I have an original battery monitor that takes a few minutes to give a reading. Is this likely the gauge, the switch or the wiring. I have to hold onto the switch for a bit like it is warming up, after I get a reading it will work nice (quickly) for a few moments on both batteries...thoughts? '86 Catalina 30. clean looking contacts and wiring.
battery monitor slow to read
- Thread starter lunasea6
- Start date
yes, takes up to 5 minutes before the needle swings. high or low charge is about the same. after it wakes up it's quick on both (once I get #1, #2 is instant and vise versa). after a few minutes, its back to slow again.
Maybe it is time to retire this relic and get a modern battery monitor that provides useful information like the Balmar SmartGauge or the SG-200.
so many projects, so little cash...it's on the list but not that high on the list to drop $200-300 on
A digital meter like the Blue Sea Systems 1733 will be considerably more accurate than that analog meter and is pretty reasonable price wise for a voltmeter that is #1 accurate and #2 reads to the hundredths position.
That symptom does sound like a leaky condensor/capacitor. I have never seen one free standing in the circuit. My bet is on the meter assembly. I do not think it is worth it to replace it with an expensive battery manager. A replacement meter would be just fine. Look at Maine's recommendation. In my opinion the primary task would be to find one that fits in the original hole so everything looks solid after the repair.
would this wire in with the same switch or need to run direct to batteries? or one per battery? I'm more mechanical than electrical. I assume it would come with a wiring flow chart...I can solder and run wires with directions. not always the case on an old boat. (I rewired my old mustang but there are alot of directions and they are standard from car to car...not so much on a boat).
I really would like to see how the batteries are performing and when to replace.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,497
The Blue Sea unit wires to the same wires on your present meter. You should have 2 wires on your present meter. You may have to put new fittings on the wires to fit on the spade connectors of the BlueSea unit. You may need to drill a hole for the BlueSea unit. But a pretty easy DIY task.
Condenser on a volt meter?? A condenser could be part of a simple filter that smoothed out noise on the voltage signal you are trying to read, but you really never need that for battery voltage. To slow down the reading like that, the condender "capacitance" would have to dramatically increase in value. They dont fail like that.
Your meter is more likely just worn out.. more likely a mechanical issue which also could be affecting accuracy.
If you just want the same function of reading voltage, seems time for a new much better performance digital meter like already mentioned.
Your meter is more likely just worn out.. more likely a mechanical issue which also could be affecting accuracy.
If you just want the same function of reading voltage, seems time for a new much better performance digital meter like already mentioned.
While I certainly agree that a separate battery digital information/calculation device is nice (we also have a Balmar Smart Gauge), I would advise keeping the basic analog volt meter. Far Less to go wrong, at least not for 3 decades or so. When our factory analog meter finally stopped working I replaced it with a new (same) expanded scale meter from OEM supplier Newmar. Our panel has a toggle switch to read one bank or the other. Good basic information, and the longer you own your boat the more you learn from this little gauge.
Maybe it's just me, but I like a hierarchy of information, with a meter like this anchoring the 'basic' start of my electrical info chain.
It's the 8 - 16 volt meter. Panel Meters - Analog - DC Power Onboard
Maybe it's just me, but I like a hierarchy of information, with a meter like this anchoring the 'basic' start of my electrical info chain.
It's the 8 - 16 volt meter. Panel Meters - Analog - DC Power Onboard
I'm trying to pay attention since I leave the boat unplugged from shore power to conserve my zinc's. only item left hot is bilge pump when I go.While I certainly agree that a separate battery digital information/calculation device is nice (we also have a Balmar Smart Gauge), I would advise keeping the basic analog volt meter. Far Less to go wrong, at least not for 3 decades or so. When our factory analog meter finally stopped working I replaced it with a new (same) expanded scale meter from OEM supplier Newmar. Our panel has a toggle switch to read one bank or the other. Good basic information, and the longer you own your boat the more you learn from this little gauge.
Maybe it's just me, but I like a hierarchy of information, with a meter like this anchoring the 'basic' start of my electrical info chain.
It's the 8 - 16 volt meter. Panel Meters - Analog - DC Power Onboard
I have an analog VM and I use it as a quick check to see that everything is more or less OK. However, it or even a Digital VM can't tell you how the batteries are performing or when to replace them.
With an 8 pack of AAA batteries I can make your VM look like everything is fine.
It is basically just a volt meter. Take the innards out retain the body and switch and mount a digital volt meter from auto store and it will be fine. I have use one for years and it works just fine. You just have to understand it is not a true battery monitor but it only cost $40.00.