T&T: Battery monitor

[Richard Cook]

Seems to me it would depend on the current used by your devices, not on 
the batteries.  I would think engine starting and maybe bow thruster 
would use the most, unless you run some really heavy duty stuff from an 
inverter.  My diesel's starter maxes out at about 350 amps, so for me 
the Link 2000's 500 amp shunt is no problem.

Richard Cook
New Moon (Bounty 257, Volvo KAD44P)


StWillett at aol.com wrote:
> I am getting ready to order a Xantrex Linklite battery monitor, I'll  be 
> connecting it to the main bank which is 2 8D batteries serving house and main  
> engine start functions. since it can monitor 2 banks I'll hook it up to the  
> generator start battery also. 
> The unit comes with a 500 amp shunt, I see other shunt capacities are  
> available. I am not sure how the 500 amp rating is determined or if the 500  amp 
> size supplied will be ok for my application.   I am not on the  boat now so don't 
> know the exact ratings of the 8D's.  The product   description mentions " a 
> new shunt selection is available to measure currents up  to 1000 amps 
> respectively"
> When the 8 D's die I 'll probably go to golfcart batteries and add a  
> separate main engine start battery (group 31 size) which I will then monitor  instead 
> of the genset battery.
>   The boat is equipped with 12V windlass and bow thruster, no  inverter.
> So, my question is, will the standard 500 amp shunt suffice for  the above 
> application?