I want battery voltage gauges to install on my F44, suggest?

jwrape · Post by **jwrape** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:38 am

I have a 4 battery bank in my Beldge... I am always wondering the status of my batteries but I have no way to tell what they are. Where's a good place to get a guage set up to mount remotely to test the batteries at the press of a button?

TADTOOMUCH · Post by **TADTOOMUCH** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:55 am

Check on the Blue Sea Systems website and see if they have something.

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:31 am

http://www.bluesea.com

Pricey but they are very good, and they have great tech service/advice.

jwrape · Post by **jwrape** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:34 am

randyp wrote:www.bluesea.com

Pricey but they are very good, and they have great tech service/advice.

I'm looking for a Guage that would be more vintage looking to go along with the year of the boat. Don't want something too new looking because it would clash with the look of the boat and stick out like a sore thumb amongst all the rest of the gauges.

I figure I would get one nice gauge and then wire it to test each battery with the push of a button for each battery.
So basically a small panel with one gauge and 4 push buttons.

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:44 am

google "12 volt matter monitor system" and see what pops out.

Good luck.

jwrape · Post by **jwrape** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:49 am

randyp wrote:google "12 volt matter monitor system" and see what pops out.

Good luck.

Nothing really.... Think I would have better luck surfing Ebay

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:56 am

I recently put in a new battery charger in my F36. I looked at battery condition monitors, and decided for the money, it's not really worth it.[ $3-$400 for anything decent]

if you anchor out a lot, without using the generator, there are cheaper ways to keep track. You can look at your batteries, [house battery], figure out how many amp/hours it is good for from about 80% to 50% charge. Then looked at what the draw is from your inverter/D. C. accessories, and it will give you a good idea of how long you are good for with out discharging the batteries too far. [It is also a nice way to get to know your boat's electrical system intimately]

jwrape · Post by **jwrape** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:58 am

Peter wrote:I recently put in a new battery charger in my F36. I looked at battery condition monitors, and decided for the money, it's not really worth it.[ $3-$400 for anything decent]

if you anchor out a lot, without using the generator, there are cheaper ways to keep track. You can look at your batteries, [house battery], figure out how many amp/hours it is good for from about 80% to 50% charge. Then looked at what the draw is from your inverter/D. C. accessories, and it will give you a good idea of how long you are good for with out discharging the batteries too far. [It is also a nice way to get to know your boat's electrical system intimately]

No, I just want a simple gauge to tell me the voltage level at that time. Not a Monitoring system. Basically connecting a Volt meter to the batteries permenantly instead of crawling in the Belge everytime I want to test them

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:59 am

jwrape wrote:I'm looking for a Guage that would be more vintage looking to go along with the year of the boat. Don't want something too new looking because it would clash with the look of the boat and stick out like a sore thumb amongst all the rest of the gauges.So basically a small panel with one gauge and 4 push buttons.

Not sure that really works well or if it's worth the effort. I hear your concerns about not wanting anything too modern looking.
Here is what I considered when I redid my battery layout. Charger Xantrex has an optional display accessory, hidden behind my elec. panel door as it does not need to be watched.
If battery system is sized well and setup correctly for usage and my charger shows the condition at start and during charge thru' it's display do I need to see Voltage when not charging? I answered no for my genny and starting batteries but yes for the house as I did not want to go below 50% on that to ensure longevity. The others really don't have any major load and the charging display will show when they are starting to age as they will take longer to come back to full charge. Since my Inverter is connected directly to the house I just put a voltmeter on that when I know I have been using the house extra hard... experience with regular checking in the beginning has shown me what is OK use. I was considering putting a low voltage alarm on the house but decided I did not need it. All this thinking is because I have a genny and run the charger when it is on... it runs at brekas to make the latte's and toast and in the evening to recharge all batteries and run the stove for cooking when needed, oh and hot water for the wife's shower of course!

jwrape · Post by **jwrape** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:01 am

ready123 wrote:
jwrape wrote:I'm looking for a Guage that would be more vintage looking to go along with the year of the boat. Don't want something too new looking because it would clash with the look of the boat and stick out like a sore thumb amongst all the rest of the gauges.So basically a small panel with one gauge and 4 push buttons.
Not sure that really works well or ids worth the effort. I hear your concerns about not wanting anything too modern looking.
Here is what I considered when I redid my battery layout. Charger Xantrex has an optional display accessory, hidden behind my elec. panel door as it does not need to be watched.
If battery system is sized well and setup correctly for usage and my charger shows the condition at start and during charge thru' it's display do I need to see Voltage when not charging? I answered no for my genny and starting batteries but yes for the house as I did not want to go below 50% on that to ensure longevity. The others really don't have any major load and the charging display will show when they are starting to age as they will take longer to come back to full charge. Since my Inverter is connected directly to the house I just put a voltmeter on that when I know I have been using the house extra hard... experience with regular checking in the beginning has shown me what is OK use. I was considering putting a low voltage alarm on the house but decided I did not need it. All this thinking is because I have a genny and run the charger when it is on... it runs at brekas to make the latte's and toast and in the evening to recharge all batteries and run the stove for cooking when needed, oh and hot water for the wife's shower of course!

Yea, I guess I really only need to watch the House batteries.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:09 am

for 3 or $400...

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:25 am

jwrape wrote:Yea, I guess I really only need to watch the House batteries.

So if your Inverter is attached to these as they should be just take those pointy things on your volt meter and stick them onto the Inverter power in connectors... and voila you have your Voltage reading. Compare to the battery manufacturers 50% number and you know where you are.
That's all I do now and it is easy and as time goes by I hardly do it.. in fact I tend to do it only on longer than w/e outings as that would be when I could tend to over draw my house.

kevin babineau · Post by **kevin babineau** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:12 pm

i bought a battery level/voltage/alternator gauge that plugs into my cig lighter...but there r a couple different brands and some suck....the one i have is awesome...the battery bank switch on my houseboat is in the 'house' so i just flip it to the bank and it tells me the level...i run solar panels and gen set....i tried the wind gen but it was too loud for me

duchess · Post by **duchess** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:23 am

Peter what charger have you installed on your f 36 I m thinking of replacing my original Professional Mariner charger this year with a newer one Thanks Tom

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:40 am

When I updated my charger I added the Blue Sea System voltmeter.

It is a nice analog gauge and has a 3 way toggle switch.

Simply run wires direct to each battery with a tiny .5 or so amp fuse in each.

Now I can check the actual voltage of each of three batteries at any time while running, charging or on the hook.

This has saved my butt several times and also has alerted me to when an older battery is beginning to fail.

When I bought mine it was about $55 now they're a bit more. Try BEACON MARINE FIRST

Here's a reference with a photo

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... assNum=694

RWS

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I want battery voltage gauges to install on my F44, suggest?

I want battery voltage gauges to install on my F44, suggest?

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