Monitoring a boat's battery banks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ค. 2024
- In this video I install a Balmar SG200 into the trawler to monitor the house battery bank.
This battery monitor can also report the voltage of the starting batteries and the the 12V house battery. It will tell me both the battery's state of charge (SOC) as well as the battery's state of health (SOH).
Buy one for yourself here! www.marineengine.com/newparts/...
www.balmar.net/sg200-battery-m...
Unit on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B07KGSS6DV/...
Special thanks to All Marine Spares allmar.com.au/
Voltage Drop video • Measuring voltage drop...
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That Jacaranda tree over your shoulder @3:11 though. It's easy to forget that you live in a paradise.
As you might remember, I am not a boat guy, but I am an RV guy and an electronics guy. So, I understood and loved this vid. In many ways, your boat is an RV that floats. It seems that there is a current, though small, group of folks who are converting trawlers to living spaces...not as glamorous as sailboats, but easier to handle.
You're dead right about liveaboard boards being very similar to RVs, you have all the same basic needs. On a similar note, Scott I visited in US who gave me tips on my Detroit diesels runs the channel Bus Grease Monkey which is pretty much all about old buses converted to RVs, a very similar concept to trawlers being converted to cruising boats.
Another great video Stu. A top tip for anyone who's never wired batteries, starters, alternators or shunts. Never over tighten the binding post terminals as they crack the potting body/ connector substrate
Yes, it's never a good day when you hear that plastic crack...
Stu, I'm just a guy in a corn field in Indiana and have been glued to your channel for maybe close to a year. Even though all the "electrics" are Greek to me and I skip through some of it, I really enjoy watching and learning. Great work Man!
Thanks mate. While I was in the US just recently I got to ride on a combine harvester when my friend has harvesting his corn in Carlisle Indiana.
Poor Stu, genuinely impressing us with his electrical knowledge by speaking as though these complicated wiring jobs are so easy for him - when we all can clearly see that the clock right behind his head is not working! 😏
The electric system of a boat is just as important as the propeller.
I enjoy seeing it because it is part of the build and part of what makes the boat unique.
Thanks mate, it certainly is very important. As you say, it is also your chance to setup your boat in the way you like to reflect the way you intend to use it.
I think it's unrealistic to think that every youtube channel can provide every bit of information that you might need as a prerequisite. But you do a great job of covering your bases sir.
Thank you for another technical install type video. These are helping greatly with the rebuild I am doing. Although mine is only a 17 footer, we totally stripped out the hull to it's 'bones' and that is our starting point. She's officially on hold for the winter, expecting our first snowstorm to hit later tonight, so.. the next 4 months (hopefully only 4) are going to be planning and doing things that can be done in the garage (rebuilding engine, ect). Thank you and we'll see you in the next one.
You're welcome Vin. Good luck with your rebuild!
Things seem to really be coming together Stu. I like the more frequent updates. I'm really looking forward to uniting the boat with the monster Detroit engine. Good on you, mate.
Thanks Brian, I did miss this week's midweek video though! :|
Thanks Stu,very nostalgic for me as before I learnt my Radio/Radar electronics in the Royal Navy I had to learn my marine electrics. As a raw 15 year old I had an old Chief PO who insisted that we must be able to recite OHMS law. Here goes........ Ohms law states that the current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference between its ends providing the temprature remains constant. Therefore V over I equals R V over R equals I and I times R equals V... I can still quote it and understand it at 64 LMAO
Nice work David, and it is really interesting to hear the background of long-time commenters. Thanks for sharing. :)
@@DangarMarine Didn't even touch on my diving yet LOL
Years ago, perhaps 20 years ago, a friend of mine installed a voltage monitor (by no means the definitive method to monitor a battery's) health, that he' monitor via packet radio using Amateur radio 2 meter FM. Pretty clever!
Sounds like an interesting project!
Hey Stu - I like the electrics episodes. Having a boat myself, I have found that electrics are the most common issue to deal with. From motor tilt sensors, fuel gauge sensors, audio, sonar - and that was in the first six month of awning the boat. I still want to switch the lighting over to all LED, install inboard lighting, put in a proper Battery on-off-on switch among other things.
Your videos are useful in trying to convince the co-owner to invest in proper marine grade parts and not try to cheap things out. I'm also a bit of a electronics geek between my education and career background and my hobbies...
So yeah - I'll watch all the electrics episodes and sometimes even refer back to some of the older ones. Thanks for the content - and Cheers!
Thanks Shane, glad you enjoyed the vid. Yes, there are so many things that need attention on a boat that are electrical in nature. Your first six months are a classic example.
Stu, don't know if you will see this but here goes. For the wiring harness I would suggest getting the plastic spiraling typically used for notebooks. They are cheap. You cut them into 20-30 mm sections, spin around the grouping of wires. Easy to spin one wire in or out as you go along. You could also plan ahead and group by category i.e. nav, lights, sound, etc, and color code so if you have to trace down issues later it's easier. Spiral could then be clipped up out of the way, etc
Anyway, just a thought
Hey Ron, does sound like a neat way to organise things.
I had the same idea on my boat - but the plastic these spirals are made from deteriorates rapidly in the sun and won't last a year if daylight gets at them
Awesome video, waiting on you to catch the 1st fish on the new boat.👍🏾
Caught at eel this video but let it go, not something worth filming or eating!
As it happens, SV Delos has just uploaded a couple of outstanding videos illustrating in very simple terms how they have set up their quite sophisticated 12/24 volt electrical system. For anyone contemplating marine electrics, it is WELL worth watching.
those are C-17 GlobeMasters, they are based in Amberley and will fly to Richmond for training and logistic operations
Very cool planes!
I recently discovered a much better tool (than a holesaw) for making holes in plywood and similar materials - a tank cutter or adjustable hole cutter makes a really clean cut, and with some test cuts on scrap material it can be adjusted to the exact size hole you need..
Interesting, I'll have to experiment with one.
I just loved this episode. This is why many of us follow. Pure boat work with no non-sense unrelated stuff. This is just great! Thanks Stu, always learning with your videos.
You need to do a as installed schematic diagram when you get done, this is great info for boats and caravans/RV's !
Yes, I should start building it now so it isn't a huge job at the end.
Also number tags on the wires and a written description of each circuit.
Next video should be able installing the fuel monitor system. I love watching people install electronics/electricity all across the field! Love that stuff!
I would really love to have a fuel flow meter, but unfortunately I hear they are surprisingly expensive.
I love it when you overcome and adapt to any situation make things work watching you all the way from the UK keep up the good work what you're doing is a dream for me
Thanks Ross!
Good install video. I agree, you definitely need to monitor battery state and health. The Balmar seems like a great piece of kit. Looking forward to the next video. Cheers. Jeff 👍😀🍺🐠🛥
I have a midnight solar kidd, on attempt 5 to get up and running it need precise programming I got it used with no paperwork. Also I'm new to the whole solar thing.
Thanks Jeff. It is certainly going to be great to know how the batteries are fairing as the years go by.
@@DangarMarine your welcome Bob. Lol
From my perspective the gauge was a perfect fit. Sometimes using the tools you have on hand works in your favor. Looks like this was one of those times. Nice Install...…….
Thanks Rick, yes, I'm certainly glad I didn't waste and hour and half heading to the hardware store given it worked out just fine.
Stu last week:
I'll stop showing electrics
Stu this week:
My electrics are more complicated than the Chernobyl reactor...
Bye the way, next to watching you tear down an engine, watching you explain electrics I find most interesting!
Well, to be fair, I find you most interesting, and I enjoy every minute of your posts, no matter what the subject...
I thought that was two weeks ago. ;)
@@DangarMarine I thought how simple and logical your electronics are! lol
LOL!!!
wait until you get the technical-cat explanations
Those two switches on the dash being slightly out of parallel are doing my head in 😂
After I watch all these artesans and craftsmen, your approach is like coming home. :)
Hey, thanks Stu! My memory of Ohm's law has gotten a bit foggy since I took basic electronics in high school about 50 years ago.
After watching this video and the old one you linked, it all (or at least a bunch of it) came back. Great job. Hope you remembered to turn the fridge back on.
Only 50 years? Your memory shouldn’t have faded yet! :)
Those planes were C-17 Golbemasters.Two things I love, planes and boats
Dead simple install to an invaluable little monitor, wise they were all so simple.😂 nice one Stu and loving the humour.👍
Stu: Wouldn't hurt to have some insulated wrenches when working on those battery banks. Nothing like a Big Arch to ruin your day and batteries.
Correct sized socket driver. Keeps you from over tourqeing the nuts too.
haha the turmoil and indecision on the call for another trip to the hardware store...
The struggle is real... ;)
Hey stu , i was thinking about your busted clock , well cant miss it, its behind you on your videos, so i looked and found one of these on ebay, Quartz Clock Movement Mechanism Module 1 Year+ Battery, it replaces the whole of the clock mechanism , you just swap the hands over , it would be a shame not to keep it , it really suits the boat 👍
Hey stu did you turn the fridge back on ? You can drink a warm beer , but if the bait goes off you won't want to open the door....😂😂😂🍻🍻👍
Yes, defrosted bait wood be a bit nasty. Beer can always be chilled again. ;)
An all important point to be said here in this area . Lead acid battery are not able to be drawn or drained down . You have to think of them as being able to 50 % of the capacity. So when you get to a 50% level you take that as you are drained down and need to recharge. The more you use the bottom end of a lead acid battery the more problems and shorter life you will have. The lead plates can warp and touch other plates causing internal battery shorts. So just use the top 50 % of a lead acid battery.
Nice unit. Oh, about the 0,8 amps going in. When your batteries are full your solar controller will stop charging or charge at low maintenance flow only. To protect the batteries. That explains the 0,8 amps.
Good point. There is also the fact that the solar goes into all three battery banks and gets shared.
Steve Zissou and another interesting video. Thanks, Stu.
Pretty straight forward install. Thanks.
The pilots of those planes are Dangar Marine fans and did a fly over in your honor, STU! That's what I'd tell everyone anyways.
Need you on the production team!
I find the electrics interesting. Ohm's Law is a very simple concept that helps take away the mystery that surrounds electricity. On another note, to accurately measure a hole saw, you must include the set of the teeth in your measurement... don't just measure its body. :)
Hi Stu, I usualy run my drill in reverse in the beginning of the hole when using a holesaw in materials that might chip, just to awoid chipping the material.
A little tip I realy enjoy your channel.
My boat is on the hard at the moment do to the fact that the sea is frozen solid for a couple of months=(
Thanks mate. :)
G'day Stu, always look forward to and enjoy your videos, ALL of them !!! - no matter the content...... cheers 👍👍
Thanks Andy.
Nice job!!! That will let you know what’s going on with the batteries!!!!
Yes, it really felt like I was flying blind with them before.
I like those Deutsche connectors. I bought in to the Delco connector system for a project I'm doing, but the Deutsche ones seem easier to work with.
I think your meter would use PID electronics, see u tube , this is Proportional - Integral - Derivative for applications requiring modulated controls. Thanks for the video you have a good and natural way of explaining what you do , all the best .Steve in Thailand.
Thanks Steve. Appreciate the extra info.
Doesn't take long before that simple neat wiring layout starts getting a little messy. Glad you planned for it otherwise you'd have a real disaster. I personally hate those in-line fuse holders because it's too easy to forget what circuit their protecting and, whether in fact there is a fuse in a circuit. I prefer to have fuse/circuit breaker panels where I know where everything is and what it protects.
Yes, given there is space on the board next to the battery chargers it would be interesting to cut out all the inline fuse holders and move them all to shared fuse panel. Before cutting the Balmar one though I'd like to check with them whether that cable has a known resistance for any reason.
@@DangarMarine - Good point. I didn't think of that and I was the one who spent half a day cutting and splicing a parallel printer cable so I could relocate the printer and when it didn't work, I spent the rest of the day figuring out what was wrong and cutting it back to the original length. That was around 1979. Tough lesson and here I am suggesting you do the same thing. Shame, shame on me.
Hi stu , found your channel by accident , Brilliant binge watched the 41 vlogs loved them , love your approach the warts an all presentation ....keep it up
Thanks Phil, glad you enjoyed the series! :)
Hey Stu. looks a pair of Globemasters fly by, C-17s
Or C5's
@@TimsWorkshopTJY Given the length of the fuselage they look more like C-17 planes.
The model of a big one would be B1
@@TimsWorkshopTJY Definitely C-17s. Although their silhouettes are similar, the C-5 doesn't have the upturned winglets on the tips of the wings that these have (just barely discernable starting at 8:13), it's about twice the size and always appears to be hanging in the air, and the C-5 has a very distinctive electric whining and growling sound from the engines.
th-cam.com/video/hk7RjyGJ-yY/w-d-xo.html
There c17’s Australia has 8 of them
As always, good info, thanks.
Don’t forget the Timber Boat Festival up at Newport this weekend!
Planes, Trains and Marinemobiles. Then the 8mm spanner! Thanks for your time and effort to make me laugh. P.S. I was screaming “use the 51”
O.k. Not sure I should have admitted that.
I'm glad I didn't go the larger one too!
Love the picture of Jaques Cousteau Stu!!
I only would recognize him as an old man I did not recognize that picture but I did the hat
bill murray = instant like
Good man. :)
Parallel means next to each other, series means one following the other. So parallel gives you a bigger route, series clogs up the route. Like a two lane motorway compared to a single lane.
The planes appear to be the Aust Air Forces's C17A Globemaster III www.airforce.gov.au/technology/aircraft/air-mobility/c-17a-globemaster-iii They have 8 in total, so you saw 25% of the Au capacity.
Haha, love these vids, 'remind me to switch it back on, or the beer'll get warm'. Priorities, mate....
Thanks David. :)
G’day Stu well explain and a very good idea John PS must try the Coopers Pale Ale
Those are C-17s. Pretty big aircraft. There’s some cool vids of those flying near downtown Sydney.
Stu, making sure that you have turned back your isolater mate! Need to be thinking about the beer!! 🍻 😅
Thanks Darren!
Cool boat, dude.
Thanks mate.
Awesome information, where there's a will there's a way : )
Hi Stu
Shame about your clock not working but you should know that the battery mechanism is completely replaceable and for only a few dollars. More to the point it's a job that could be done by yourself using your 10mm spanner.
Kinda handy gizmo I must say ! Some people are frightened about doing things outside there wheel house so to speak and that’s why they are intimidated by electricity or Diesel engines or welding and so forth ! I myself don’t like doing carpentry ( that god it’s cheap if you screw up ) for fear of making mistakes .
Thanks Dave, I think it is going to be very handy once out cruising.
Hey Stu, so exciting seeing your trawler come together. I loved rigging my boat up with the electronics and stuff and I had a suggestion. With all the battery wires all around, if you get the reusable Velcro cable ties you can get all those cables organized easily. Then put on the conduit over them. Probably overkill but it would look so epic in that space and it would be safer. Probably make for a good video. Anyway cheers from CA. Keep making great 👍 videos. Great channel.
Thanks Franklin. I actually have a packet of those velcro ties on the boat right now. My plan is to make some sort of rack above the batteries so I can get the cables up off the tops of the batteries.
Dangar Marine ok great can’t wait to see the end result! Yew! 🤙
They are very proud of this unit I see.
i was just wondering earlier when i would see a new video!
Well done and explained mate! A lead in for the starting batteries is a good idea. Very nice setup. Your boat progress is looking good. A lot of progress is accomplished after she went afloat. Soon you will be out exploring for salvage. I’m looking forward to the engine instal. Any plan for search lights, running lights forward accommodation etc. keep up the good work.
Yep, definitely have plans for plenty of lighting. The accomodation will be the next big cleanup and paint job on the boat.
Ok i may as well mention the Famous captain's portrait you got up under the ship clock. Bill Murray as Captain Steve Zissou in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou". LOL Dude your funny. You should install a Helipad on top of the cabin and put a tiny model Bell 47 Helicopter up there.
I have thought about the model helicopter. :)
Nice job
Thanks' for asking those who know everything to be patient for those of us who don't.
Thanks for the video.
Yep good use of the Aussie long nose adjustable spanner
that camera round the three min mark thought I was tripping but I wasn't sad
Don't forget to turn the power back on! Cheers 🍻
Done. Thanks!
Fun fact, the coil of wire won't create any inductive issues as you are working with DC.
Passing a magnet in and out of the coil would produce an AC current.
Thanks for the clarification. Very good to know when it comes to neatenting up the wires down the track!
It may have been mentioned already but "inductive coil" not a problem in a DC circuit.
apart from.................when you switch on and off.....duh.......the US Navy nearly lost an aircraft carrier because of this.
A nice bit of kit! Pretty simple installation as well, all things considered. Its good it can give the voltage of the starter batteries as well to be honest those are always the batteries i am *really* concerned with. Would be nice to have a digital amp meter measuring the output of the alternator as well, the output of that is also a good indicator of something going south (or maybe north for you :D), plus very high output all the time is not good for it. This tends to be more of a problem for LiPo batteries that have a very low internal resistance when they are discharged. I still like to keep an eye on the situation...
Yes, I'll definitely be wiring up the voltage lead to the starting battery very soon. It will be interesting to see that measure of the current going into the house bank once the engine is installed and running again.
DANGAR MARINE - where time stands still.
Hi Stu, Interesting calling it a Shunt. Unless I'm wrong here that is a medical term for an expander for heart arteries to prevent heart attacks. What you were showing on the video looks like what we call a Solenoid or Relay here. I have two on my RV going to my slide. It's wired from the 24volt duel battery's, wires coming in from the hydraulic pump and two out to the house slide in/out switch. Nice the instrument panel is looking good
It's a shunt in electrical terms, that is, a direct connection for current flow. Here it is just a known resistance metal bar used to determine the current flow by measuring voltage drop across that known resistance.
Ok, it was confusing when I saw it on the video.
Hey Tim, yes, looks a bit like a relay but a very different beast.
Never seen one like it before
Nice work 😁.
RAAF aircraft are C17 Globemasters operated by 36 Squadron based at Amberley, Queensland. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-17_Globemaster_III_in_Australian_service
Hi Stu, love your videos mate.
Was keen to watch the video to explain voltage drop etc but can't find
Ah, thanks for reminding me! th-cam.com/video/5tGCepHveHk/w-d-xo.html
@@DangarMarine thanks mate
Nice to know I'm not the only one with holesaw problems.
Stu: You were in IT- a question, what's the most difficult thing to get a programmer to do? Write documentation! Don't be that guy- Take pictures, and draw a complete schematic of the entire wiring harness. Things that are right in the front of your mind, now, will definitely be forgotten, down the road.Get out your labeler and label everything, even insignificant stuff. Then, get a big ziploc bag, and put all the product installation and operating paperwok into it, and find a (reasonably) dry place to stow it. Someday, you'll need it. And even if you don't, somebody else will. I've held my tongue, but you've got a pretty complex setup, there, and a little time, now, will save a massive headache, later.
Already done!
Glad to see help from native Americans providing the Tee Pees for the connectors. ( I always look enviously at the scenery and noticed the purple tree in bloom in the background. Is that a Lilac tree?)
I think they are Jacaranda trees.
Ah right. Good call.
I didn't see you hook up your battery charger cable negative to the shunt I'm pretty sure you would need to hook up that as well to the shunt so if it's charging it won't throw the numbers off on your monitor
Yes, I need to put a negative bus bar on the other side of the shunt so that chargers and bilge pumps can still be accounted for. There will be a few other changes like that in part 2.
Cool video thanks!
Steve Zissou, good choice !
wrap some sandpaper around your hole saw
I think you're going to need a second shunt, the draw on that starter is probably going to be around 500 to 700 amps. I might be wrong, but I would do a startup test on land before putting the motor in the boat. You could check that stuff like that then, just to be on the safe side.
The starter current doesn't flow through the shunt, it is only measuring the current draw on the house batteries.
@@DangarMarine That's good to know, I misunderstood that then. I like the battery metering system!
Hello Mate, Thank-You so much more than ever knew before in this needed situation. Your a good teacher you are. Your very good & then some. :-)
Thanks mate.
@@DangarMarine Stuart you have friend request like to stay in touch. Thanks Mate
Facebook Thomas A. Porter
I am one of the 20,000. Still here though. Teach on.
Thanks mate, will do!
Perhaps you should mounted the gauge above the fridge door
Hey, nothing wrong with your electrical vids. Yep, please make them technically detailed. For me as an retired engineer, I like both feeling like part of the project and understand the technical details. I don't know if some are complaining but I think you have the right mix of including some humor and the occasional side track with Eddie, all good. I am so looking forward to you finishing the engine bay clean up. Are Coopers a sponsor ?
Thanks mate. I'd rather show everyone the details so they can understand what is happening or even use the video if they are doing a similar install of their own. Unfortunately Coopers aren't a sponsor. :(
@@DangarMarine Come on Coopers, a carton of fuel a week, well worth the expense !!
Two things Stu. First congratulations on you increase in subs I assume from your grand tour of the US. Second a word of caution as to where you locate a charging station for cell phones and cameras. Some time we had a wood dive boat burn costing many lives. The cause was undetermined due to the extensive damage but it was suspected the cause was a concentration on lithium batteries being recharged. Good on ya mate 😉
Thanks Mark. Sad to hear about the dive boat accident. Was that the recent one off California?
Yes it was the Cali boat
ahah had those planes fly over the sunshine coast, Qld the other weekend
'Anne-Marie, do the interns get glocks?'
Rule of thumb: DC length of wire matters; coils nuh>AC length of run matters and coils do matter; due to inductance.adding impedance to circuit.
Good video...thanks..now I know what to expect when mine arrives -Rebecca on SV Brick House
It's a great unit, you'll love it.
Hi Stu, I'm sure that you can just buy the just clock motor very cheap for your brass clock. Should be fairly standard.
Yep - every week I view the latest vid from end to end to see if that darn clock has been fixed yet... :(
I need those 10 mil spanner wrenches 😂😂 and NEVER let the beer get warm!!!