I previously posted about my Link Lite battery monitor, about which I am really satisfied. Adding to my earlier comments, recalibration is a built in process on the Link Pro and Link Lite.
When the monitor senses that the battery bank has been fully charged, the display flashes "Synchronize". You then press a couple of the buttons simultaneously, and the monitor recalibrates to determine the Amp Hours that are 100% capacity. So as the capacity reduces over time, the 100% value also reduces. There is some time variable in how often it does this, but I would need to read the manual to see what it is. I suppose they use "Synchronize" because it might be less confusing than "reset" or "recalibrate". The display also flashes a warning as you approach 50% discharge. Does not mean that you will pay attention, or that you will not ignore the warning in a moment of being over served. There is provision for an audible alarm to get your attention, but I've never felt the need to install one. I don't see any Link Lite kits on EBay right now, but the Link Pro is available for $225. http://www.ebay.com/itm/XANTREX-LINK-PRO-BATTERY-MONITOR-/271762770509?pt=Bo at_Parts_Accessories_Gear <http://www.ebay.com/itm/XANTREX-LINK-PRO-BATTERY-MONITOR-/271762770509?pt=B oat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item3f4652ca4d&vxp=mtr> &hash=item3f4652ca4d&vxp=mtr Rick Brass Washington, NC From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Josh Muckley via CnC-List Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 6:10 AM To: M Bod; C&C List Subject: Re: Stus-List State of the Battery Mark, Just keep in mind that the voltage method is not very accurate...though neither are the A-hr meters if they are not periodically recalibrated. That being said, I believe that my method errors on the conservative side. Just in case I do forget (or lose my shore power) I installed a Priority Start device which will monitor battery voltage and then disconnect prior to dropping below the requisite voltage to start the engine. A low battery and difficulty starting can also be assisted by decompressing the engine. http://www.prioritystart.com/ Josh On Feb 2, 2015 1:57 PM, "Dr. Mark Bodnar via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: Josh, Thanks for the info on using voltage to gauge battery level. With my tiny bank and very limited loads it does not make sense to be wiring in a monitor or Balmar Smart Gauge (to the tune of $360 cdn). But I was thinking about adding a voltmeter so I could maintain some track on drain. Say something like http://www.amazon.com/DROK-Voltmeter-3-50-30-0V-Anti-reverse-Protection/dp/B 00DUTJXWO/ref=sr_1_8?s=automotive <http://www.amazon.com/DROK-Voltmeter-3-50-30-0V-Anti-reverse-Protection/dp/ B00DUTJXWO/ref=sr_1_8?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1422902563&sr=1-8&keywords=vo ltage+meter&pebp=1422902722997&peasin=B00DUTJXWO> &ie=UTF8&qid=1422902563&sr=1-8&keywords=voltage+meter&pebp=1422902722997&pea sin=B00DUTJXWO I have to hook up and figure out how to mount my solar panel this spring, and I will re-wire my 1-2-off switch as per MaineSail's instructions. Rather than going to a "starting bank" and a "house bank" - I'll likely stick with A bank and B bank - use them interchangeably for starting and house. Mark There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval. - George Santayana On 2015-02-02 1:20 PM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List wrote: What you are looking for is an amp-hour meter. Discharging a flooded deep cycle battery rated at 100 Ahrs below 50% should be avoided. This roughly equates to 50 Ahrs of use. 5amp for 10hours or 50 amps for 1 hour....you get the jist. Discharging a flooded deep cycle below 50% will decrease its effective useful service life. Many batteries publish a the number of cycles and depth of discharge. One loose rating convention is that a deep cycle will survive 200 charge/discharge cycles of 50%. The cycle number increases when the depth of discharge is reduced. When using a voltage meter, it is important to take a "no load" voltage after the battery has had time to "recover". The easy way to remember a capacity to voltage conversion is 0.1v per 10%. A fully charged battery will read 12.7v and a fully discharged one will read ~11.7v. By this convention one should avoid voltage readings below 12.2v. I have a total of 500Ahrs between 2 banks so when one gets to a "loaded" voltage of 12.2v I start considering a switch to the other battery. I can go about 2 days in the middle of summer with no charging source before I start to worry. The engine charges at 100amps so motoring on and of the hook keeps me pretty well topped up. I put one of these in my first sailboat. It is similar to the Link 2000 that Edd suggested. I have a Link 2000 installed on my current boat but it has never worked right. I believe the current shunt is bad or somehow bypassed on the charge or discharge circuit.....I'll get to it... http://www.altestore.com/store/Meters-Communications-Site-Analysis/Meters-Ba ttery-Monitors/Ammeters-Voltmeters-Battery-Monitors/Bogart-Engineering-TM-20 25-A-F-TriMetric-Meter-Includes-fuse-and-fuse-holder/p10112/ Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD On Feb 2, 2015 8:27 AM, "David Knecht via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: Looking at the wiring diagrams reminded me of a question I am sure this list can answer. I have not done much cruising yet, but plan to do more in the future. One of the things I am unsure of is how people monitor the state of their batteries when you know shore power is not going to be available. I have a digital voltmeter on the panel that I can check the batteries and a chart that translates voltage into percent charge and I have used that as a rough guide, but that seems crude for such an important function. My understanding is that you have let the batteries sit for a while if they have been charging to get an accurate reading. I am not sure if current draws also have to be off. For instance, how would I know if it is safe to run the refrigeration while sailing to the next destination? Can you get a meter that gives you "hours of battery life remaining"? What strategies to listers use to solve this problem? Thanks- Dave Aries 1990 C&C 34+ New London, CT Error! 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