Battery monitor

Re: Battery monitor

I've used the Link Lite monitor before and I like its LED Display the best but the monitor has the ability to get off on its readings pretty easily which is a common problem for alot of people if you do a search on google about it.

The Link Lite monitors did not work out for me but the Victron Battery Monitor has proved its self to be very accurate and reliable over the last 6 months.

A feature that the Victron Battery Monitor is the Time To Go display that tells you the hours and mins you have left until the battery will need to be recharged. Everything is customizable and it actually has a relay signal output so you can trigger an alarm or battery charger to have it activate the output when the voltage or SOC drop to a programmed number and shuts off when the voltage or SOC reaches your other Setting.

It has all the features the Link Lite Pro has plus the time to go feature.

And last time I checked the Link Lite Pro has been discontinued, a few large resellers told me that.

James Town Distributers has them for as cheap as your going to get from what I know.

I've never used a Trimetric but the Victron is super small and logs the last 30 days of data or more also. I recommend it.

Re: Battery monitor

No problem BB.

It took me some time to find the Victron Monitor and there is basicaly No info about it on the net other than the sales pages. It met all my needs and is super simple which was important for our end users. My goal was to make our LFP100 Portable System as easy to use and understand as possible and with this battery monitor we have achieved that.

They just came out with a modem and data cable that will hook up to these battery monitors and will upload the data from the monitors and send it to you and to a website that actually logs the data all day long. The site is really cool too. Haven't messed with one of these yet but would like to.

http://www.victronenergy.com/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/victron-global-remote/

Check out the website that saves and displays the data that is transmitted from your system here https://vrm.victronenergy.com/

Preview / Demo login
Username: demo@victronenergy.com
Password: vrmdemo

Pretty Cool Stuff!

Re: Battery monitor

Do you use a generator ? or do you want it to control charge ?
The Outback FNDC is also an advanced charge controller, it can count amps in and out and end of charge amps to terminate gen run/charge far more efficiently.
(with additional equipment, do you have mate or hub now ? )

Have a good one
Tim

Re: Battery monitor

The Victron Battery Monitor comes with a 500A shunt and is very accurate with low Amp Current.

Its recommend that you use a shunt that is 50% of your max discharge current.

Re: Battery monitor

hi everyone, Im intrested in these victron monitors but I havnt found the MSR ($) on them. roughly how much are they? specifically the BMV602S

I was looking intensly at the LinkLites and thats the first Ive read anything about their accuracy drifting or them being discontinued.

the link lites match up very nicely with my other instruments in dash panel so that was appealing too but I'll take accuracy and function over cosmetics.


another question. if I get the BMV602 for dual battery use then I need two shunts (one for each battery) is this correct?


thanks

Re: Battery monitor

Here is the BMV 602 Install Manual

http://www.victronenergy.com/upload/document/Quick%20install%20guide%20-%20BMV602%20-%20rev%2000%20website%20-%20EN.pdf

Here is the User Manual PDF

http://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Manual%20-%20BMV%20600S%20600HS%20602S%20%20-%20rev%2012%20-%20EN%20NL%20FR%20DE%20ES%20IT%20PT%20SE.pdf

Also the cheapest place I found the monitors is JamesTown Supply or something like that.

Re: Battery monitor

machineman wrote: »

Possibly a dumb question.... Why would one need a battery monitor if the voltage and current draw are displayed by the inverter? Does the battery monitor track usage and decide what capacity remains?

1.1 Victron Energy battery monitor basics
The Precision Battery Monitor is a device that monitors your battery
status. It constantly measures the battery voltage and battery current. It
uses this information to calculate the actual state of charge of your
battery.

The BMV is also equipped with a potential free contact. This can be used
to automatically start and stop a generator, or signal alarm conditions.

1.2 Why should I monitor my battery?

Batteries are used in a wide variety of applications, mostly to store energy
for later use. But how do you know how much energy is stored in your
battery? No one can tell by just looking at it.

Battery technology is often oversimplified, but some basic battery
knowledge and good monitoring is essential if you want to enjoy
maximum life from your expensive batteries. The lifetime of batteries
depends on many factors. Battery life gets reduced by under-charging,
over-charging, excessively deep discharges, discharges which go too
fast, and a too high ambient temperature. By monitoring your battery with
an advanced battery monitor like the BMV, important feedback is given to
the user so that remedial measures can be taken when necessary. This
way, by extending the battery life, the BMV will quickly pay for itself.

Re: Battery monitor

thanks for the links guys.

Yes, judging by the install manual the second battery negative is not seperate from chassis/earth ground so I think you are right that it may only measure voltage on the second battery. if thats the case would you need two main units or only an extra shunt for total monitoring? I want to be able to completely monitor two isolated batteries an not just volateg on the second. Ive called victron but got answering service, waiting on call back to clairify.

Re: Battery monitor

I believe you should determine shunt rating based on load/draw amps from batteries to inverter, since that is where you normally place the shunt in the circuit.
Others please correct me if I am wrong... thanks