Wiring help needed

[Stretcher]

I will be attaching two 40-watt solar panels and running them through a 15 amp controller. I'm installing a monitor for which the negative will be wired through a shunt to the battery. When wiring the controller, do I connect the negative to the shunt or directly to the battery? Should I include fuses or breakers in either connection and if so, where?

Thanks in advance for your help,

David

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Stretcher

I will be attaching two 40-watt solar panels and running them through a 15 amp controller. I'm installing a monitor for which the negative will be wired through a shunt to the battery. When wiring the controller, do I connect the negative to the shunt or directly to the battery?

I think that it depends on what the monitor is designed to measure. Typically a shunt is used to facilitate an ammeter. Does this monitor calculate total input and output from the battery?

Should I include fuses or breakers in either connection and if so, where?

I'd at a minimum have a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery positive to protect the wires leading from the battery.

Thanks in advance for your help,

David

[Stretcher]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

I think that it depends on what the monitor is designed to measure. Typically a shunt is used to facilitate an ammeter. Does this monitor calculate total input and output from the battery?

Yes, it does measure input and output. Tri-metric TR 2025RV

I'd at a minimum have a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery positive to protect the wires leading from the battery.

What size?

Thanks,

David

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Stretcher

What size?

Thanks,

David

OK, here is the installation PDF - http://www.bogartengineering.com/sit...ctions9-12.pdf

It looks like it hooks between the battery negative and the common ground connection.

The fuse must be small enough to protect the wire leading from the battery, but large enough to not blow under normal usage. What gauge wire leads from the battery positive terminal?

[Stretcher]

Thanks Tom!

[multi-task]

One thing to mention, ensure your wire gauge from the battery terminal to the shunt is large enough (and short) in case you have multiple connections on the non-battery side of the shunt. Mine works great, one of the best things I've added is my TriMetric meter.