
Some voltage gauges even feature an alert to let you know when the voltage is not in good shape.Ĭouple measurements of voltage and current – and now we start to see some more useful information.Ĭurrent flowing into or out of the battery will influence its voltage and the amount of current flowing impacts the level of voltage change. Different battery types, sizes, temperatures, charge and discharge rates will all alter the outcome. There are rules of thumb around battery voltages indicating a state of charge – but better yet the battery data sheet will give more detail. As voltage is influenced by charge/discharge and rest periods, seeing something that is abnormal is your indicator that something is going wrong.

Learning what is normal for the particular installation is the best way to understand its behaviour and limitations and if everything is ok. If the voltage is lower than normal rest voltage, it is under load or in a discharged state. If the voltage is higher than the normal rest voltage observed, then you know the battery is charging. Voltage can give you a line in the sand from which you can see if things are behaving as they normally do. Whether a hardwired gauge or wireless solution is employed, it will essentially tell the user the instantaneous voltage of the battery at any given time. Voltage measurement is the entry-level battery monitoring solution. If you know nothing about the battery condition via monitoring, then the only way to find it out is the hard way – when its flat! There are various ways that batteries can be monitored from simplistic voltage and current readings, right through to using these measurements to calculate against battery chemistry and size characteristics. Some level of battery monitoring can give peace of mind especially when that battery is something that you rely on for safety or necessities. This is where the question of “needing it at all” is asked.
BATTERY SYSTEM MONITOR PLUS
More demanding power requirements call for some information about how the system is going during your adventures, to be sure you have power when you need it, plus ensure optimal performance and service life of your auxiliary battery.

Depending on the use of the system it can really just be set and forget – such as the weekend warrior just hoping to run a fridge and phone charger on the overnight camping trip every now and then.Įnsure optimal performance of your auxiliary battery Dual battery systems, for most people, definitely land on the required and high priority list. There is a never-ending list of gadgets available for 4x4s and recreational vehicles that become more a question of priority (which should I do first?) rather than one of necessity (do I need it at all?).
