Here's an update on a Battery Monitor, the TRACE TM500A, about which I posted
information earlier this month. I installed one a few days ago.

(It was five degrees when I left the boat this morning about 0800...near
NYC.)

(My objective was to obtain a more objective status of my main battery bank
during cruising. Currently I judge battery condition by  voltage, equipment
speed (sound), approximate time to recharge to 20amp bulk and ambient
temperature (which affects my heaviest load, frig and freezer.))

What it does:

Monitors net amp hours (used versus charged) and resets itself each time
Fully Charged is registered and discharge begins...Measures Fully Charged on
different user input parameters (I chose charge voltage and float current)
...So the user can tell battery status.

Shows % Charge...This is based on user input parameters...battery bank amp
hour capacity and charging efficiency....I selected 94% charging
efficiency....Actual charge and discharge measures by the meter permits the
user to wisely select this figure for accurate overall status.

Blinks an LED alarm light to show low battery voltage....This is a user
variable input setting which signals the need to begin recharging...

Acts as a remote control "on" "off" switch for compatible inverter/chargers.

Continuously monitors amp hours, amps, or volts via user selection (only one
at a time)

Draws  .018 amp in power saving mode, .032 amp when actively monitoring..

Earlier this month I posted:

"...It's the TRACE TM500A SYSTEM MONITOR (also called Battery Status Monitor)
and
includes a  500 amp shunt: Available from AAPS for $196.00.

I considered a Link 10, but found it cost  $299.00 elsewhere. TRACE  is also
from XANTREX  so I trust it will be reliable..."

After buying the TRACE TM500A  I found a Link 10 online at about the same
price...so the TRACE is not the cost saving I thought...I am not sure exactly
how the two differ, but the TRACE Monitor panel looks cool.

It provides exactly the status readings and flexibility I sought.
Installation was straightforward. The unit worked as advertised immediately
after set up....

Cheers,
Rob Brueckner
Hatteras Yachtfish

Rob Brueckner wrote:

-----Original Message-----
After buying the TRACE TM500A  I found a Link 10 online at about the same
price...so the TRACE is not the cost saving I thought...I am not sure
exactly
how the two differ, but the TRACE Monitor panel looks cool.

It provides exactly the status readings and flexibility I sought.
Installation was straightforward. The unit worked as advertised immediately
after set up....

REPLY
Both units are good. Slight differnces in functions but nothing serious.
Unfortunately, neither will work with inverters or chargers from the other
manufacturer.
However if you do not need the automatic control of a charger/inverter its a
moot point.

A small difference is the LED readout of the link versus the LCD of the
Trace.
The higher current used to drive the LED can produce slight noise
interference in sensitive ham radios.
The Trace shunt has a chip right next to the shunt so the wires going to the
display  are less noise sensitive being a 4-20ma current loop instead of an
actual voltage.  This latter means you can run the Trace cable further or
within a "electrically noisy" environment  that may  interfer with the Link.

regards

Arild

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