Power Metering

54d18
54d18 Solar Expert Posts: 81 ✭✭✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
Does anyone have first hand knowledge of inexpensive D.C. Power metering,
something that works with watt/hours or amp/hours for use in battery monitoring?

I'd like to have something watching my D.C. to monitor my 12v dc loads as well as the D.C. side of my inverter.

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  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Not sure what "inexpensive" is to you, but I use these:
    https://www.solar-electric.com/bogart-engineering-tm-2030-a-battery-monitor.html

    ~$175 with a required shunt.  They do pretty much everthing I need for day-to-day monitoring.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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  • Horsefly
    Horsefly Registered Users Posts: 476 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    For what you are talking about, I would suggest buying two of these:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013PKYILS

    It comes with a shunt, and only measures the current / power / energy in one direction. So you could buy two, put the two shunts in series, and wire one meter to measure when the current is going into the batteries, and one when the current is coming out of the batteries.

    Off-grid cabin: 6 x Canadian Solar CSK-280M PV panels, Schneider XW-MPPT60-150 Charge Controller, Schneider CSW4024 Inverter/Charger, Schneider SCP, 8S (25.6V), 230Ah Eve LiFePO4 battery in a custom insulated and heated case.
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #4
    You might be able to use one shunt with Horsefly's meters... Just switch the +/- sense leads to the single shunt back to the two meters.

    The two meter wires should be just like volt meters... Connecting to one shunt should not affect anything.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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