| Author |
Message |
Richardkan (Richardkan)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 6:28 pm: | |
I have a Heart Interface Freedom 25 that has been in operation for a couple of years now. I always thought that I would supplement it with a remote monitor panel. Would like to hear from those that started with the basics and added the monitor. Is the added cost justifiable? Also, I must have missed out on something. When I Google Heart/Interface I get to a Xantrex site. Has there been a merger that I am not aware of? |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 7:35 pm: | |
Yes, there has been an acquisition by Xantrex. They also own Trace and a host of others, including the former E-meter manufacturer. I recently installed a 2k Freedom with the remote panel for a friend and it was worth the expense, to him at least. I forget the model of the remote, but it has LED bar graphs for voltage, amperage, and status, along w/a couple of function and status switches. Bought it on ebay, along w/the inverter. |
Dennis Johnson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 8:08 pm: | |
I have the same model inverter, a little older though, I think I got mine in 99. I have the remote panel and can tell at a glance what is going on. This is most useful in charging mode when I can see the state of charging. You can turn the inverter on and off easily without going out and opening the bay. There is other programming that you can do with the remote, such as equilizing mode, adjusting power sharing, settings for ambient temperature, etc. As I recall these are either more difficult or can't be done at all without the remote. The remote that I have is an older one and you have to use dip switches in the back to program which I don't like. I think the newer ones you just touch the front to adjust. There is an upgrade called, I think, the link 1000, that gives a lot more information about the battery charge state in addition to what is available on the standard remote panel. They have been selling on ebay for around $179 and I have been thinking of upgrading.
Xantrex bought out Heart and a couple other inverter companies a couple of years ago. |
Jim & Linda Callaghan (Jimc)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 8:28 pm: | |
Yes, its worth it, I had an older Trace with the blinking led button. The new panel shows state of charge, how much battery is being used, if the inverter is being used or not, and also lets you set the amount of draw for the battery charger.
Well worth the money in my mind.
Jim Callaghan 4106
Wisconsin |
marc schlabach
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 10:21 pm: | |
I have the link 1000 and I feel its worth the money. As stated you can tell at a glance what's going on. The mounting base is a bit flimsey. My clip broke off before a year was up. I suppose I could get a new one if I tried.The link also shows exactly how many amps are being put in the batteries and how much is coming out. Thanks Marc |
john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 10:22 pm: | |
Is the new panel the same size? I have the TRACE RC2000 remote panel and there isnt much extra room for a larger panel. |
Bob Compton (Allboyzoo)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 10:27 pm: | |
I have an older Trace 4024. Which monitor, monitors, are compatable with this unit? No paper work was included with the inverter. Thanks. |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 12:48 am: | |
The new panel is about 5"x5".
Bob: Is it a DR Model or a SW model? I don't recall that they made a U or SB model in 4kw. |
Bob Compton (Allboyzoo)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 1:08 am: | |
SW model. Thanks. |
Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 1:11 am: | |
Possible contrary opinion: the best type of meter possible is an amp-meter that measures total raw power in and out of your battery bank. A Bogart Trimetric for less than $200 with shunt and cables is about the best you can possibly get and will track ALL DC loads on your battery bank, not just the inverter, and track all charge sources (solar, Heart in charge mode via genset or shore cord and alternator/main engine).
In some cases the Trimetric will be a better single meter than the one made for the Heart. |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 10:06 am: | |
Bob: I understood that the SW models came with a full meter and control installed in them on the face. However, if yours does not have one, then what u want is the SWRC (digital) by Trace which can be remoted to any location up to 50' away. Gives you full menu control of all functions of the inverter and about 10-12 different meter functions for input and output of the inverter. They connect via a computer cable, db25 i think. Retails well over $200: I got a new one on the bay for $89. The only way to fly for your inverter.
Jim of CA: Not familiar specifically w/the Trimetric, however sounds as though it is very comparable in function to the Link 1000 and 2000, now produced by Xantrex, formerly E-meter 10. They are however, battery monitors, and not inverter monitors and control. I agree, nice to have, and especially so if u have a large and expensive battery bank to maintain and watch over. I recently picked up an never installed E Meter for $55, w/500amp shunt(still waiting to fish the 6 conductors thru a closed up wall down to the battery case. Somewhat more comprehensive metering of loads than the SWRC, but comparable, since the SWRC will give return total load and inverter load simultaneously, thereby yielding battery draw at any given time. Unlike the battery monitors, it does not read out accumulated charging or specific state of charge of the batteries but it does give full control of the inverter, which the battery monitors will not. I suppose they are both what u would classify as nice to have, but I would place my priorities on the SWRC if I were Bob.
All of which makes me wonder if many of us are not becoming information freaks with all these damn measuring and metering devices.I personally think that many of us have gotten to the point where we do it because we can instead of because we need to. |
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