| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jb914 |
Posted - May 13 2012 : 20:55:29
I'm looking for the least expensive way to monitor my house bank battery levels while out in the boat!
I have a Xantrex Freedom Marine 25 inverter on my boat that handles power/charges my house bank. I see there is a phone jack plug on the front of the inverter.
Is there some piece of equipment i can purchase and "plug in" to that jack to monitor my batteries?
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| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| jb914 |
Posted - May 29 2012 : 20:49:58
the remote phone connection allows for attachment of a remote panel to control the inverter and see basic battery state. |
| rawidman |
Posted - May 29 2012 : 17:50:32
quote:
Originally posted by stmbtwle
The "phone plug" on my Xantrex inverter is just there for a remote on/off switch.
That's what mine is for. |
| stmbtwle |
Posted - May 29 2012 : 17:39:53
The "phone plug" on my Xantrex inverter is just there for a remote on/off switch. As far as monitoring the batteries from there I don't know, why not contact Xantrex?
I use a Trimetric monitor which is completely independent of the inverter.
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| rawidman |
Posted - May 29 2012 : 17:06:22
quote:
Originally posted by jb914
I'm looking for the least expensive way to monitor my house bank battery levels while out in the boat!
I have a Xantrex Freedom Marine 25 inverter on my boat that handles power/charges my house bank. I see there is a phone jack plug on the front of the inverter.
Is there some piece of equipment i can purchase and "plug in" to that jack to monitor my batteries?
My suggestion is to check the manual to find out what that jack is supposed to have plugged into it.
Work from there. |
| jb914 |
Posted - May 29 2012 : 14:07:31
I got my FDM-12-25 and it simply plugs into the "remote" plug on the inverter and 1 plug on the panel. Now, just need to decide where to install the panel. It does not provide me alot of detail on the batteries other than if they need a to be charged, which is all i really needed so i know if it's time to run the generator.
now, it's time to fix the windlass and trace the GPS antenna issues! ;-) |
| jb914 |
Posted - May 29 2012 : 11:33:52
I got my FDM-12-25 and it simply plugs into the "remote" plug on the inverter and 1 plug on the panel. Now, just need to decide where to install the panel. It does not provide me alot of detail on the batteries other than if they need a to be charged, which is all i really needed so i know if it's time to run the generator.
now, it's time to fix the windlass and trace the GPS antenna issues! ;-) |
| Billylll |
Posted - May 19 2012 : 08:40:14
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum
Voltage is a poor indicator of charge level unless one has the charts associated with the battery bank and can measure the current drawn at that voltage.
Why this function isn't an option for "smart" inverter/chargers I do not know. All they need is an additional shunt at the battery and a little software. They must have a/d converters available to implement functions they already have.
The Link2000 has the software and shunt it is on the ground side of the battery bank being monitored. It also controls the inverter/charger.
Bill |
| boatbum |
Posted - May 19 2012 : 08:11:42
Voltage is a poor indicator of charge level unless one has the charts associated with the battery bank and can measure the current drawn at that voltage.
Why this function isn't an option for "smart" inverter/chargers I do not know. All they need is an additional shunt at the battery and a little software. They must have a/d converters available to implement functions they already have.
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| pdecat |
Posted - May 19 2012 : 06:28:13
Any voltmeter $5 |
| Billylll |
Posted - May 18 2012 : 19:09:33
It depends many people at anchor turn off their GPS. Also navigation equipment on many vessels is on an engine battery bank and not the inverter/ house battery bank.
Another point to consider is the voltage alarm on my GPS units is a set point that you can change however it does not show a running total of house battery amp hours used or charged. The Garmin plotters will also not control the inverter/charger on my main house battery bank.
I do have one of the plotters at the upper helm set for 12.2VDC because if it gets that low something is not charging properly or I have excessive current draw on the battery bank I chose to power the navigation equipment off of.
Bill |
| Laissez-Faire |
Posted - May 18 2012 : 18:48:20
most GPS units have a battery alarm mode, set the alarm point where you want to and listen, it will
tell you, via alarm, when the set point is reached (sorry,I take it for granted that you do have
a good GPS) |
| Billylll |
Posted - May 15 2012 : 08:23:50
quote:
Originally posted by jb914
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll
It looks like the unit you found might work. What I like about the Link2000 is it allows monitoring of 2 battery banks and has a digital voltage and current meter the reads to 2 decimal places 13.XX volts as an example.
However if the Link2000 is not available the part number you posted should work.
Bill
Thanks for the help! i'm going to get the one i posted.
Let us know how it works out for you.
Thanks,
Bill |
| jb914 |
Posted - May 14 2012 : 11:30:50
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll
It looks like the unit you found might work. What I like about the Link2000 is it allows monitoring of 2 battery banks and has a digital voltage and current meter the reads to 2 decimal places 13.XX volts as an example.
However if the Link2000 is not available the part number you posted should work.
Bill
Thanks for the help! i'm going to get the one i posted. |
| Billylll |
Posted - May 14 2012 : 07:22:29
It looks like the unit you found might work. What I like about the Link2000 is it allows monitoring of 2 battery banks and has a digital voltage and current meter the reads to 2 decimal places 13.XX volts as an example.
However if the Link2000 is not available the part number you posted should work.
Bill |
| Billylll |
Posted - May 14 2012 : 07:14:59
I or you would have to check to see if it would be compatable and do both functions.
1 - monitor the house battery bank.
2 - control the inverter/charger.
That is the beauty of the Link2000 it does both on the Freedom series inverter/charger's.
Bill |
| rnbenton |
Posted - May 14 2012 : 07:11:29
I just installed a Xantrex LinkLITE a few weeks ago. It only monitors one bank of batteries but that's all I wanted. I have it on the house bank and really like it.
Bob
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| jb914 |
Posted - May 13 2012 : 22:58:51
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll
Look for a Xantrex Link2000 remote on E-Bay. They mate directly to the Xantrex Freedom Series but you have to install a high current ground shunt and a power lead & fuse. You might still be able to buy them new they are fairly expensive.
Really the least expensive way to monitor a battery or battery bank is with a digital volt meter.
I use a Link2000 remote monitor on my Xantrex 2500 off my house bank.
Bill
Thanks for the reply. why can't i use something like this? Xantrex 84205601 Battery Status & Inverter/Charger Remote Control? sorry, i'm electrically challenged! :-( |
| Sandy |
Posted - May 13 2012 : 22:57:34
The Link 2000 is a really very good monitor and remote control but for some reason Xantrex stopped offering them years ago . A friend tried to replace his 2 yrs ago and found none available anywhere after checking all national leads-too many other people looking for them too & they were snapped right up. But maybe you will get lucky. (A few minutes ago I saw an old (Mar.2012) post on another site that showed someone had a Link 2000 NIB and quickly sold it for $350.)
Their Link Pro and other Link monitors just don't seem anywhere near as handy. http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/power-accessories/linkpro-battery-monitor.aspx
I think the " Xantrex Heart FDM-12-25 Remote Panel Battery Status & Freedom Inverter/Charger Remote Control" is still available and should plug into that jack but the LED bar graph isn't as nice as the digital LCD display of the L 2000. |
| Billylll |
Posted - May 13 2012 : 21:27:34
Look for a Xantrex Link2000 remote on E-Bay. They mate directly to the Xantrex Freedom Series but you have to install a high current ground shunt and a power lead & fuse. You might still be able to buy them new they are fairly expensive.
Really the least expensive way to monitor a battery or battery bank is with a digital volt meter.
I use a Link2000 remote monitor on my Xantrex 2500 off my house bank.
Bill |
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