Many years ago I installed a Heart Interface Link 10 to monitor the volts/amps/etc of my house bank and engine starting battery. Worked great. Fostered considerable confidence to see reliable battery info each day of a long cruise or long period on anchor.
Its data screen finally kicked the bucket. It appears I can only replace it with either the Xantrex Link Lite, the Xantrex Link Pro, or (newly discovered) Victron BMV 702. The Victron includes the instrument, shunt and cable, thus saving about $90.
Does anyone have an advice/experience/preferences re: the best choice for replacement of the Link 10?
Many thanks to ALL who monitor the forums and offer support to fellow C36 owners!!
Brian Giersch
New Bern, NC
C-36 Encore, #1245
Former Commodore/Former Fleet Relations
Brian,
You might want to read what the Guru has to say on this matter:
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/battery_monitor
You may remember him. MaineSail is a former C36 owner and super knowledgeable about all things electrical in a boat.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
I replaced my Link 20 with the Victron last year. What I gave up was dual shunts (house + starter), but I really never used the starter shunt. I like the Victron as it allows you to zero-out tiny currents. The Link 20 had the annoying habit of decreasing the AH counter because of tiny nonexistent currents that could never be zeroed out. The wiring for the Victron is much simpler too. So far, been solid.....
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor
Nick,
I agree completely on that annoying trait of the Link series. I have the Link 1000 and once per month or so I have to zero out the A/H because of a 0.2A mystery load.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
The Balmar Smartgauge is very simple to install and set up.It won't give you amp hours but for me I just want to know SOC so I know when to fire up the engine. On the first night last weekend with all the electrical loads (fridge, TV , heater, mast light) the next morning SOC was 85%. What i found interesting was that while running the engine for 2 hrs (to the next anchorage) the SOC was only 86% and the regulator was in float charge. I checked the voltage when the regulator was in absorption at 14.4 volts and i only had 13.9 at the battery. I'm thinking this is because i ran the voltage sense to the alternator instead of the battery.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/smart_gauge
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/regulator_voltage_sensing
David Simpson
S/V Dolce Vita
Vancouver BC
2001 Catalina 36 MK 11 #2019 M35B. Add-ons: Leece Neville 90 amp Alt. Balmar ARS 5 Regulator, Digital Duo Charger, Smartgauge battery monitor, Webasto TSL17 Hydronic heater.
[quote=dsimpson]The Balmar Smartgauge is very simple to install and set up.It won't give you amp hours but for me I just want to know SOC so I know when to fire up the engine. On the first night last weekend with all the electrical loads (fridge, TV , heater, mast light) the next morning SOC was 85%. What i found interesting was that while running the engine for 2 hrs (to the next anchorage) the SOC was only 86% and the regulator was in float charge. I checked the voltage when the regulator was in absorption at 14.4 volts and i only had 13.9 at the battery. I'm thinking this is because i ran the voltage sense to the alternator instead of the battery.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/smart_gauge
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/regulator_voltage_sensing[/quote]
I am selling about 8:1 of the SmartGauge over Ah counters these days. The SG is considerably more accurate for SOC and extremely simple and it seems a lot of boaters like simple... A Victron BMV-700 + a SmartGauge is a nice option but I'd yank my Link-Pro in about a nanosecond if the SmartGauge actually worked on LiFePO4 batteries.
-Maine Sail
https://www.marinehowto.com/