Battery Monitor

[Randall55]

Recently purchased a Dork Hall / Battery monitor due to a recent bad experience on our latest trip. I'm not really strong when it come to knowledge in regard to electricity. So I did a fair bit of research on YouTube, found one that is rather easy to install, operate and within my budget.

Like I said electricity is not my strong suit so I did a lot of YouTube video watching on how to install this monitor, operate this monitor, it seemed rather straight forward.

Now my question is why am I not seeing the amp draw on my monitor display screen.

I have a deep cycle 12V lead acid battery with about 60AH yeah I know not the greatest for dry camping (lesson learned) but even in this controlled situation I'm not seeing any amp draw. Lights on, over the stove light on, stove fan on, radio on but still no indication of an amp draw shouldn't I see some amp draw?

Just want to know what I might have done wrong and how to correct it.

Thanks.

[BirchyBoy]

Are you sure you have installed the shunt correctly and also set the parameters in the monitor (assuming it is like the Renogy monitor). Maybe post some pics of your setup so we can see what it looks like.

[TacomaJoe]

Does only one wire pass through the sensor? Is the battery side of that wire the only wire on the battery terminal?

[Mark_K5LXP]

I have that very monitor ("Drok") installed and working, so once you answer the above questions we can guide from there if you like.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[Persistent]

This type of monitor does not use a shunt. It uses a magnetic field detector.
https://www.amazon.com/Voltage-DROK-.../dp/B096DVSLNX

However, the likely cause is placement of the detector. The wire running through it is where the current is measured. Most likely the current is running through a different wire.

There are other possibilities.
Defective detector
Loose or improper wire connection

Please post pictures of the installation. Include pictures of the detector in place.

[Randall55]

Here are the pictures that show my set up.

[TacomaJoe]

Is your display lit up at all (monitor working)? You are on the battery lead but if your shore power/converter is on, it will provide the power and nothing will go in/out of the battery. With no shore power your battery will take over the load and you should get a reading.

[Randall55]

Yes the display is on. I unplugged from shore power but still no amp draw is displayed.

[oldenavy]

I had one of those on a previous RV. Never could get it to read anything but voltage correctly. Finally gave up and got one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Smart...0856PHNLX?th=1

Yes, it’s an extra $100 but well worth the price. It’s accurate and you can read it from your phone with their app. Victron also makes versions with a display that you can mount in the RV if you don’t like using the Bluetooth app.

[Persistent]

I found the instructions.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/B1ubSSVdpyS.pdf

It does not seem that complicated. I don't see the "yellow" wire in your posted picture.

[Captain8]

Originally Posted by oldenavy

I had one of those on a previous RV. Never could get it to read anything but voltage correctly. Finally gave up and got one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Smart...0856PHNLX?th=1

Yes, it’s an extra $100 but well worth the price. It’s accurate and you can read it from your phone with their app. Victron also makes versions with a display that you can mount in the RV if you don’t like using the Bluetooth app.

Completely agree. I have tons of Victron equipment and a shunt is essential for any RV.

Couple things, To get a display you'd need a CerboGX ($275) and the GXtouch screen ($230), as well as a V.Edirect cable ($20) to plug the shunt into the CerboGX. Not only does it give you a screen but the CerboGX records everything going on and if you have internet for your RV you can access it anywhere from your phone, don't even need the screen. Its great because you know exactly how much power you're using and where its coming from at any point in time, graphed out.

Below is a pic, with just the shunt and cerbo you'd get the bottom 2 boxes with the battery voltage, SoC % and DC power usage. Top boxes need their Inverter and solar needs their MPPT. The temps use Ruuvi bluetooth and GPS uses any usb GPS adapter.

[Persistent]

Good advice above. I see you found a good solution.

Manual 6300
https://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/para...6300Series.pdf

It has two systems. One is battery charger. Other is converter. Converter has AC noise. It switches load on converter to battery side when shore power is lost.