Battery monitor setup question

[jaymz]

I installed a Camway battery meter on my '97 DS last night - mostly because I needed something to fill the 2" hole that was already in the dash, but also because it looked like it might provide some useful info other than just what the pack voltage is. It appears to function as it should, but I have a question about what to program the amp hour setting at to get an accurate readout. It calls for inputting the available amp hours for the battery pack, the problem is that I have no idea what to input. I have 6 Trojan 875's, but the amp hour specs are anywhere from 145 to 189 depending on the "hour rate".

Battery specs are mostly like speaking a foreign language to me. How the heck do I determine an amp hour number that's at least in the ballpark? Or is it even a useful data point in the first place?

[Bbbbrass]

Trojan calls it 170Ah, but that is their 20Hour rate. I would go with the 5Hour rate (145Ah). But further I would only program it for 50%, so you don't over deplete.

tl;dr - Set it to 70-72Ah.

[jaymz]

Originally Posted by Bbbbrass

Trojan calls it 170Ah, but that is their 20Hour rate. I would go with the 5Hour rate (145Ah). But further I would only program it for 50%, so you don't over deplete.

tl;dr - Set it to 70-72Ah.

Sounds like a good idea. I was thinking somewhere around 60-80ah to be on the safe side.

[CP241]

Depending on the age of the batteries, that will affect capacity as well. I’d go 60aH just to be safe and give you a little reserve “just in case”