Old Merlin "Smartgauge" (that Balmar used to sell)

[rgleason]

This is a new thread for those who wish to discuss particulars about the

Old Merlin "Smartgauge" (that Balmar used to sell)

The thread for the new

Balmar SG-200 Battery Moniter

is here http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...or-209056.html

[john61ct]

Has Balmar discontinued selling the Merlin SmartGauge?

[sailinglegend]

Originally Posted by rgleason

This is a new thread for those who wish to discuss particulars about the[INDENT]Old Merlin "Smartgauge" (that Balmar used to sell)...

The Old Merlin Smartgauge (that Balmar used to sell) is very relevant to the new SG-200 Smartgauge that Balmar is now trying sell - that is why there are so many posts on the thread:

Balmar SG-200 Battery Monitor

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by sailinglegend

The Old Merlin Smartgauge (that Balmar used to sell) is very relevant to the new SG-200 Smartgauge that Balmar is now trying sell - that is why there are so many posts on the thread:

Balmar SG-200 Battery Monitor

Is it? I’d guess that it’s based on the old one, but as I have zero idea of how the old one worked, that just a wild guess.
Besides I’m pretty sure we don’t know how the new one works either?

[john61ct]

Balmar is very emphatic that no connection be made between the two, since neither Gibbo, the original developer of the SmartGauge while under military contracts, nor the company Merlin, that bought him out shortly thereafter, had **any** input into the development of the Balmar SG-200.

However, the "Active Impedance Compensation" side of the SG-200, (AIC)

as opposed to the more prosaic coulomb-counting technology side, (AHC) which it shares with Link Pro, Victron BMV, Magnum BMK, etc,

does functionally have much in common with how the Merlin SmartGauge operates. This is made clear in the early interviews and trade press articles as the product was being initially revealed and around the time of its "alpha release" last year, I believe thoroughly covered early in the SG-200 thread linked to above.

Prior to the SG-200, Gibbo's SmartGauge was unique, and according to many whose opinion I respect, the most accurate SoC meter in the consumer market. Which of course isn't saying much, all such devices providing a rough guesstimate at best.

The technology details for the use of this "impedance measuring" technology in both devices are proprietary trade secrets of their respective firms, but involve terms like spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance, AC impedance spectrography, high frequency conductance tests etc.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/....php?p=2519500

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/....php?p=2747251

[Lodbrog1]

I know this is an aside question but started with a Balmar. I've looked in the CF history logs and find none... My Balmar died and I replaced it with a 100 amp charger with internal regulator....worked great for 2 years then stopped charging. In the process of sussing out what the problem was we tricked the alternator to start charging again but was putting out 15.2 or more volts when it normally charged up at 13.7 to 14.2.....Chose to replace it and the new one also puts out 15.2....I would like not to cook my 3 AGMs.... so am looking for some sage advise short of crippling the internal and installing an exterior regulator.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by Lodbrog1

I know this is an aside question but started with a Balmar. I've looked in the CF history logs and find none... My Balmar died and I replaced it with a 100 amp charger with internal regulator....worked great for 2 years then stopped charging. In the process of sussing out what the problem was we tricked the alternator to start charging again but was putting out 15.2 or more volts when it normally charged up at 13.7 to 14.2.....Chose to replace it and the new one also puts out 15.2....I would like not to cook my 3 AGMs.... so am looking for some sage advise short of crippling the internal and installing an exterior regulator.

Best to start a new thread, and when you try to be more clear about exactly what specific models you're talking about.

This topic is the SmartGauge battery SoC monitor, nothing to do with chargers, alternators, regulators or the like.

[a64pilot]

I believe your talking about an alternator?
You may have simply bypassed the internal regulator.
My advice is if you plan on it being a primary charge source, buy an external regulator, If you don’t and only run the engine rarely etc. replace or have the internal one replaced,
I’d start by taking it to a shop that overhauls alternators if you don’t want an external regulator, I’d assume they can fix it.

13.8 to 14.2 was the automotive spec for back in the day when I was working on cars, I’m not sure when or why the voltage has been increased, maybe an overhaul shop would know, spec voltage for aircraft is still 14 plus or minus .2V, most all aircraft actually use automotive alternators, so I know 14 is achievable.

You could of course build your own adjustable external regulator, that not hard, just as long as you don’t want programming, then that is to me, hard.

[rgleason]

Thanks Guys, much appreciated
Good point about this product, it is here on the Balmar website:
http://www.balmar.net/products/smart...ttery-monitor/

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

13.8 to 14.2 was the automotive spec for back in the day when I was working on cars, I’m not sure when or why the voltage has been increased

Well AGM's required higher, marine world the proliferation of House banks, but automotive, it's gone back down in the super mpg world, except while regenerative braking.

Transpo 911-02R is a cheap adjustable VR, 14 - 20V, but pretty bare bones, no current limiting, nor Float

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00OBTZ8OE

Mechman and Excessive rebadge them too. . .

[GordMay]

Balmar Smartgauge Manual ➥ https://productimageserver.com/liter...al/69075OM.pdf
Or ➥ http://www.balmar.net/wp-content/upl...-SG-1224-3.pdf