- Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:05 am
#169846
I am considering building a battery monitor. I found the Multimeter kit on the web site (since discontinued), and thought this might be a good starting point as it provides some basic information (sorry, I'm a newby to this, so I'm needing all the help I can get, and will be using the SIK as my development platform).
Initially, what I would like to do is to be able to monitor the batteries in my travel trailer (12V deep-cycle lead/acid and or LGM type batteries - currently 1 but soon to be 2) so that I can have a decent idea of power consumption, etc. As such I would like to initially be able to monitor voltage and amperage.
My first step is voltage. In the above mentioned Multimeter kit, the voltage measurement falls within the spec's. With the battery voltage, I'm measuring voltage somewhere between 0 V DC (although hopefully the battery never ever gets that low) and less than 15 V DC. The kit uses a "simple" voltage divider (and thanks to the SIK and Sparkfun tutorials) I understand that part. What I'm wondering about at this point is if the circuit could handle the battery, and the current that it is capable of delivering. I really don't want to see smoke or charred parts! So, if I hook this up to my battery, what kind of current would it draw? What will determine the current draw?
Further steps will include:
- Current sensing (I believe that the current sensing circuit outlined in the above kit will be totally inadequate, based mostly on the kit specs and my limited understanding). The DC system in the trailer is currently fused for 50A, and I would be sensing on the fuse-protected side of the circuit.
- Data storage (for later analysis)
- RF transmission to remote monitor (inside the trailer) for status checking and warnings.
- Possible battery switchover (ie: when battery 1 becomes depleted, switch over to battery 2) and charging (charge the battery that's not in use).
Thank you in advance for all help received.
Initially, what I would like to do is to be able to monitor the batteries in my travel trailer (12V deep-cycle lead/acid and or LGM type batteries - currently 1 but soon to be 2) so that I can have a decent idea of power consumption, etc. As such I would like to initially be able to monitor voltage and amperage.
My first step is voltage. In the above mentioned Multimeter kit, the voltage measurement falls within the spec's. With the battery voltage, I'm measuring voltage somewhere between 0 V DC (although hopefully the battery never ever gets that low) and less than 15 V DC. The kit uses a "simple" voltage divider (and thanks to the SIK and Sparkfun tutorials) I understand that part. What I'm wondering about at this point is if the circuit could handle the battery, and the current that it is capable of delivering. I really don't want to see smoke or charred parts! So, if I hook this up to my battery, what kind of current would it draw? What will determine the current draw?
Further steps will include:
- Current sensing (I believe that the current sensing circuit outlined in the above kit will be totally inadequate, based mostly on the kit specs and my limited understanding). The DC system in the trailer is currently fused for 50A, and I would be sensing on the fuse-protected side of the circuit.
- Data storage (for later analysis)
- RF transmission to remote monitor (inside the trailer) for status checking and warnings.
- Possible battery switchover (ie: when battery 1 becomes depleted, switch over to battery 2) and charging (charge the battery that's not in use).
Thank you in advance for all help received.