you are a dark horse. lol. Thanks Tony

Ha ha thanks Tony but I was shown ho to do this by a fellow motorhomer who I met when I first found out I had an electrics problem! I'm always willing to learn though

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[Deleted member 29692]

Oo

Ooh yes please, how much is it and can I wire it directly to my leisure batteries...hang on, its not putting your hand out of the window is it

No it's far more technical than that.

It's a saucer.

We bolt it to a convenient surface in your motorhome directly below the 4 inch hole we drill in your roof light at no extra charge as part of the installation.

If the saucer is wet then it's raining

Funster special offer price of £400 plus VAT supplied and fitted

 

[SMB]

No it's far more technical than that.

It's a saucer.

We bolt it to a convenient surface in your motorhome directly below the 4 inch hole we drill in your roof light at no extra charge as part of the installation.

If the saucer is wet then it's raining

Funster special offer price of £400 plus VAT supplied and fitted

Had a free one, it was called a 'sealant has perished leak' so I went for the budget 'duct tape water repeller' then upgraded to the 'Sikaflex 512 more permanent seal', looks like I saved myself a fortune. The downside is I now have to look out of the window and guess whether its raining

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Had a free one, it was called a 'sealant has perished leak'

Ahh. I didn't realise you had a Swift. It comes as standard on those

 

[Brakers]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm creeping in to this thread?

 

[andy63]

Well needless to say I don't agree with nicks views on the power management panels ....
Seriously I think for a lot of people they are worth having...
How many times do you see people asking what their usage is..
Mine constantly reminds me I have things switched on which arnt immediately obvious.. and gives me a figure of amp hrs used and the need to charge my batteries before they are too discharged... and with the ever increasing use of solar you may be seeing a healthy looking voltage and yet have used quite a few amp hrs..(while there is light )
Granted the better ones are pricy and may not be worth the bother for most but if you like gadgets...It's more interesting than the telly watching the panel....
Andy.

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[DBK]

Well Kiddywinks I’ve been reading “Yes I know I shouldn’t” and it’s about the controversial, should I shouldn’t I battery monitors.

I have a battery indication on my control panel which at the moment is showing my leisure battery 11.6v (Fair) but I’ve seen on another post that 11.75v is 30% charged and leaving it at that level would damage it. I think it was Techno member I saw it on. Now I’ve driven back from Birmingham about a week ago and not been out in the van since.

So I’m a bit confused, the battery was put on new when I bought the vehicle about a month ago and I’ve only done the one run as I said to Birmingham and back.

Should I rely on the control panel monitor or will I need a dedicated battery monitor like the Nasa Marine BM-2 battery monitor which is just over £100.

I have a 100watt solar panel on the roof so I would have thought that the leisure battery by now should be nearly fully charged although I do realize that with inclement weather the solar panel will be producing very little to virtually no charge.
Many Thanks Tony

Our MH has the BM1 and I wouldn't be without it because it tells me if the batteries are being charged or not and the battery voltage.

Does the meter you have only show battery voltage or can you press a button and it shows current. If it can do that you don't need anything else.

 

[Brakers]

I have things switched on which arnt immediately obvious.

Hi Andy That is a good point, although I'm new to motorhoming my van has so many things which need to be turned of it's easy to forget one.
Many Thanks Tony

 

[SMB]

Ahh. I didn't realise you had a Swift. It comes as standard on those

Never a truer word spoken, though its not a Konliki. And after getting caught in the Albufeira monsoon last October I can confirm that it is now as waterproof as a submarine! Ish...

 

[Xabia]

Tony, I have a Victron Battery Monitor which is a really good bit of kit. Tells me what the solar panel is putting into the battery, state of charge, how long the battery will sustain the current being drawn, discharge rate, etc, etc. It showed up a discharge when I thought nothing was operating as the vehicle was parked up, turned out to be the inverter which, whilst not being used, was not switched off and was drawing a constant small amount from the leisure batteries.

I wouldn't be without it.

Mike

 

[SMB]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm creeping in to this thread?

No its just MHF members sense of humour....warped sense of humour

Ps I forgot to mention the BM-1 has a cool blue backlight, perfect for those wet evenings when you have nothing better to do (stick your hand out of the window first to confirm it is actually raining)

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