Monitoring Battery Discharge

[Nostromo]

I have a pretty basic question: what is the best way to monitor how much juice is left in your house batteries when you are out and about for a few nights? I am confident I have plenty of new battery capacity to run all the goodies in the boat, but the question is, for how long? I have seen the load tables that show how much current each gizmo is drawing, etc., but those seem to be focused on system design, not operation. Am I just watching the battery status - volt meter to see the voltage start to drop...? Thanks!

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by Nostromo

I have a pretty basic question: what is the best way to monitor how much juice is left in your house batteries when you are out and about for a few nights? I am confident I have plenty of new battery capacity to run all the goodies in the boat, but the question is, for how long? I have seen the load tables that show how much current each gizmo is drawing, etc., but those seem to be focused on system design, not operation. Am I just watching the battery status - volt meter to see the voltage start to drop...? Thanks!

But this: http://www.balmar.net/sg200-battery-monitor/

You might have to wait a month, as they are ramping up production.

[Orion Jim]

I have a Victron BMV 702 battery monitor. Works a treat.

[smac999]

what you want is a battery monitor.

victron 702 (or new bluetooth one, 712?)

xantrax linklite / link pro.

the new smart gauge I haven't seen so can't comment.


yes the old fashioned way was to watch the volt meter drop...

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by smac999

the new smart gauge

Would help cut down on confusion to call the Balmar SG200 just that.

SmartGauge only refers to the original older Merlin product, the two have nothing to do with each other, other than some functionality.

Just as Link Pro and BMV-712 both use a shunt.

[john61ct]

SmartGauge is very accirate and simple.

Balmar SG200 more complex, too new to say if more accurate.

Neither show AH, so if you want that BMV-712, but fiddly.

http://marinehowto.com, look for - CTRL-F, "battery monitor"

[witzgall]

The SG200 is shipping to distributors in quantity.

Right now the orders I see being placed and fullfilled are all in the US, but I expect that to change soon.

A note to John61ct's comment above: The SG200 is no more complex to install then any other shunt based product out there. The original SmartGuage, which is still available is simpler, as it only needs power and ground to work. The SG200 improves on that product in so many ways, including a lower price, that it is well worth the extra installation efforts to install the SmartShunt, IMHO.

Chris

[FlyingScot]

How anyone designs a new product like this and doesn't include Bluetooth is beyond me.
I have the Victron BMV-712 (included BT) and I am very happy with it. Install was very simple. Parameter setup takes some time if you want it to be as accurate as possible.

[rgleason]

Here is a thread about SG200.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...or-209056.html


Here are some photos of the SG200 installed on some T105. It was actually quite easy.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2778120


I misunderstood some details about the connector and now that we know how, it is very easy. (shown in the thread). http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2778473

[rgleason]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

How anyone designs a new product like this and doesn't include Bluetooth is beyond me. ....

I'd suggest checking your facts first before attacking. There is a Bluetooth App being prepared.


http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2786208

[smac999]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Would help cut down on confusion to call the Balmar SG200 just that.

SmartGauge only refers to the original older Merlin product, the two have nothing to do with each other, other than some functionality.

Just as Link Pro and BMV-712 both use a shunt.

balmar now makes the smart guage. they either bought out merlin, or rebranded this product. not sure. now they are making version 2. sg clealy stands for smart gauge.

Smartgauge Battery Monitor | Balmar

SG200 Battery Monitor | Balmar

[john61ct]

No they just got the "franchise" to put their label on, distribute and support it in the Americas.

And they do a great job of that.

[Wood]

Originally Posted by witzgall

The SG200 is shipping to distributors in quantity.

Right now the orders I see being placed and fullfilled are all in the US, but I expect that to change soon.

A note to John61ct's comment above: The SG200 is no more complex to install then any other shunt based product out there. The original SmartGuage, which is still available is simpler, as it only needs power and ground to work. The SG200 improves on that product in so many ways, including a lower price, that it is well worth the extra installation efforts to install the SmartShunt, IMHO.

Chris

I installed mine last weekend. 1 1/2 hours start to finish including drilling the mounting hole and snaking the wire.

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by witzgall

The SG200 is shipping to distributors in quantity.

Right now the orders I see being placed and fullfilled are all in the US, but I expect that to change soon.

A note to John61ct's comment above: The SG200 is no more complex to install then any other shunt based product out there. The original SmartGuage, which is still available is simpler, as it only needs power and ground to work. The SG200 improves on that product in so many ways, including a lower price, that it is well worth the extra installation efforts to install the SmartShunt, IMHO.

Chris

Feature request, Chris....

It would be nice if you added a totalizer for Ah consumed in a cycle. I know you can do the mental math from SoC and SoH, but it doesn't seem difficult just to calculate and display that value.

That is the critical value I use from my Link 20 to determine how many minutes I need to run the genset to recharge my LFP bank.

[john61ct]

Problem is programmatically defining "a cycle" for cases when energy flows both ways without necessarily hitting a benchmark high or low point.

I think that need may be better served with a cheap little AH counter, ideally rigged with big "zero reset" button.