Projecta battery monitor

[KellyM]

Jeepovich - How has the Projecta been working for you? I am thinking of getting one, and thought I would check in with you to see if there have been any issues with yours.

Kelly

 

[jeepovich]

It is a nice little volt meter. Exactly what I needed: to monitor 2 batteries and most importantly to monitor the separating solenoid and charging voltage.

 

[Leibbrand]

I think I paid 10 bucks for my gammatronix smart leds. Another option option space constrained.

 

[pappawheely]

Looks great on your truck. Sorry if I'm hijacking but I would like an amp hours left gage. Anyone have a source?

 

[DiploStrat]

... I would like an amp hours left gage. Anyone have a source?

The most commonly recommended hour counter, and one that I use, is the Bogart TriMetric: http://www.bogartengineering.com/content/trimetrics (Handy Bob swears by this one and most of us swear by him.)

I also use a Blue Sky IPN Pro Remote: http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/products/details/ipn_proremote (Handy Bob swears AT Blue Sky but I have had very good results for two years now.)

After watching the two meters track for two years, doing it over, I would simply go with the IPN Pro if I were using a Blue Sky solar controller. (I assume that Morning Star have a similar product.) I suppose that there may be something to be said for a totally independent meter.

Finally, and expensive, controversial, but dead easy to install option is the Smart Gauge: http://www.smartgauge.co.uk Available in the US from Defender Yacht: http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|328|2289954|2289950&id=2388351 The great advantage of this beast is that it does not require a shunt. But many dismiss it claiming that it is voudou and can't really work.

 

[BPD53]

I used a victron. I have been very happy. Some models even have temp probe hookups.

 

[LeishaShannon]

Victron for us too, they have some neat features like a midpoint/temperature/start battery monitoring function as well as your basic couloumb counting. They also count watts rather than just amps which is more accurate as the voltage changes as the battery depletes.

They also have ios/android apps if you're into that sort of thing!

I'd steer clear of something like the SmartGuage as its not going to be compatible with lithium or other new battery technologies that you might want to use in the future.

 

[Joe917]

Very happy with our Trimetric. Reads second battery voltage, reads Watts and Amps (neither is more accurate). Most important tracks Amp hrs . Very simple install and set up.

 

[pappawheely]

The most commonly recommended hour counter, and one that I use, is the Bogart TriMetric: http://www.bogartengineering.com/content/trimetrics (Handy Bob swears by this one and most of us swear by him.)

I also use a Blue Sky IPN Pro Remote: http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/products/details/ipn_proremote (Handy Bob swears AT Blue Sky but I have had very good results for two years now.)

After watching the two meters track for two years, doing it over, I would simply go with the IPN Pro if I were using a Blue Sky solar controller. (I assume that Morning Star have a similar product.) I suppose that there may be something to be said for a totally independent meter.

Finally, and expensive, controversial, but dead easy to install option is the Smart Gauge: http://www.smartgauge.co.uk Available in the US from Defender Yacht: http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|328|2289954|2289950&id=2388351 The great advantage of this beast is that it does not require a shunt. But many dismiss it claiming that it is voudou and can't really work.

Thanks! I see Bogart is in Boulder Creek, I used to live there. Everyone who lives there has the same three digit prefix in their phone number. When you ask for someone's number you only give 4 digits. :clapping: It's a tiny town.