"Pete C" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Jul 26, 7:58 am, Electricky Dicky wrote:
On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:17:40 -0700, Pete C
wrote:

For those who know a bit about electrics and can use a hydrometer I
would propose

[stuff snipped....]

99% of my customers would not know what a hydrometer was
99% of my customers have no idea what their audit is
70% do not care
30% want to be able to look at something to tell them whether to
charge or not

Exactly! E-X-A-C-T-L-Y!

If they knew a bit about electrics and could use a hydrometer, they
wouldn't be your customer, as they woundn't need professional help,
would they?

cheers,
Pete.


It takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to check all of the cells in my bank. This
is with the boat sitting calmly at the dock. I would much prefer not to have
to open those cells with the boat in motion, sloshing battery acid around.
If a meter will give me reasonably accurate information, which I can verify
from time to time with a physical check of the electrolyte when it can be
done safely, so much the better.

On Jul 26, 3:52 pm, "KLC Lewis" wrote:

It takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to check all of the cells in my bank. This
is with the boat sitting calmly at the dock. I would much prefer not to have
to open those cells with the boat in motion, sloshing battery acid around.
If a meter will give me reasonably accurate information, which I can verify
from time to time with a physical check of the electrolyte when it can be
done safely, so much the better.

Well, buy a Smartguage then!

cheers,
Pete.

"Pete C" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jul 26, 3:52 pm, "KLC Lewis" wrote:

It takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to check all of the cells in my bank.
This
is with the boat sitting calmly at the dock. I would much prefer not to
have
to open those cells with the boat in motion, sloshing battery acid
around.
If a meter will give me reasonably accurate information, which I can
verify
from time to time with a physical check of the electrolyte when it can be
done safely, so much the better.

Well, buy a Smartguage then!

cheers,
Pete.


I've been looking at them. Can't find a US source on the internet. Also
looking at the Xantrex Link 10. Part of me says that since it takes more
wires to hook up and uses a shunt, its information should be more accurate.
The other part just says, "duhhhhhhhh"

Pete C wrote:
On Jul 26, 3:52 pm, "KLC Lewis" wrote:

It takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to check all of the cells in my bank. This
is with the boat sitting calmly at the dock. I would much prefer not to have
to open those cells with the boat in motion, sloshing battery acid around.
If a meter will give me reasonably accurate information, which I can verify
from time to time with a physical check of the electrolyte when it can be
done safely, so much the better.

Well, buy a Smartguage then!

Can't a person extrapolate state of charge with a simple voltmeter?

Stephen

"Stephen Trapani" wrote in message
news
Pete C wrote:
On Jul 26, 3:52 pm, "KLC Lewis" wrote:

It takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to check all of the cells in my bank.
This
is with the boat sitting calmly at the dock. I would much prefer not to
have
to open those cells with the boat in motion, sloshing battery acid
around.
If a meter will give me reasonably accurate information, which I can
verify
from time to time with a physical check of the electrolyte when it can
be
done safely, so much the better.

Well, buy a Smartguage then!

Can't a person extrapolate state of charge with a simple voltmeter?

Stephen

From all the websites I've been looking at, it would appear that each
company's product is the only one that works. But as I understand it,
voltage tells you how much potential for doing work is there, but it won't
tell you for how long that work can be done.

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:19:56 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:


"Richard Casady" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:37:20 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:


Pete, do you propose using a hydrometer everytime you want to know your
state of charge? This could be a couple of times each day, or more.

It is, or used to be, the practice on submarines. Not much extra work
when you are checking/adding water. The original smart charger was a
sub sailor with thermometer, hydrometer, and voltmeter. Who knows what

those guys are doing now.

Casady

That raises another question: Just how often are you supposed to check the
water? Once a day? I've been doing it about once a month.
If they never need much water, you are doing fine. If you are seeing
the plates, add water more often.

The sub guys would give them a deep discharge, and then recharge them
at as high a rate as temperature allowed. Three engines on the battery
and one on propulsion was not rare. Most of a full charge in two hours
or so. If I recall correctly, some european boats have been built with
water cooled batteries,

Casady

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:19:56 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:

That raises another question: Just how often are you supposed to check the
water? Once a day? I've been doing it about once a month.
If they never need much water, you are doing fine. If you are seeing
the plates, add water more often.

The sub guys would give them a deep discharge, and then recharge them
at as high a rate as temperature allowed. Three engines on the battery
and one on propulsion was not rare. Most of a full charge in two hours
or so. If I recall correctly, some european boats have been built with
water cooled batteries,

Casady

I must be doing something right, then. :-)

On Jul 26, 4:29 pm, Stephen Trapani wrote:
Can't a person extrapolate state of charge with a simple voltmeter?

Good point, you can, with a few caveats which are covered by the
battery FAQ I posted a link to.

I'd probably use the voltmeter as a rough and ready guide on a day to
day basis, and a hydro now and then to verify it.

Cross referring the two could be pretty useful.

cheers,
Pete.

On Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:13:20 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:


"Pete C" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jul 26, 3:52 pm, "KLC Lewis" wrote:

It takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to check all of the cells in my bank.
This
is with the boat sitting calmly at the dock. I would much prefer not to
have
to open those cells with the boat in motion, sloshing battery acid
around.
If a meter will give me reasonably accurate information, which I can
verify
from time to time with a physical check of the electrolyte when it can be
done safely, so much the better.

Well, buy a Smartguage then!

cheers,
Pete.


I've been looking at them. Can't find a US source on the internet. Also
looking at the Xantrex Link 10. Part of me says that since it takes more
wires to hook up and uses a shunt, its information should be more accurate.
The other part just says, "duhhhhhhhh"

Give the part of you that say's duhhhhhh a beer and tell him to go sit
in the corner whilst the brighter bit of you reads the Smartgauge
website. Chris Gibson tells it the way it is. If I fit an amp hour
counter on a boat with a year old bank, what do I set the bank
capacity at? What value should the customer reset it to in a years
time? Now go have a beer and let duhhhhh take over, his answers are
just as valid as yours ;-)
And if those settings are not valid - garbage in - garbage out!!!!!


--
Richard

Nb "Pound Eater" Parkend G+S
"Governments are like Nappies, they should be changed often."
(For the same reason)

"Electricky Dicky" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:13:20 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:


I've been looking at them. Can't find a US source on the internet. Also
looking at the Xantrex Link 10. Part of me says that since it takes more
wires to hook up and uses a shunt, its information should be more
accurate.
The other part just says, "duhhhhhhhh"

Give the part of you that say's duhhhhhh a beer and tell him to go sit
in the corner whilst the brighter bit of you reads the Smartgauge
website. Chris Gibson tells it the way it is. If I fit an amp hour
counter on a boat with a year old bank, what do I set the bank
capacity at? What value should the customer reset it to in a years
time? Now go have a beer and let duhhhhh take over, his answers are
just as valid as yours ;-)
And if those settings are not valid - garbage in - garbage out!!!!!


--
Richard

Nb "Pound Eater" Parkend G+S
"Governments are like Nappies, they should be changed often."
(For the same reason)

Well, I've read over the Smartguage site, and find it rather informative in
many areas. But other sites, selling other products, seem to indicate that
without a shunt so that the meter can read ALL current into and out of the
bank, the meter can't tell what's really going on. I don't find anything on
the Smartguage site that says how their meter can do it without a shunt, and
with only two wires connected directly to the battery bank.

Karin