Cheap square Volt or amp meter?

EAdams

I am looking to find a cheap amp or volt meter to let me know how the batteries are. Should I look for a meter or just get a charger that has one integrated into it? Keep in mind my budget is REALLY limited.

mike95490

Re: Cheap square Volt or amp meter?

A cheap meter may help you kill your batteries, if it is not calibrated well, or gets out of whack easily.
Look at the voltages in the Battery Bible (FAQ)
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm
even being .4V off, will let your batteries sit undercharged, and sulphate them.

BB.

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

EAdams

Re: Cheap square Volt or amp meter?

Using a 7amp northern Tool charge controller. Just using for lights (3-4 10w cfl or LED) when the power goes off (ice or sow storm, etc). Emergency use only.

n3qik

Re: Cheap square Volt or amp meter?

Look at this from Radio Shack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103176&cp=2032058.2032235.2032305&searchSort=TRUE&y=8&x=9&pg=1&s=A-StorePrice-RSK&retainProdsInSession=1&parentPage=family

EAdams

Re: Cheap square Volt or amp meter?

Own that one... Bought it last week. Decent multimeter but I was wanting something that is just a guage to mount and add a switch to turn it on/off and give me volt/amps. May just spot check it with my multimeter instead.

n3qik wrote: »

Look at this from Radio Shack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103176&cp=2032058.2032235.2032305&searchSort=TRUE&y=8&x=9&pg=1&s=A-StorePrice-RSK&retainProdsInSession=1&parentPage=family

n3qik

Re: Cheap square Volt or amp meter?

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