Battery voltage and charge status monitoring is one of the most important priorities routinely facing RV owners and off roaders who enjoy spending time off the grid. Not having enough stable auxiliary power to run a fridge or a pair of camping lights at dusk can be an inconvenience. Not having enough cranking amps available to quickly drive to higher ground ahead of a flash flood, however, can be life threatening. That’s why safety and maintenance conscious vehicle owners, and RV and ute drivers in particular, insist on installing high-quality battery monitors on all their vehicles.
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Identify Charging Problems Quickly with Bluetooth Battery Monitors
Let’s be honest: with so many different aftermarket gadgets on the market aimed at increasing driver awareness, it can be hard to distinguish the ones that add value from the ones that are simply adding distractions. There’s no question, however, how important aftermarket lithium and lead acid 12v battery monitors are, especially for off roaders.
Standalone battery monitors help vehicle owners reduce the risk of being stranded by dead batteries and battery banks at the worst possible moment. And with their multi-feature functionality, they can even help RV and off grid solar trailer owners detect charging problems with their panels and inverters before the sun goes down.
Unlike standard dashboard battery warning lights that don’t offer any tangible operational information about either a vehicle’s battery or the charging system, wireless monitors like Ultimate9’s Bluetooth® battery monitor are designed around real-time accuracy that are optimised to:
- Prevent unwanted battery overcharging or undercharging;
- Guarantee that there’s always enough auxiliary power available; and,
- Quickly identify when an auxiliary or cranking battery needs replacing.
Make no mistake: with everything from vehicle lighting and accessory hookups, to starter and ECU controls reliant on battery power, owners need to be able to recognise the existence of battery problems as quickly as possible. Battery monitors provide that critical oversight; and the advantages of downloadable wireless software like Ultimate9’s 12v Battery Monitor (BM) app gives them the ease and flexibility of monitoring the full range of battery performance parameters that matter from a mobile device anywhere, anytime.
Advanced Testing Features Help Identify Charging System Weaknesses
Vehicle owners, especially RVers and off roaders that are new to battery monitoring, are often surprised to find that Bluetooth car battery monitors aren’t just for static battery monitoring. That’s because they offer a full range of battery-related options that take charging system troubleshooting to the maximum, including:
- Voltage testing. With an Ultimate9 12v battery monitoring system, owners have visibility to the battery’s precise voltage, along with a measurement (in percentage) of its remaining capacity.
- Charging testing. No matter if an engine’s idling or under load, anytime it’s running, Ultimate9’s 12v battery monitors let owners see whether the battery is charging correctly, as well as provide an audible alarm when there’s a need to recharge.
- Cranking testing. Ultimate9 Bluetooth battery monitors are the perfect solution for testing cranking batteries, ensuing that owners always have sufficient cranking amperage available for when it’s needed the most.
By taking the guesswork out of identifying charging system weaknesses, 12V Bluetooth battery voltage monitor systems are more than time and money savers. They provide vital charging information that can be decisive at critical moments. That makes them the ideal, easy to install choice for both petrol and hybrid/EV powered cars, utes, RVs, boats, and even bikes.
Rugged Construction Lets Owners Mount Battery Monitors Anywhere
With vehicle manufacturers more focused than ever on maximising the space they have under the bonnet, the light weight and compact size of an aftermarket 12v battery management system makes for a perfectly fitted addition. Bluetooth 12v monitors are designed entirely with safe, secure mounting and functioning in mind, making them a perfect accessory even for close, intemperate environments like boat, RV, and ute battery compartments.
Starting with their fireproof and temperature-resistant construction, the best aftermarket 12v power monitor systems are built around an array of durable, high-precision features that include:
- A temperature-resistant operating range of -40°C to 90°C;
- An average current of 1.5mA, with ±0,03V voltage accuracy;
- Built-in overload protection with automatic shutoff circuitry;
- Built-in reverse polarity protection at both the input and output terminals; and,
- Low-consumption 4.0 Bluetooth technology integration.
Connecting a battery monitor with Bluetooth is as straightforward as connecting the red and black terminals on the unit with the battery’s terminals. Single battery and multi-battery systems that are wired in parallel only require a single monitor, while multi-battery systems using an isolator or DC/DC charger require separate monitors for each battery bank.
Neither installation is capable of interfering with the operation of any of a vehicle’s native battery warning, charging voltage, or diagnostic systems, though; and with the proper software, both are guaranteed to deliver the same level of accurate monitoring owners need to stay on top of their battery statuses.
Bluetooth Monitoring Lets Drivers Keep Vital Battery Stats In Hand
While the heart of every Bluetooth battery monitoring system is the monitoring device itself, the brain of the system is the downloadable monitoring app. Monitoring apps like Ultimate9’s BM app can be installed onto any supported smartphone, and paired instantly with the monitor’s Bluetooth once the phone’s Location Services are activated.
These intuitive apps are the key to convenient real time battery status updates and advanced charging system notifications. They aren’t, however, the only data metrics that premium 12v Bluetooth battery monitor systems are designed to follow. Historical, as well as trending charging information is also available with top-of-the-line car and RV battery monitor apps, which includes:
- A looped 31 day history of recordable power measurement readings;
- A trip function that’s capable of measuring battery charging while driving; and,
- Measurement histories for as many as four batteries, even when wired in parallel.
Whether it’s the result of a slow drain and extreme temperatures, or corroded terminals and a failing alternator, a Bluetooth battery meter app can be trusted to isolate and track potential charging system faults. The app can also be set up to monitor as many as four battery individual setups at once, making a modern vehicle battery monitoring system the perfect solution for owners who have multiple vehicles.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, it takes a truly reliable battery and charging system to keep a vehicle going. And with so many automotive systems relying on their stable, fully charged, and resistance-free functioning at all times, a tool that gives owners full visibility to their operating state is an investment that can quickly pay for itself. Modern aftermarket lithium and lead acid battery monitors give owners everything they need to keep all their vehicle’s batteries in top condition. They’re an affordable aftermarket accessory that adds genuine, real-time value.
