VIC
871 posts
Hi Ladies,
It's time to do a full rewire of the cat, including new switch panels.
Does anyone have experience with one of these, BEP battery monitor?
http://www.bepmarine.com/home-mainmenu-8/product-506/902v-dcsm-12-way-circuit-breaker-panel-with-digital-meter .
Basically an 8 way switch panel, for DC, includes + bus bars, and monitors 2 batteries. Once setup, it theoretically gives battery capacity remaining, as well as displaying normal DC V and current, all in a fairly tidy package.
Apart from being fairly $$$$, from the manual it may be an overkill. It has capacity to give warings on low battery, monitor tanks, bilge pumps etc.
Power is fairly precious, as I have limited charging. Scenario is 9.9 Hp with st alternator, twin deep cycle batts, 1 80W solar panel. No AC, no fridge but GPS, radio etc.
The attractive part about the BEP monitor was the ability to see remaining battery capacity,rather than just voltage.But I also subscribe to the KISS principle, and don't know if I really want/need something on the baot that needs firmware upgrades even.
thanks
QLD
880 posts
It looks like I have the same set up- 9.9 and folding 80 w panel,
Nothing wrong overkill your electric system with gadget like that.
Good luck to re-wire your system to accommodate all switches and
functions. It is a big exercise.
To known individual or combine battery capacity is good to known too,
as long as you known what the that means, any given moment. Do You?
My system is very well advance, all currents, capacity and load is directly proportional
to voltage . Under $10 digital voltmeter is precise enough.
Under load 12.6 = 100% cap, 11.6=50%, 11volts you close to discharge curve
than no more discharging. How complex !
VIC
871 posts
Chariot, it would be far cheaper just to use a basic multimeter, which is what I do periodically at the moment. The monitor though makes it easier for everyone else though, plus you get nice pictures and graphs of the remaining capacity.
The rewiring doesn't phase me, did it on the last boat.
This time though, it's pretty much starting from scratch, with the chance to do it right first time.
So the decision is either to fork up for the all in one panel with monitor built in, and bus bars/shunt etc all supplied, or probably save around 40% and use simpler panels and put the neccessary accessories togther, albeit losing some function but have a more basic system.
I was hoping someone on Seabreeze may have one (or an alternative Battery monitor system) installed on their boat and could give me their experiences.
QLD
160 posts
The answer is - it depends. Voltage alone doesn't tell you much about the state of charge. If you use your house batteries a lot, and it's important to you to know how discharged your batteries are, then a state-of-charge monitor is exactly what you need. One of these is just like a fuel-gauge for your batteries - you know at any time exactly where you stand. It's important if you spend up big on house batteries, that you treat them well - this means don't discharge below 50%.
However, if you have low DC requirements and low investment in house batteries, it might be overkill.
I have a Xantrex LinkLite, only cost about $160 a couple of years ago, and would not consider being without one. The BEP unit the OP referred to has a lot of other functions in addition to being a battery monitor.
VIC
871 posts
nice access to the rear of the panel Whiteout.
It looks like a compromise is the way to go. A couple of BEP switch panels and the Xantrex monitor will suit what I need.
$5k for new electrics is painful, almost as bad as the $8 for 4xb][/b] 316 stainless metal threads from Bunnings yesterday.....idiot.
