Digital Amp/Volt Meter

[freddmc]

Thanks.

Fred

[freddmc]

Doug,
I followed up on a suggestion on another board for this device.
http://www.rc-electronics-usa.com/am...y-monitor.html
It doesn't handle loads above 50 Amps so I emailed them to see if you could use and external shunt(swhich I have -300amps)
Here is my email and their reply.
"I have an RV (GM PD4106 bus)that I would like to use a Doc Watson on.
>
> I have a start battery setup as well as a house battery setup and I
> want to keep track of the power left in the house battery system or
> the usage..(I'm not concerned about the start battery system)
>
> I don' think the power useage for the house system (lights ,propane
> fridge, propane furnace)will exceed the 50 amps this unit is designed
> for but the alternator can put out up to 500 amps although I only have
> 2x 6 volts batteries(in series) so I'm not sure how much amperage they
> would accept.
>
> Depending on what kind of information I can get I might not have to
> monitor the alternator output.
>
> Is the Doc Watson a solution for me? Can I use an external shunt along
> with the Doc Watson?
> Thanks"

"Fred, you can use an external shunt with the Doc Watson, but it does
require some technical expertise to modify the meter. The internal shunt
has to be removed and wires attached to the exposed kelvin sense pads.
You can find instructions on our website regarding this to see if you're
comfortable with the modifications"

What do you think about using it?

Thanks

Fred Mc.

[dougmcp]

Did you look at their website instructions? Did they make sense to you?
You would have to buy an external shunt but there is no reason why it wouldn't work. If you have the ability to do it, why not try it.

I look at it this way, if you can make it work and it is not that important to you if you fry the thing, what the heck.
Keep us in the loop if you try it and it works.

You can find 500 amp shunts here: http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CC0Q8wIwAg#
They look like this:

[freddmc]

After I posted this I decided to look at their instructions for modifications.
While I DO have a soldering iron I'm not sure I this is something I could do although I do have a friend (retired from the phone company) that it would probably be a breeze for. I already have a 300 amp shunt.

I'll have to see if I can "screw" up enough courage to try. Sometimes its more economical to just bite the bullet and buy the proper device than to try 2 or 3 "cheaper" methods that end up costing more in the long run. But its not near as much fun and you certainly don't learn as much.

Thanks

Fred