liesure battery monitor.

karlpe

My zig type unit in the van just has a light that is green for good charge and red for low charge. This works fine but is there a gauge that can show what power is left in the battery at a glance.
tks.
 

jagmanx

Charge or Voltage

I have a very cheap digital display which shows the voltage.
It is good to see the figure rising from say 12.8V at 8am to 13.8V or more by midday (solar panel).
Whilst this does not show the charge held it aids in ensuring the voltage (related to the charge held) does not drop too low.
 

Teutone

I have a NASA BM1. Easy to install and works ok.
Just looking at the voltage can be misleading. When you use your 12V appliances the Viltage can drop to 12.5V and make you thing you are running low but as soon you switch stuff off the Voltage goes back up to 12.7
Same for seeing 13.8 during the day when the solar panel sees some sun. That can still mean a half discharged battery.

But you need to make sure to wire the monitor correctly, i had some funny readings when the second leisure battery went in and i didn't realise that i only read the first battery with the monitor
 

st3v3

Forum Member
Do you have any plans to fit solar any time soon? Most controllers will have a voltage reading.

Or, I cut out those led's and fitted a small voltmeter and push button to operate it.

15933310536_d51b51ac08_c.jpg


15933316796_3d0b5e05da_c.jpg
 

Tbear

I use a simple volt meter. Not perfect but simple and easy to use.

Just looked at the Zig CPX-7 which appears to be a simple volt meter. Over £50 each, time for a bit of competition in that market me thinks. Shop admin needs to get on the case. :)

Richard
 
trevskoda

trevskoda

Forum Member
zig units went out with nelsons eye,i have a german unit which charges both batts and has its own leds but i fitted two of these to dash board showing service and starter battery at a pound or two each in red blue green or orange on ebay, i put a switch in to as at night they are to bright.
 

Tbear

trevskoda said:
i have one of them but its only telling the starter batt & alt volts.
Click to expand...

I have one as we often run things from the vehicle battery but it would not involve rocket science to wire one into leisure circuit as well surely. It does under read by about 0.7 volts because of resistances between it and the battery but with that factored in it works very well.

Richard
 

listerdiesel

What you need to see apart from spot voltages is the TREND of those voltages, ie going up, down or steady.

A simple Ring socket with three LED's will tell you roughly where you are and if the volts are high or low, but a digital meter (or a good analogue one) lets you do some diagnostic work as well.

Our solar controllers have volts displayed all the time:

VarioSolar44.jpg


Peter

Edit: This was a picture taken in the Mercedes after we temoprarily wired in the panels, controllers and battery sets. It is not representative of what it will look like when finished.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

listerdiesel

I've just been up to the farm to check the trailer, both battery sets are sitting at 13.30V on a dark and wet afternoon, happy with that.

Peter
 

Tbear

Yorkcov said:
I can thoroughly recommend the Smartguage. It shows the %charge of your batteries by performing thousands of calculations, compensates for age/condition of battery and is foolproof. For all the details check the link:

https://www.roadpro.co.uk/retail/12...rtguage-advanced-battery-monitor---std-82.htm

Alan
Click to expand...

But for £160 you can have a simple volt meter plus two backup batteries. If I was out at sea with only one battery I might be tempted but with the AA man only a phone call away.???
 
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