12v DC Eletric Panel

[tdthinker]

Hey everyone, you can get those already made if you dont have the time or etc to build one. If you look in boat mags or cabelas or bass pro mags you should finde panels to control the boats amps and everything. Bye

[shil]

I picked up a distribution panel at West Marine.

They also sell a battery monitor filled with Sophisticated Algorithms regarding rate of discharge, rate of charge, temperature, etc. It's a much more accurate indication of what's left in the battery than a voltmeter. It's also priced accordingly.

For now, I've decided that I don't need one that bad. The battery's low when the lights get dim.

Shil

[JamesW]

Here is a little file I made for those who want to build a panel. The parts can be bought from Radio Shack and the labels from West Marine or Boaters World. I have not place a meter on the panel yet but there is room for it. You can download the PDF and use it as a template.
DC Electrical Panel

[JamesW]

Dave,

On your site you use "electro-mechanical spring wound timers". Are these the normal ones you would use on a vent in the bathroom of your house or are they special 12V type?

[campadk]

Dave,

On your site you use "electro-mechanical spring wound timers". Are these the normal ones you would use on a vent in the bathroom of your house or are they special 12V type?

Hmmm.... good question. Look like the same ones they use for bathroom heat lamps etc. I would think they are just basically switches and could carry 12V, or 120V.

[Dee Bee]

Very nice Dee. Clean job! Can you give us some specs, schematics, rear photos, etc?

Here is the back although the circuits are not wired

DEE

[campadk]

I picked up a couple of these.......haven't tried them out yet though. I'm going to install them with a momentary switch, so I can check how much "juice" I have left.

Hey Ken... I just received my meter from Sailor Dave.

Measured my battery and it shows 12.32V on a volt meter and 40% with the battery monitor guage. Might need a bit of adjustment... Then again my voltage/level chart may be wrong.

Anyone know if this is correct?

100% - 12.7V
90% - 12.5V
80% - 12.42V
70% - 12.32V
60% - 12.20V
50% - 12.06V
40% - 11.9V
30% - 11.75V
20% - 11.58V
10% - 11.31V
0% - 10.5V

[JamesW]

That looks right to me. Maybe even a little conservative.

[RC]

Here is a little file I made for those who want to build a panel. The parts can be bought from Radio Shack and the labels from West Marine or Boaters World. I have not place a meter on the panel yet but there is room for it. You can download the PDF and use it as a template. DC Electrical Panel

The page cannot be found

[JamesW]

Sorry but I changed the name but did nit update the link. Try this:
http://www.james-willis.com/teardrop/DCPanel.pdf

[RC]

That works!

[capsu78]

I am quite niave on this issue, but in Walmart earlier this week, I found a $14 plug in meter that seems to tell you battery chage status and warns when you are getting low.
Is this too unsophistocated to be considered? It just looked so easy and affordable. What am I missing?

Dave

[denverd0n]

You're not missing anything. The Wal-Mart, plug-in type guage is not quite as accurate as the more expensive type, but in a lot of circumstances they are perfectly adequate.

[mikeschn]

If all you're looking for is to read the approx voltage of the battery, that'll work fine. I'm going to start looking for a complete panel meter, like the one that Dee Bee built...

http://tnttt.com/album_ ... ser_id=110

Mike...

[campadk]

I'm for the 'keep it simple' train of thought. I'm simply going to drain the battery and check the gauge reading. Then fully charge it and check the gauge reading. Then I'll tweak the adjustment screw to come up with a fairly accurate setting that gives me a somewhat usable, decent approximation of battery life left. I'll spend the rest of the time I saved on building a more sophisticated version, camping on the shores of Fish Creek Pond..... ahhhhh the life....