Date:         Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:13:01 -0800
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Was 2nd battery relay system; now Voltmeter
Comments: To: rubatoguy@COMCAST.NET
In-Reply-To:  <021920072044.12161.45DA0C1A000B9F5A00002F812200748184979A09019B0E0D9A9D@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I have an analog 10 - 0 - 10 DC ammeter connected to Mellow Yellow's aux
battery. It's not in the charging line, as that would fry the meter
movement, but it displays current going into the battery from the solar
controller, and current going out of the battery when I turn on
electrical loads. I like analog meters because a glance tells a fellow
what's going on, charge/discharge-wise. During the day, when the panels
are deployed, current never goes out of the battery, only in, even with
loads on. At night, when Mr Sun has gone below the horizon, we move into
discharge territory.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR



Todd Last typed:
> Is there any reason why you could not mount a voltmeter so it always was "on." Is the reason that these seem to always be controled by a switch because they draw so much current that they would drain the battery quickly?
>
> Has anyone attached an ampmeter to their aux battery, or to their regular Vanagon electric system?
>
>
> Todd
> '88 Westy
>