Battery Monitor wiring

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   I read you wish to have your meter inside and easy to see. That's fine. Once you get used to what you use and how to extend your available power, you'll find you're not check it as much, or at least I found that. I placed my meter at the battery. 

My controller I placed on the back of my solar panel with another of those meters. Between the two it gave me input and usage to reference. I'd probably not place the second meter on the panel again, yet it was fun to see what a day could produce in real life. 

I like the cumulative meters and reset them before embarking on the next journey. Now, I mainly watch voltage and have a decent clue of what SOC is.  

I have one for lithium as well if another so desires.

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Olddawgsrule Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014	Topic: Battery Monitor wiring Posted: 17 Apr 2021 at 2:57pm
	I read you wish to have your meter inside and easy to see. That's fine. Once you get used to what you use and how to extend your available power, you'll find you're not check it as much, or at least I found that. I placed my meter at the battery. My controller I placed on the back of my solar panel with another of those meters. Between the two it gave me input and usage to reference. I'd probably not place the second meter on the panel again, yet it was fun to see what a day could produce in real life. I like the cumulative meters and reset them before embarking on the next journey. Now, I mainly watch voltage and have a decent clue of what SOC is. I have one for lithium as well if another so desires.
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geewizard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 16 Apr 2017 Location: Spokane Online Status: Offline Posts: 347	Posted: 17 Apr 2021 at 11:23am
	My wiring loom starts at the battery box and goes back to where the wiring enters the floor by the fuse box. I opened the loom and laid the wire inside then used good quality cable ties to keep the loom closed. Yesterday, I installed two 12v group 27 AGM deep cycle batteries to replace the two group 27 12v "RV" batteries that came with the Pod. I chose FullRiver DC105-12 batteries. I keep them charged with a 100W solar panel.
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john in idaho Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Eagle Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 611	Posted: 17 Apr 2021 at 9:47am
	It has been a while, but I picked up(from amazon) a small digital voltmeter dial and switch. the supplied idiot lights in the wall slip out easily and reveal the wiring. I picked a lead that measured battery voltage and hooked the new meter and switch to it, then poked a hole in the wall above the idiot light to mount the new gauge. Been working fine for about 3 years.

Welchsoft Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 08 Jul 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 58	Posted: 17 Apr 2021 at 9:36am
	Reviewed the pictures, thanks. Similar (but much nicer) to my double 6V setup. Where does the wiring loom start and end? Did you fish wire through it, or open it and lay the wire into it?

geewizard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 16 Apr 2017 Location: Spokane Online Status: Offline Posts: 347	Posted: 17 Apr 2021 at 8:51am
	I ran my battery monitor cable inside the wiring loom. Yes, it took some time but I wanted a good installation that I did only once. My shunt is mounted inside the battery box next to the batteries and alongside my MPPT solar controller and battery switch. You can see pics of my battery box if you do a search on my username.
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offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 16 Apr 2021 at 3:42pm
	Can't help you with those specifics, I have a 179 so the routing is different and there is no underside covering material in the way. Maybe someone with the same trailer might be able to help.
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Welchsoft Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 08 Jul 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 58	Posted: 16 Apr 2021 at 3:34pm
	Thanks for the feedback. Looking for some specific details on running the wires. I do understand how to wire the battery monitor but how to get the wires fished from point A to point B is my challenge. Any thoughts on how to run the battery monitor wires? Wall, side, ceiling, snake it down to the top of the corrugated, etc.? I'm thinking that my solar controller already has its wires from this location back to the battery but not sure their path back. Just need some advice on a possible approach with minimal removal of the underside corrugated.

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 16 Apr 2021 at 2:22pm
	Ok, you have a monitor with a shunt that goes in the negative leg. Good. The shunt needs to be mounted in the negative leg at any point between the battery negative post and the first place a load or source is connected. That way it can measure all the current in and out of the battery. So if you say have a solar charge controller connected at the battery terminals then yes the shunt would need to be mounted there and the negative conductor to the controller relocated to the side of the shunt away from the battery. If the first place anything is connected to the negative lead from the battery is at the panel then you can mount the shunt there.
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podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 16 Apr 2021 at 1:11pm
	Yes, if you have a shunt (amps in/out or 'coulomb counter') then that does need to be mounted at the battery negative terminal...normally. I would mount the display wherever the shortest run and easiest mounting surface would be. If that is near a door or window or near the converter, then so be it.
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Welchsoft Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 08 Jul 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 58	Posted: 16 Apr 2021 at 11:25am
	Thanks. The manufacturer recommends that the shunt be mounted on the battery negative at the battery, then all other negatives on the other side of the shunt. But your idea would make it easier.