Battery monitors

[Ryan Wright]

Has anyone installed a battery monitoring system?

http://www.bogartengineering.com/

I don't like not knowing the current state of my batteries. Both of
these units look nice. Any thoughts?

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92
Tri-Cities, WA

[worktohobby]

Hello,

Xantrex is very well known and has simular products that can be used
with or w/o their chargers or inverters. Their documentation is very
well written. A good primer on battery monitoring that is worth reading
prior to purchasing product from any company.

For most folks, a modern step charger (iota, progressive dynamics, or
xantrex), an accurate dash voltmeter (verify w/dmm at batteries), a
willingness to keep batteries watered and cables clean in good order,
and a certain degree of due dilligence on monitoring battery voltages
are all that is really necessary. Though a low voltage battery alarm
probably wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Regards,

Don Duncan
1987 PT40
Beaverton, Oregon

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"
wrote:
>
> Has anyone installed a battery monitoring system?
>
> http://www.bogartengineering.com/
>
> I don't like not knowing the current state of my batteries. Both of
> these units look nice. Any thoughts?
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
> Tri-Cities, WA
>

[Pete Masterson]

One of the units shown on the website is much like the Heart Link
2000 R that the previous owner installed in my coach. The Link 2000 R
works in conjunction with the dual inverters (and battery chargers)
in my coach. It includes most of the features of the unit on the
right side of the web site. You might want to visit the Heart web
site and consider the Heart Freedom Inverters in addition to the
controller. I'm not sure what's in an '86 PT, but your charger and
inverter might well need updating in addition to the controller.
Getting a combined solution might offer advantages of full
compatibility between all the components.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lockhart Texas



On May 10, 2007, at 2:08 PM, Ryan Wright wrote:

> Has anyone installed a battery monitoring system?
>
> http://www.bogartengineering.com/
>
> I don't like not knowing the current state of my batteries. Both of
> these units look nice. Any thoughts?
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
> Tri-Cities, WA

[Tom Warner]

A link 1000 will monitor one battery bank (what you have in your 1986
PT) and control one inverter/charger such as a Heart 2500.

A link 2000 will monitor two battery banks (such as one starting bank
and one house bank) and control two inverter/chargers like Heart 2500

I have a Link 2000 and a Heart 2500 which provides 130 amps charging
and 2500 watts of 120VAC power to the coach. I have the AC connected
to all of the wall receptacles in the back bedroom, kitchen, and
front of the bus as well as the microwave. That allows the use of
120VAC to computers etc at all times inside including my Satellite
system and TVs. In my opinion it is one of the best upgrades you can
start with on your coach. Women love the fact that they can use the
coffee maker, microwave and childrens games when they are on the road
travelling.
You can buy the products on ebay (there is a new link 2000 there now
for less then $200) and I would buy a refurbished charger/inverter
from the many companies that cater to the solar crowd on the internet
such as
http://www.partsonsale.com/rvseries.html
http://www.oksolar.com/inverters/xantrex...e-sp2k.htm

tom warner
vernon center,ny
1985 PT 40

At 05:29 PM 5/10/2007, you wrote:
>One of the units shown on the website is much like the Heart Link
>2000 R that the previous owner installed in my coach. The Link 2000 R
>works in conjunction with the dual inverters (and battery chargers)
>in my coach. It includes most of the features of the unit on the
>right side of the web site. You might want to visit the Heart web
>site and consider the Heart Freedom Inverters in addition to the
>controller. I'm not sure what's in an '86 PT, but your charger and
>inverter might well need updating in addition to the controller.
>Getting a combined solution might offer advantages of full
>compatibility between all the components.
>
>Pete Masterson
>'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
>aeonix1@...
>On the road at Lockhart Texas
>
>
>
>On May 10, 2007, at 2:08 PM, Ryan Wright wrote:
>
> > Has anyone installed a battery monitoring system?
> >
> > http://www.bogartengineering.com/
> >
> > I don't like not knowing the current state of my batteries. Both of
> > these units look nice. Any thoughts?
> >
> > -Ryan
> > '86 PT-40 8V92
> > Tri-Cities, WA
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[Richard Hayden]

And then there is [url]www.amplepower.com<[/url]http://www.amplepower.com/> which is worth
looking into as well. The owner of the company, David Smead, is a boater as
well as an RVer and has developed a wide varity of 12 volt power products and
systems. At the web site you will find a really good Primer on 12 volt.

Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA

----- Original Message -----
From: worktohobby
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 12:31 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery monitors


Hello,

Xantrex is very well known and has simular products that can be used
with or w/o their chargers or inverters. Their documentation is very
well written. A good primer on battery monitoring that is worth reading
prior to purchasing product from any company.

For most folks, a modern step charger (iota, progressive dynamics, or
xantrex), an accurate dash voltmeter (verify w/dmm at batteries), a
willingness to keep batteries watered and cables clean in good order,
and a certain degree of due dilligence on monitoring battery voltages
are all that is really necessary. Though a low voltage battery alarm
probably wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Regards,

Don Duncan
1987 PT40
Beaverton, Oregon

--- In
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan
Wright"
wrote:
>
> Has anyone installed a battery monitoring system?
>
> http://www.bogartengineering.com/<http://www.bogartengineering.com/>
>
> I don't like not knowing the current state of my batteries. Both of
> these units look nice. Any thoughts?
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
> Tri-Cities, WA
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ryan Wright]

Thanks all for the responses and product links!

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92
Tri-Cities, WA

On 5/10/07, Richard Hayden wrote:
>
> And then there is [url]www.amplepower.com<[/url]http://www.amplepower.com/> which is
worth looking into as well. The owner of the company, David Smead, is a boater
as well as an RVer and has developed a wide varity of 12 volt power products and
systems. At the web site you will find a really good Primer on 12 volt.
>
> Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA

[Ryan Wright]

Tom,

On 5/10/07, Tom Warner wrote:
>
> A link 1000 will monitor one battery bank (what you have in your 1986
> PT) and control one inverter/charger such as a Heart 2500.
>
> A link 2000 will monitor two battery banks (such as one starting bank
> and one house bank) and control two inverter/chargers like Heart 2500

I like the 2000R. It requires a "12 or 24 volt 'P' field type
alternator" at 230A max, though. Any idea if this is compatible with
my coach, assuming it's alternator is stock? Also, does anyone know if
these units work without the Xantrex converters before I call Xantrex
and ask?

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92
Tri-Cities, WA