On Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:55:55 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:55:16 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:

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.

It can't of course, it can only guesstimate. If you want to measure
something you need the proper tools. The tool in this case is a
shunt.
That is analagous to using a flowmeter in your fuel line to drive your
speedometer (via a lookup table) ;-)
A shunt is used to measure current as you well know.
The Magic box that looks at the shunt counts in and out then
"guesstimates" based upon a number of parameters set by the installer
that may be right or may be wrong at that point in the banks life. The
final result is therefore ????? However most with amp counters assume
the numbers are gospel!

On the other hand you can argue that all that is really needed is a
digital voltmeter to approximate state of charge. If your batteries
are reading 12.6 volts under a light to moderate load, they are at
100%. Dropping down to 11.6 volts under the same conditions, they are
at 50% and need to be recharged immediately.

Granted (maybe) but the "average" boater has no idea what load is on
at the time, and the average boater feels everything is OK if he sees
12.00 volts!

How do you explain the real life discrepancy between units as
discussed in my original post? The amp counter was WRONG!
Oh and by the way try leaving an amp counter on a battery with no load
for 6 months and see if it reads the correct information! No amps out,
no amps in, bank is 100% !!! is it hell!

--
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
...
A shunt is used to measure current as you well know.
The Magic box that looks at the shunt counts in and out then
"guesstimates" based upon a number of parameters set by the installer
that may be right or may be wrong at that point in the banks life. The
final result is therefore ????? However most with amp counters assume
the numbers are gospel!

snippage

--
Richard

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

So it really comes down to choosing your choice of "magic boxes" which
"guesstimate"? How is the Smartguage better than the Link 10, if they both
"guesstimate" the state of charge?

On Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:07:44 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:


"Electricky Dicky" wrote in message
.. .
A shunt is used to measure current as you well know.
The Magic box that looks at the shunt counts in and out then
"guesstimates" based upon a number of parameters set by the installer
that may be right or may be wrong at that point in the banks life. The
final result is therefore ????? However most with amp counters assume
the numbers are gospel!

snippage

--
Richard

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

So it really comes down to choosing your choice of "magic boxes" which
"guesstimate"? How is the Smartguage better than the Link 10, if they both
"guesstimate" the state of charge?

Don't ask me, it was Wayne that said that the "Smartgauge" estimated
not me!

--
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
...
On Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:07:44 -0500, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:


So it really comes down to choosing your choice of "magic boxes" which
"guesstimate"? How is the Smartguage better than the Link 10, if they both
"guesstimate" the state of charge?

Don't ask me, it was Wayne that said that the "Smartgauge" estimated
not me!

--
Richard

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

Sorry, I was thinking you were the one selling the Smartguages. Unless you
are, in which case I still ask the question. They are all magic boxes that
guesstimate, so how does the Smartguage guesstimate better? And if you
aren't the proper one to answer, can the correct person please jump in?

Electricky Dicky wrote in
:

snippage


http://www.factorydirect2you.com/di.html
I always thought it would be great to modify a cell cap to permanently
mount the probe for one of these digital hydrometers into one cell on the
house batteries. No guesstimating here....you can READ the GRAVITY, the
only way to tell the condition of charge in a wetcell battery.

Price has come down a lot....$50!

Even if you couldn't mount it, its use would be much easier than a glass
hydrometer with the batteries buried like they are in most yachts. Lots of
boats, you can't even get the glass hydrometer into the cells, much less
actually read it.

Larry
--
While in Mexico, I didn't have to press 1 for Spanish.
While in Iran, I didn't have to press 1 for Farsi, either.
While in Florida, I had to press 2 for English.
It just isn't fair.

Electricky Dicky wrote in
:

snippage


Yahoo found lots of digital hydrometers....some with probes you can
mount...

http://shopping.yahoo.com/search/;
_ylc=X3oDMTJuYWNqZDEzBF9TAzk2MDc5MjYwBGFkZ3JwAzI4N zA1NjUyMwRldnQDODc3NzE1Mw
RrA2RpZ2l0YWwgaHlkcm9tZXRlcgRvbW0DYnJvYWQEc2VjA2ti BHNsawN0aXRsZQ--?
view=l&p=digital+hydrometer&sp=pall&no_truncation= 1&sem=google

http://tinyurl.com/2kq62e
same URL...much easier to click.

Larry
--
While in Mexico, I didn't have to press 1 for Spanish.
While in Iran, I didn't have to press 1 for Farsi, either.
While in Florida, I had to press 2 for English.
It just isn't fair.