How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

[biglurr54]

I was wondering if there is a way to keep an eye on the battery through a voltage gauge while anchored to see if it is draining too low. My depth finder has voltage but I havent used that as a gauge for the radio because I figured I would need to l know how much amps the battery has left.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

Battery switch and two batteries. one for house loads such as the radio, and one for the engine.

 

[biglurr54]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

Been there done that. Im sick of replacing 2 batteries every couple of years. They aren't getting cheaper but their lives seem to be getting shorter along with their warranty's. If you look I kind of explain the rest of my idea in my other post about a stereo powered by a solar panel on a pontoon boat. Id rather buy panels over batteries any day. $120 for 100 watt panel that has a 25 year warranty or $100 for an extra battery that will only last 2 years? Which makes more sense to you?

 

[gm280]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

They do make battery monitor circuits that use LEDs to show the condition of the battery. I believe the IC chip used is a LM3914. It starts out with green lights and then yellow as the volt starts to drop, followed by red when it is time to stop. And I thing that IC chip even allows for an alarm as well. Some Electronic Part houses sell such a circuit in a kit or finished form...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

You want someway to know when the battery reaches 12.0V and stop discharging it after that. If you discharge after that, your battery won't last very long which is what you are experiencing.

You can install a meter that has a push button switch that operates it.

 

[biglurr54]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

Push button. Love it. I found some cheap Chinese volt meters on eBay. They have some cool stuff volt and amp meters. Water temp gauges that can do air temp as well. All for 5 bucks a piece. They look decent too. I think I might make a cool dash monitoring amps being used vs amps coming from solar panels. Voltage of battery. Water temp and air temp.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

Push button. Love it. I found some cheap Chinese volt meters on eBay.

Just double check them. If they are off my 5%, that would be the difference between a dead battery or not.

Just be aware, most of these cheap meters need a separate power supply from what they are measuring.

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

biglurr54 - What size batteries are you using? How do you currently charge them?

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

another option........ if you have a smart phone...internet radio --> aux speakers dont kill your boat batteries

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

I was wondering if there is a way to keep an eye on the battery through a voltage gauge while anchored to see if it is draining too low. My depth finder has voltage but I haven't used that as a gauge for the radio because I figured I would need to l know how much amps the battery has left.

The sonar gauge will be just fine.
Most units have a voltage alarm just for that purpose.
Set the alarm for about 12.2 volts.
You will never have any idea of how many AMPs are remaining.
You want to alarm at a VOLTAGE.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

They do make low voltage battery disconnect monitors. Most of these are for less than 10A loads so they would be perfect for electronic. With a heavy duty relay and a push button, you could control current going to a trolling motor.

Google is your friend.

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: How to keep an eye on Battery with stereo running while anchored

If you really want a battery meter "fuel gauge" for you battery they are available. Tri-Metric, Victron, Xantrex, Magnum, and Outback all make battery meters. They include a shunt to be installed in the negative battery cable. They measure the amps in and amps out and tell you what percentage of capacity is left.