Cheap square Volt or amp meter?

Re: Cheap square Volt or amp meter?

A cheap DMM will get you started (digital multi-meter--I am still using the one I bought for college back 30 years ago).

If you are using flooded cell batteries--then a good Hydrometer + thermometer will be pretty helpful too. Much more accurate than even a good volt/amp meter to determine battery state of charge (and health).

Otherwise, just look for cheap panel meters on the internet/Jameco/Digikey/etc. to measure your current.

If you get a good charge controller--you can get one with digital meters (charge current and voltage) included (and/or can be read with a PC).

In the end, a Battery Monitor is the only tool that will work day to day for to check the overall state of charge of your battery system. But--those are not going to be cheap.

I guess you are trying for a small system to run your landscape... More than likely--you will end up killing your first set of batteries by undercharging/over-discharging. It is very easy to set the system up for summer/9 months of the year, and all goes well--then you hit winter and little sun and lots of load (short days/long nights) and--unless you check the system almost daily (and/or use an alternative charging source)--you will be deficit charging for 3+ months of the year.

-Bill