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Old 18-07-2016, 06:39   #16
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aloft View Post
It links through a Color Control GX panel, which ties most Victron devices together, and has Internet connectivity through either Victron's portal or optionally it's own internal web server (for which you'd need to have a stable IP address and port through your router's firewall).

The battery monitor does connect to a phone with a Bluetooth dongle, but that's only for when you're aboard.
So if I understand, I need to supply some kind of internet connection to this system, it does not include a way to link via 3G/4G cell phone channels.
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Old 18-07-2016, 07:39   #17
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

I installed the Boat Command product this spring and it's been fantastic for simple remote monitoring and alerting. Relatively cheap too. It sends a data update to my app every three hours, or instantly for an alarm state, or on demand. I monitor two battery banks, two bilge pumps, high water alarm, and shore power status. It also has an anchor alarm when you need it, and a way to turn items on/off on the boat remotely.

Look here: https://boatcommand.com/

Here's a couple current logs as an example (from the web interface, also on app):

Battery log
7/18/2016 9:53 AM 13.74v
7/18/2016 6:53 AM 13.74v
7/18/2016 3:53 AM 13.74v
7/18/2016 12:53 AM 13.74v
7/17/2016 9:53 PM 13.74v
7/17/2016 6:53 PM 13.71v
7/17/2016 3:53 PM 13.77v
7/17/2016 12:53 PM 13.77v
7/17/2016 9:53 AM 13.77v
7/17/2016 6:53 AM 13.74v
7/17/2016 3:53 AM 13.74v
7/17/2016 12:53 AM 13.77v
7/16/2016 9:53 PM 13.74v
7/16/2016 6:53 PM 13.71v
7/16/2016 5:16 PM 13.74v
7/16/2016 3:53 PM 13.74v

Bilge pump #1 activity
7/16/2016 5:16 PM 0.33 minutes
7/16/2016 3:53 PM 0.33 minutes
7/16/2016 2:45 PM 0.17 minutes
7/16/2016 1:44 PM 0.32 minutes
7/16/2016 12:46 PM 0.17 minutes
7/16/2016 11:41 AM 0.17 minutes
7/13/2016 9:28 PM 0.32 minutes
7/13/2016 4:17 PM 0.32 minutes

You can get much more history as well.

Basic install just for battery monitoring can take minutes. Full install probably took me three hours because of bilge pump wiring challenges.

From what I understand it uses Verizon texting for transmitting the data to their central server. So if you're not in a Verizon zone you wont get the data.

I've become a quick fan, enough to feel compelled to say I have no affiliation with the company.

Good luck,

JR

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Old 18-07-2016, 07:42   #18
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

Forgot to mention it also monitors inside temperature:

Inside temperature log
7/18/2016 9:53 AM 79.70°F
7/18/2016 6:53 AM 79.14°F
7/18/2016 3:53 AM 80.38°F
7/18/2016 12:53 AM 81.72°F
7/17/2016 9:53 PM 82.96°F
7/17/2016 6:53 PM 82.85°F
7/17/2016 3:53 PM 81.28°F
7/17/2016 12:53 PM 79.47°F
7/17/2016 9:53 AM 77.90°F
7/17/2016 6:53 AM 77.56°F
7/17/2016 3:53 AM 77.79°F
7/17/2016 12:53 AM 78.01°F
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Old 18-07-2016, 21:08   #19
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

My boat has been on a mooring in SD for a few years now and I've always had that fear in the back of my mind that I was going to get a call one day about some type of "bad thing" that happened to my boat. I ended up getting a boat command system last week and installing it. So far it seems pretty awesome.

It really is quite nice to be able to see that automated report every three hours and know that I should get an email and text within a mnute or two if a bilge pump comes on, a high water switch activates, the companionway door is opened, one of the batteries drops below "x" volts (12.2 for me), or the boat moves more than "X" yards ( 40 ) from the mooring.

I was able to source the unit from a vendor on ebay for $290. That included shipping and one accessory of my choosing (the door reed switches). The "base" level of service is $80/year or $9/month.

So far I REALLY like it. I definitely feel like I would have picked something like this up much earlier if I had known about it earlier.
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Old 29-07-2016, 11:06   #20
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

trying to figure out the least expensive option here as well, just an appliance with low power draw to know when either battery is too low or water is too high. Should just sent out a sms text to a phone number. That way it works anywhere there is a wifi signal.

Any consensus on this? I would think a beagleboard (rather than pi arduino is better for this) can be done as a project, but on the other hand I think if i was building an appliance for the market, I would probably use this so thinking buying an appliance that someone else has done the hard work for is probably the easiest....
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Old 29-08-2016, 07:12   #21
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

I just saw this IndieGoGo campaign for $5 device that works with Arduino or RasPi. Cell, wifi, bluetooth, relays, sensors, displays.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/o...made-for-iot#/

they have a December ship date, which seems aggressive but it is good to support fabrication of devices like this
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Old 29-08-2016, 07:39   #22
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

I believe this can be done via Victrons BMV plus the associated bridge. There is a Victron app for that. Expensive.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....victronenergy
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...nconnect&hl=es

The alternative is to plug a serial VOM meter into any wifi router, then find an application that can show you the serial data on the mobile device. This is often done with remote supervision of solar banks, power towers and other such equipment. Level: easy. Price: low. But it is a homework project (you build it, not buy it, see above for Victron)

Cheers,
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Old 29-08-2016, 18:21   #23
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

Quote:
Originally Posted by Symphony View Post
I just saw this IndieGoGo campaign for $5 device that works with Arduino or RasPi. Cell, wifi, bluetooth, relays, sensors, displays.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/o...made-for-iot#/

they have a December ship date, which seems aggressive but it is good to support fabrication of devices like this
I believe this is intended as a "less expensive" alternative to the Ard or RPi. However, both the Ard and RPi have a plethora of add-on board, sensors and software already available at very affordable prices. Depending on needs, there is the RPi-Zero currently shipping for very little.

So, if one is a hobbyist and wants to play, it is not particularly difficult to get an RPi to read many many variables and either e-mail or text periodic status reports. There is indeed a very inexpensive card (Google RPi FONE) to enable RPi to text via cell services.
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Old 04-06-2017, 13:50   #24
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

Quote:
Originally Posted by Symphony View Post
I just saw this IndieGoGo campaign for $5 device that works with Arduino or RasPi. Cell, wifi, bluetooth, relays, sensors, displays.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/o...made-for-iot#/

they have a December ship date, which seems aggressive but it is good to support fabrication of devices like this
I actually purchased this to play with, with a bunch of extras (spent $99). I have spoken to the founders as well. This is really a MPU like a PI, but for less $. Cool thing is you can write shell scripts to control some of their IOs. But they don't have things like an analog voltage sensor, so you need and arduino etc. But this is going OT a bit.

I am interested in bumping this thread to see if anyone has more experience with some of the turnkey systems. I just want an inexpensive system to let me know if my boat is sinking or the battery is too low. It needs to let me login in to see the status.
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Old 11-06-2017, 07:05   #25
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Re: Remote battery monitoring via smartphone

I am in the process of installing a Victron CCGX and BMV 702 on my boat right now (Already have a Victron multiplus and will be adding a Victron mppt controller down the line). My understanding is the Victron CCGX needs to have access to the internet in order to be accessible by phone. It does not have 3G/4G itself. There are dongles that can be added to give the unit WiFi or Bluetooth but I plan on just running a cable to the router that is on my boat.

Hope this helps.

s/v Caroline
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