Battery Charge Level Indicator (BCLI)

[mobile_bob]

Ian

that is a cool unit!
thanks for the link

bob g

[LowGear]

This is a neat unit especially the high current version and water resistant as well.  Amazon has it for $175.

Thanks,

Casey

[mike90045]

Nifty.   I wonder if the MPH can be translated to flywheel RPM easily ?

http://www.ebikes.ca/drainbrain.shtml

[uber39]

The units can be purchased from their web site $130 USD
speed is calced from wheel diameter so you should be able to work it to tell RPM. I'll have a think about the maths and see how I go ??
I must admit its much more fun then the golf cart gauge I had before.
     

        Ian

[LowGear]

I've got this thread bookmarded.  $130 is doable for a operating machine.  "operating"  Yup, four syllables - it's an important word. 

I've already ordered the $28 back-lit multimeter but if my Polaris is going up and down the driveway at Christmas I know what Santa will be bringing me.

Casey

[BruceM]

A great thread, thanks Casey.

I'm really happy that Pete posted about the Turnigy bargain unit, it's just what I need to build an inexpensive 12V battery discharge capacity (AH) tester.

I did find some info online about changing the Turnigy meter to an external shunt, though I won't need it for this application.  I want to test the remaining capacity of my 5 year old 110AH AGM battery that supplies my home and shop 12V needs, including running the 10 watt circ pump for my in floor heat. 

Now if I can find a cheapo 12V PV charge controller on ebay to use for a  low voltage load disconnect, I'll be all set and won't have build anything custom. 

Thanks Pete!

[mobile_bob]

i read on the website, iirc that the rpm can be set up to read out
by inputing the wheel diameter to 1666 and setting something else
and then the readout will show a result that is in km/hr, but actually is rpm
if you multiply the screen number by 10.  or something like that.

i breezed through the writeup and i am pretty sure there is a way to set it up
to read out rpm, it just won't say rpm.

or somesuch

pretty neat unit though.

they talk about being able to alter the firmware for a price, maybe if we told them about our forums, and put together a preorder, they would alter the screen info to readout what we need, for a reasonable surcharge per unit?

just a thought

bob g

[scottpeterd]

Bruce,

I've tried many custome circuits and devices for a LVD.

The two best ones I've found are:
1- Battery saver for 12v coolers.
2- Stecca 5 or 10A charge controllers

My biggest beef with them is that they set the LVD at 10.5 volts (under load), which I think is too low.  But they are reliable.  They both let the battery come back to about 11v before reconnecting.  The cooler saver is about $25 in the states (I think I got the last one from Amazon).   The Stecca's are about $25 to $40 here in Uganda; should be about the same in the US.

[BruceM]

Thanks Pete.
I've found a 10 amp PV charge controller from China on ebay with an 11 volt LV cutoff. $10 incl. shipping.  I'll be testing with a 50 watt 12V bulb for a load, so that will work fine.