Low Voltage Alarm

concretebox · Oct 6, 2014

I'm installing a new house battery and I want to baby this one. It will be a lead-acid deep cycle installed under the hood so it can be charged by the alternator when the engine is running. I'm also considering adding a 100W solar cell to charge when I don't plan on driving for days on end.

I'm also planning on installing a digital LED volt meter to monitor the voltage easily from inside, but I'm not seeing one with a low-voltage warning alarm.

Do I have to get one of those expensive RV style battery monitors? The Battery monitors have tons of features I don't need. I just want a simple "if voltage drops below XX.X, sound alarm" system.

Any ideas where I can buy something like that?

amwbox · Oct 6, 2014

Sorry. Disregard. Wrong thread.

Optimistic Paranoid · Oct 6, 2014

These are common in the world of cruising boats. A google search on "low voltage alarm 12 volt" turns up a number of items, including"http://www.transmarinestore.com/product_p/bfd001.htm

Regards
John

concretebox · Oct 8, 2014

I've bought this device (http://www.voltminder.com/). I'll give an update after I've had a few days to test it.

concretebox · Nov 3, 2014

Update: I installed the VoltMinder a few weeks ago when I installed the Solar Kit. It works as advertised! While testing my battery this week it gave me the warning at 12.2 volts. Very simple installation. It came with a 12volt plug pre-installed with a fuse. I cut that off and spiced on new very-low gauge wires (16? 22?). I ran those wires down the A-pillar into the engine compartment and used crimp-on ring terminals to attach to the battery.

I'd recommend this product if you don't want to spring for a RV battery monitor.