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NormD · 07-29-2019, 01:11 PM

I bought one of the VAT1200 $30 battery monitors. The purchasers on YOUTUBE seemed to be very happy with the product, and it appears to provide the necessary SOC data, voltage, current, etc. I connected mine to the battery bank, but when I connected the Vin wire to the positive post on the battery, there was a bright flash and a POP! NOT good! There is no wireless signal to the display. The seller says this is not something that happens, and I need to have someone else look at my connections. I hope some of you folks would be willing to help with this.

My circuit is wired as shown in the diagram below.

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The battery compartment looks like the photo below. You can see the bus bar connecting the monitor to the negative terminal of the battery and the chassis ground and inverter cable connected to the second terminal of the monitor. There is an arrow pointing to the red wire inserted in the Vin terminal of the wiring block. The red wire snakes around the batteries and is connected to the positive terminal of the battery bank.

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I believe this is what is intended by the User Manual drawing. Do any of you see anything I have done wrong, or do I just have a bad monitor? Thank you all.

chuckftboy · 07-30-2019, 05:07 PM

Looks like you have it wired just like your wiring diagram.

aether_one · 07-30-2019, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckftboy

Looks like you have it wired just like your wiring diagram.

Well, except for that third battery not in the diagram.

waterman480 · 07-30-2019, 05:36 PM

Something shorted to the backside? Where is the case?

NormD · 07-31-2019, 12:42 PM

Thanks, everyone. A plastic case covers the bottom, keeping it safe from short circuits. The top case/cover has holes that are slightly too small for my cables and connections, so I will need to modify it or make something to provide protection.

The supplier is having a hard time with this problem. I expect that there is very little profit margin and sending out a replacement and paying for the return of the bad unit will eliminate any profit. I bought it through EBAY and PAYPAL, so I am not concerned with losing my money. What I am losing is time when I could be making use of this monitor.

The monitor, when working as shown in some YOUTUBE demos, seems to do the things that the high-priced units do: SOC both graphic and numeric, settable battery capacity, voltage and current values, and output to an optional relay for overvoltage, overcurrent, etc. I just wish mine worked. Hopefully, a new one will be arriving soon.