Turnigy Meter

[bdosborn]

Here's a great price on a Turnigy meter:

$23.95 Meter



It's a nice meter because it will track the the amp-hrs you've pulled out of your battery. No more guessing on how much battery capacity you have left. It only tracks current in one direction though (unlike a Trimetric) so you would need two to track amp-hrs out to appliances and amp-hrs in from the battery charger, solar, etc. Still, you can't beat the price compared to what a true battery monitor costs.

Spec.
Operating voltage: 4.8~60V (0V with optional auxiliary battery)
Measures;
0~130A, resolution 0.01A
0~60V, resolution 0.01V
0~6554W, resolution 0.1W
0~65Ah, resolution 0.001Ah
0~6554Wh, resolution 0.1Wh
Screen: 16x2, backlit LCD display
Size: 85x42x25mm
Weight: 82g

Bruce

[48Rob]

Bruce,

Thanks for the heads up!
I've got one coming...

Rob

[Richard A.]

It's a nice meter because it will track the the amp-hrs you've pulled out of your battery. No more guessing on how much battery capacity you have left. It only tracks current in one direction though (unlike a Trimetric) so you would need two to track amp-hrs out to appliances and amp-hrs in from the battery charger, solar, etc. Still, you can't beat the price compared to what a true battery monitor costs.

I don't understand how this will give you "how much battery capacity you have left." It only tracks how much is used from the battery. How do you know how much capacity the battery has?

In other words, what is the state of the battery charge, and how much can the battery hold after being used (or abused) for a few years?

[bdosborn]

I don't understand how this will give you "how much battery capacity you have left." It only tracks how much is used from the battery. How do you know how much capacity the battery has?

In other words, what is the state of the battery charge, and how much can the battery hold after being used (or abused) for a few years?

Here's how the meter works as a battery monitor:

-Find the amp-hrs listed on the side or top of your battery and write it down
-Charge the battery completely before a camping trip
-Reset the amp-hrs on the meter per instructions with meter
-Monitor the amp-hrs drawn from battery during the trip.
-Stop using or charge the battery when 50% of the capacity listed on the battery is used.

No battery monitor will track the age/condition of the battery but you can get an idea from the resting battery voltage versus amp-hrs used. A brand new battery will be at 12.0 V when half the amp-hrs are used. You'll get to 12.0 volts with fewer amp-hrs as the battery ages or is discharged too deeply. Its something you'll get a feel for as you watch your amp-hr usage over a season or two. I've noticed that my battery voltage dips a little lower than is used to when I add loads. A sign my batteries are showing some age, which is to be expected since I bought them in 2009.

Bruce

[KCStudly]

Does the screen "go to sleep" after a certain amount of time, or can it be "turned off". I'm a little too old to require a full time night light keeping me awake, and it seems to me that the logical location for the meter is inside of the cabin; tho I suppose it could be mounted behind a little flip down/up door.

Nice find.

[bdosborn]

The Turnigy Meter is essentially a Doc Wattson meter and you can hook it up in a three wire setup with a remoter switch. I think this would let you turn the meter light on or off. Of course you won't be tracking amp-hrs with it off and it would reset the meter but here's the wiring diagram:



You would use a regular switch in stead of the normally closed push button. It might be better to just put the meter behind a cabinet door.

The Doc Wattson user manual is much better than the Turnigy manual:

Doc Wattson Meter Manual

Bruce

[KCStudly]

Thanks Bruce.

[pete42]

Bruce I bought one of these couple years ago it's still like brand new.............
why? you ask because It's still on the shelf all I need now is a trailer and battery system.

the doc wattson manual is a whole lot better than the skimpy directions that come with the meter thanks for
showing me where to get that.

I like to take care of my battiers when I use to work I had hour meters and voltage meters on the platform lifts.
the operators soon learned how to use them and to head over to the charging station before the battery died.

thanks again