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 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 10:23:19 -0700, Pete C
wrote:

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.

This is a wireless SG sensor setup.
Data can be fed to a PDA, laptop or desktop and crunched
by the relevant software for analysis.
http://www.electrosense.com.au/SG-Electrode.htm
Toss out those old hydrometers.
You can probably get a nice setup of these for less than $10k.
Agitator beds for the batteries could be added if desired, but
I haven't looked for them. If I ordered any of this stuff I would
want a couple pocket protectors thrown in gratis.

--Vic

On Jul 27, 10:06 pm, Vic Smith
wrote:
This is a wireless SG sensor setup.
Data can be fed to a PDA, laptop or desktop and crunched
by the relevant software for analysis.http://www.electrosense.com.au/SG-Electrode.htm
Toss out those old hydrometers.
You can probably get a nice setup of these for less than $10k.
Agitator beds for the batteries could be added if desired, but
I haven't looked for them. If I ordered any of this stuff I would
want a couple pocket protectors thrown in gratis.

LOL!

For checking SG under way a refractometer might be easier, on the
pocket at least! eg:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Battery-Acid-Ant...lycol-Coolant-
Refractometer-
F_W0QQitemZ230154976520QQihZ013QQcategoryZ111537QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

cheers,
Pete.

On Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:25:53 -0700, Pete C
wrote:

On Jul 27, 10:06 pm, Vic Smith
wrote:
This is a wireless SG sensor setup.
Data can be fed to a PDA, laptop or desktop and crunched
by the relevant software for analysis.http://www.electrosense.com.au/SG-Electrode.htm
Toss out those old hydrometers.
You can probably get a nice setup of these for less than $10k.
Agitator beds for the batteries could be added if desired, but
I haven't looked for them. If I ordered any of this stuff I would
want a couple pocket protectors thrown in gratis.

LOL!

For checking SG under way a refractometer might be easier, on the
pocket at least! eg:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Battery-Acid-Ant...lycol-Coolant-
Refractometer-
F_W0QQitemZ230154976520QQihZ013QQcategoryZ111537Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So many gadgets, so little time.

--Vic

In article om,
Pete C wrote:

LOL!

For checking SG under way a refractometer might be easier, on the
pocket at least! eg:

and the clothes......

Bruce in alaska
--
add a 2 before @

In article ,
Stephen Trapani wrote:

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

It can be done, IF you have charactorized you battery cells before hand,
and have a good running record of SG vs Voltage on a per cell basis.
Other than that you just "Guesstimating", and that is about as accurate
as a DartBoard.......

Bruce in alaska
--
add a 2 before @