blue sea systems new product. DC voltage/current meter

CDory23

I have been needing to get a bettery monitor, and saw this a while back. It is now finally available but on the $$$$ side. I do like that it also measures the current of the selected battery as well. What are others using? Is this worth the $320 or is there a less expensive option that is similar quality/features.

https://www.bluesea.com/products/1830/M2_DC_SoC_Monitor

bcassal · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:02 pm Post subject:

A number of C-Brats, myself included, have been using this monitor with success.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=51924#

Carpy

Da Nag · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:08 pm Post subject:

Not at all familiar with that one, but the Victron BVM700 was suggested to me last year, and that's what I installed on my Nordic. It's widely used and well regarded.

It's almost half the price, easy to use/install, and I can't imagine what else anyone would want out of a battery monitor.

On edit: Carpy beat me to it. Same unit.

CDory23 · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:13 pm Post subject:

Thank you. The 702 model should fit my needs and save me $100. Nice to know its reliable.

I couldn't find the dimensions on it. Does anybody have them? I assume it mounts as it looks in the picture so I"m just looking for a diameter.

Da Nag · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:34 pm Post subject:

While the 702 will do two banks, I chose to save the $$ and go with the 700.

Many folks - myself included - don't need to closely monitor the starting bank. The house bank is the one that changes routinely, and knowing how long you have or how replenished it is are routine functions.

The theory being, that the starting bank rarely has an issue, and if it suffers an unexpected failure - you can still use the house bank to get going.

Sunbeam · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:34 pm Post subject:

I use a combination of the Victron monitor (700 in my case, but in retrospect I would have bought the 702 for the temp. monitor function to increase accuracy), and a Smart Gauge.

I like the Victron for seeing amps/watts in and out, and secondarily for SOC percentage (although it has some limitations), and the Smart Gauge is used purely for SOC percentage (accurate, even as batteries age). The SG has no shunt, but is wired directly to the battery terminals. It uses "jillions" of voltage readings plus algorithm to determine SOC.

The Victron face is around 2-1/2" in diameter. IIRC the hole is juuuust over 2" (is metric). I filed a bit after using the hole saw. There is also a square bezel you can use which goes outside the round one.

Da Nag · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:38 pm Post subject:

And...I'm pretty sure it's a standard 2" gauge.

Can't measure mine right now, but it dropped right into the hole vacated by my VDO ammeter. The specs state the body is 2.0", the bezel 2.7".

http://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-BMV-700-series-EN.pdf

On edit: I think that 2.7" bezel is the square one Sunbeam mentions. The other spec mentioned as "front" is 63mm/2.48".

ssobol · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 7:13 pm Post subject:

You might want to see if you can find the Victron 600 or 602 around. These were going for about $100 when the 700 series came out. Maybe there are a few stillmout there. eBay might be a good place to start. It'll do what you want just as well as the 700 series. Our boats aren' that complicated.

thataway · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 8:35 pm Post subject:

I happen to have the Link 10 which does about the same thing--again if you can find one for the bargain price, go for it, but in not one of the Victrons.

ssobol · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:13 am Post subject:

There's a Victron 700 for sale on eBay right now for $149.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Victron-Energy-Precision-Battery-Monitor-BMV-700S-Retail-186-00-/221803665057?hash=item33a48756a1&vxp=mtr

Pat Anderson · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 11:15 am Post subject:

That is a good price, if you are confident buying stuff off eBay!

I have the Victron 700. I would not be without it, since I run a freezer and recharge with solar panels. It is very reassuring to know exactly where your house batteries are after sitting a week at Oak Canyon at Lake Powell!

It was very easy to install. I bought mine directly from Microtech Electronics, the U.S. distributor, which happens to be located in Ferndale, WA. They don't usually sell retail, but they said they would sell me one. I think I paid $180. They also made me up the short heavy cable required to install the shunt, and extra short heavy cables to connect the two house batteries properly.

Foggy · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 12:02 pm Post subject:

I have Blue Sea Systems vessel system monitor VSM 422.
For about $100. more than the M2, it monitors AC, DC,
3 tanks (water, fuel, waste) and bilge.

If you wanna know whats goin'on, why not look at everything?
OK, you're gonna have to keep your eye on your booze locker.

Aye.

thataway · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 1:24 pm Post subject:

gulfcoast john · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 5:47 pm Post subject: battery monitor

I haven't decided on one yet, but the Balmar unit is apparently the only one that gets more accurate with aging batteries, and doesn't require a shunt + extra heavy cables. Intriguing but not the cheapest.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/balmar--smartgauge-battery-monitor--16030900

Westmarine has had a 15% off sitewide online sale the past 2 black Fridays, maybe then...

I changed out the 3 bank weak Guest charger for the Blue Seas P12 40 amp with the unique ability to drop individual charged batteries out prior to float stage . This is great since my House battery gets FAR more discharged than either engine AGM on any of our outings. They make solid, (5 yr warranty) well engineered stuff with responsive US tech support. I hope that continues although they + Marinco + Guest + MasterVolt have all been bought out by the same company.
I'll give away the 2010 Guest 2632A 5,5,20A for free (you pay shipping, send me a PM, it's a heavy potted waterproof mutha), but 5A is just not appropriate for a big AGM IMHO. Not to hijack a monitor thread. What do you Brats think of the Balmar?
Cheers!
John

Sunbeam · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:26 pm Post subject:

I have the Balmar SmartGauge and love it. I also have a coulomb counter style gauge (Victron 600/700) and like that too, but mostly I use the Victron to see what's going in and out. I do calibrate as well as I can for the SOC on the Victron, but that's only secondary. What I got the SmartGauge for was the very accurate SOC.

I'm not sure which I'd pick if I could only have one. Probably the Smart Gauge now that I know what all of my stuff draws (thanks to the Victron). Luckily with the cost of batteries I was able to justify both (and just cause I like having them). Actually, I don't have the SG on the boat yet, just the Victron, but then I only have one house battery on the boat, and I know it's going to need replacing reasonably soon anyway. When I do that, I'll likely go to two house batteries, and then add a Smart Gauge, since I'll have more to watch/protect.

I also have an RV, and in that I have a three AGM house bank -- and I don't want to have to replace that anytime soon ($$), so there I have the Smart Gauge, and the Victron 700. Both together were barely more than the cost of one of the batteries. Also, I rely mostly on solar power for the RV, so I like to know just where I'm at, SOC wise.

Probably not everyone's cup of tea the way I have things set up, but I like it. I would (and will) buy the Smart Gauge again (for the C-Dory when I upgrade the house bank).

It's also very easy to set up, since there is not shunt or etc. Not that a shunt is "hard," but it does have to be wired in properly. I will say the Victron is about a hundred times better looking. The SG is rather ugly and has membrane switches that you practically have to lean on.