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Old 09-14-2019, 08:22 PM   #1
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Battery monitors ?

On our sloop we had a Victron BMV-602S battery monitor. Since we lived on solar power almost exclusively (no shore power cord for 5+ years) battery monitoring was pretty important.

Now that we have graduated to a trawler with an 8kW generator, charging seems much less important, but I'd still like to know where we are regarding the housebank.

My first inclination is to just get another Victron but I'd rather hear from others first.

Thanks,



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Old 09-14-2019, 09:27 PM   #2
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I just installed this remote monitoring system "BRNKL'
includes battery voltage and more.
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Old 09-14-2019, 09:59 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Soo-Valley View Post
I just installed this remote monitoring system "BRNKL'
includes battery voltage and more.
But it doesn't keep track of Ah going in and out, correct ?

Can you use it onboard without cell or WiFi connectivity ?

Thanks,



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Old 09-14-2019, 10:02 PM   #4
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correct
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Old 09-14-2019, 10:16 PM   #5
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If you're already used to Victron, don't want to relearn and have $200 to spend, it makes sense. I have a Xantrex LinkPro but it's basically the same thing. Prices are similar, IIRC.

If you want a good look at battery health, I'm a big fan of the Balmar SG-200. It's got state of health as well as state of charge. It's a big leap forward but without current in/out, it's less-than-totally-useful to me. I'm waiting for a single combo unit that displays all 3.

In the meantime, I'll enjoy my Xantrex SOC meter.

If I had endless funds and panel real estate, I'd have both.
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Old 09-14-2019, 10:49 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyWright View Post
...If you want a good look at battery health, I'm a big fan of the Balmar SG-200. It's got state of health as well as state of charge. It's a big leap forward but without current in/out, it's less-than-totally-useful to me. I'm waiting for a single combo unit that displays all 3.
That actually looks perfect. When you say no current in/out are you talking about something different than "Charge/Discharge Current (A)" per their specs ?

The fact that you could add a shunt and network cable to add a monitor for the generator battery and the starter battery seems amazing, for a price of course.

I think you just made a decision for us :-)



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Old 09-14-2019, 11:10 PM   #7
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Battery monitors are essential, particularly if one does not have an engine dedicated solely to power the generator.
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Old 09-14-2019, 11:40 PM   #8
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I installed the Balmar about a month earlier then this was taken.... If you don't have a few large discharge cycles it takes a long time for the SG200 for it's algorithms to get it right....
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Old 09-15-2019, 04:14 AM   #9
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I have a Victron and have been very happy with it.

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Old 09-15-2019, 04:57 AM   #10
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I have a Victron and have been very happy with it.

Ted
Same here.
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Old 09-15-2019, 05:10 AM   #11
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CMS a TF member has a good write up of the Balmar unit. See
https://marinehowto.com/balmar-sg200...ttery-monitor/
I'm close to a decision on doing the same.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trawler_traveler View Post
That actually looks perfect. When you say no current in/out are you talking about something different than "Charge/Discharge Current (A)" per their specs ?

The fact that you could add a shunt and network cable to add a monitor for the generator battery and the starter battery seems amazing, for a price of course.

I think you just made a decision for us :-)



-Sven
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Old 09-15-2019, 08:42 AM   #12
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If your're used to the Victron, it is a perfectly fine unit.

Ka Sea Ta, I see a Magnum remote in your picture. Their Battery Monitor Kit is excellent and very accurate for all measurements mentioned in this thread, including SOC. Curious as to why you went with SG200. ??
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Old 09-15-2019, 09:51 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trawler_traveler View Post
My first inclination is to just get another Victron but I'd rather hear from others first.
I've been in your shoes with respect to wanting a really accurate monitor for my battery banks. You name it, I've had it and was never satisfied with the info. Victron, Balmar, Blue sea. etc. seemed fine if you knew how to calibrate them, which you have to do frequently if you want accurate data.

https://www.maretron.com/products/dsm410.php

https://www.maretron.com/products/dcm100.php

The first photo shows the DSM 150 and some of its info on the MFD. (All of its info can be viewed on the DSM 150)

The second photo shows SOC info but detailed info can be viewed on the DSM150.

The bottom photo shows the old system.

I finally bit the bullet and bought a Maretron DSM 150 (Now it's a DSM 410) and a DCM 100. Some of the data generated is viewable on my Raymarine eS128 but all the data can be viewed by scrolling on the DSM 150. Although the two components are expensive, by starting with the DSM 410 (DSM150 is no longer available) you can add a multitude of other instrument data and the DSM 410 will handle them all. No more screen or dashboard space needed. Plus, you don't have to add them all at once, add to your system as the years and the wallet allow!
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Old 09-15-2019, 11:01 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bacchus View Post
CMS a TF member has a good write up of the Balmar unit. See
https://marinehowto.com/balmar-sg200...ttery-monitor/
I'm close to a decision on doing the same.

I agree. I am seriously considering installing this and removing my Xantrex monitor.
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Old 09-15-2019, 11:06 AM   #15
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I agree. I am seriously considering installing this and removing my Xantrex monitor.
Dave, is your Xantrex a LinkPro with real time +/-Amp flowmeter? If so, you might like having both units installed to retain that feature that's not on the SG200 (last time I checked...).
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Old 09-15-2019, 12:11 PM   #16
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Quote:
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CMS a TF member has a good write up of the Balmar unit. See
https://marinehowto.com/balmar-sg200...ttery-monitor/
I took a look and thought "that looks like a site as good as the one Maninesail runs". Then I went to his site https://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/ and it is the same site, but the one I knew of is the older version. Great stuff.

Thanks.
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Old 09-15-2019, 12:24 PM   #17
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What am I missing about the Victron. It does show amps out since last full charge. What else do I need to know? Yes, I know that any house starts out at a nominal capacity which declines from new so knowing exactly where 50% discharge is almost unknowable. But, I don't care about precision. I simply subtract 5% capacity for each year of use and go from there. Close enough for me. So, maybe I'm off a little and my house bank lasts six years instead of seven. That's a big "so what" to me.
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Old 09-15-2019, 12:42 PM   #18
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The SG200 shows a State of Health (SOH) that indicates the real world state of your battery's charge holding capacity. Other monitors do not include this proprietary analysis.

The SG200 does not include the "flow meter' equivalent of instantaneous amps in/out like the Victron and Xantrex LinkPro. It shows the "battery level" SOC in % like the others do.

I appreciate the real-time amp flow indication to show the real time level of charge or discharge amperage flow. It helps to ID and troubleshoot charging and discharging anomalies.
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Old 09-15-2019, 01:23 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trawler_traveler View Post
I took a look and thought "that looks like a site as good as the one Maninesail runs". Then I went to his site https://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/ and it is the same site, but the one I knew of is the older version. Great stuff.



Thanks.

Yeah, imagine my shock after a couple years here on TF when I finally realized that CMS was Mainesail. He is as helpful here as he has been for years on sailing forums.
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Old 09-15-2019, 01:36 PM   #20
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I am a huge fan of the Xantrex Link Pro

*Amp Hours
*Ammeter
*Voltmeter
*SOC meter which is based on amp hours out and your programmed battery bank size
*Self calibrating every time I reach full charge.

No it does not calculate the health of my batteries but that is not so hard if I know my amp hours out and can compare that to my bank voltage.

Is there a function I’m missing???
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