15 replies to this topic

[rotti]

Old Crow,

when you use your Innova "Battery and Charging System Monitor" in a 12v. socket, you said, "you have to interpret what that means"... could you offer more details about your "interpretation" of its reading? 

 

looks like a inexpensive tool to assist the current led lights that are the installed monitor in Fleets... thanks...

 

I have that same meter and it does come with a chart to interpret the readings.

Here is another good guideline:

 

[scappoosebrad]

Rotti,

Thanks for the chart...numbers very close to a chart I use to monitor my deep cycle boat batteries (for electric motor)...

 

what I was specifically curious about was, does the Innova "monitor" inserted in a 12v. plug (inside the cabin I assume) give the same readings a a voltage meter directly off the batteries? or is "something" lost? (again a newbie about most things electrical especially regarding solar power)...

 

to answer my own question, I guess you could compare each measurement for awhile @ 100%, 80%, 60%, etc., then make any adjustments if your Innova monitor readings were different...

[Old Crow]

<snip>

 

what I was specifically curious about was, does the Innova "monitor" inserted in a 12v. plug (inside the cabin I assume) give the same readings a a voltage meter directly off the batteries? or is "something" lost? (again a newbie about most things electrical especially regarding solar power)...

 

to answer my own question, I guess you could compare each measurement for awhile @ 100%, 80%, 60%, etc., then make any adjustments if your Innova monitor readings were different...

 

I see about a tenth of a volt difference between measuring voltage at the 12-volt receptacle versus measuring the voltage at the battery terminals.  That's putting the Innova in the 12 volt receptacle, then taking it to the battery and plugging it into an adapter clamped to the battery terminals and comparing the readings. But it's a consistent reading so I just add a tenth to the reading from the receptacle. When it matters, I measure at the terminals with my voltmeter.  That one-tenth difference may not be the case for others. 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Hey, Scott--
 
Until you get something more sophisticated, you might want to keep an eye on voltage levels with an inexpensive digital voltage display in one of your 12v power sockets (if you're not already doing so). 
 
I have one like this Innova model.   They call it a Battery and Charging System Monitor but it just displays the voltage at the socket and you have to interpret what that means.  But it's better than guessing what the LEDs indicate.
 
 My Innova has been reasonably durable but it has come apart at the tip.  That black plastic piece on the end has screwed itself out a couple of times over the years.  I should put some threadlocker on it (just don't glue it, though, as there's a fuse in there you may need to change sometime).
 
I also like that I can take it to the truck (unlike a hard-wired one) and see what it's battery and alternator are doing.

Thanks for the link to Innova! Mine arrived today, works like a champ!

[rotti]

Thanks for the link to Innova! Mine arrived today, works like a champ!

I liked mine also but for me it was too large, stuck out too far and blocked the drawer.
I use this smaller one now instead....only 3 bucks:

http://www.ebay.com/...s&ul_noapp=true

Edited by rotti, 02 November 2016 - 04:39 AM.

[Desertratduo]

I beg to differ:
L is for Leinenkugel
F is for Fosters
G is for Goose Island
C is for (Sierra Nevada) Celebration