Blue Sea Systems DC Voltmeter - 18 to 32V DC User Manual
Before starting, disconnect the main
It is not possible within the scope of these
instructions to fully acquaint the installer
with all the knowledge of electrical systems
that may be necessary to correctly install
this product. If the installer is not
knowledgeable in electrical systems we
recommend that an electrical professional
Installation
be retained to make the installation.
Warning
positive cable from all batteries to eliminate
1. Disconnect all AC and DC power
ucts
the possibility of a short circuit while
installing the meter panel. Also disconnect
the AC shore power cord from the boat to
eliminate the possibility of electrocution
from AC wiring near the DC meter.
Select a mounting location which is
protected from water on the meter front and
back and is not in an area where fl ammable
vapors from propane, gasoline or lead acid
batteries accumulate. The meter is not
ignition protected and may ignite such
vapors. There are two mounting methods
2. Select mounting location and
cut opening
for the 8240 and 8243 meters, surface
mount or panel mount.
Document 9311 Rev.C
Panel Mount
Surface Mount
PN 8240
PN 8240
Standard Meter
Marine Electrical Prod
Installation
18-32 Volts PN 8240 / PN 8243
Analog DC Voltmeter
Warning
Meter Specifi cations
Input Voltage: 18 Volts DC to 32 Volts DC
Amperage Draw: 1 Milliampere
Display: Analog scale 18-32 Volts
Accuracy: 3% of scale range (.48 Volt)
PN Inches Millimeters
Face Width: 8240 2-1/2 63.50
Before starting, disconnect the main
It is not possible within the scope of these
instructions to fully acquaint the installer
with all the knowledge of electrical systems
that may be necessary to correctly install
this product. If the installer is not
knowledgeable in electrical systems we
recommend that an electrical professional
be retained to make the installation.
positive cable from all batteries to eliminate
1. Disconnect all AC and DC power
Blue Sea Systems Inc.
E-mail conduct @ bluesea.com
Phone (360) 738-8230 Fax (360) 734-4195
Any Blue Sea Systems product with which
a customer is not satisfi ed may be returned
8243 2 50.80
Mounting Hole: 8240 1-7/8 47.60
8243 1-1/2 38.10
Guarantee
the possibility of a short circuit while
installing the meter panel. Also disconnect
the AC shore power cord from the boat to
eliminate the possibility of electrocution
from AC wiring near the DC meter.
2. Select mounting location and
cut opening
425 Sequoia Drive Bellingham, WA 98226 USA
for a refund or replacement at any time.
Select a mounting location which is
protected from water on the meter front and
back and is not in an area where fl ammable
vapors from propane, gasoline or lead acid
batteries accumulate. The meter is not
ignition protected and may ignite such
www.bluesea.com
Installation (continued)
(
vapors. There are two mounting methods
for the 8240 and 8243 meters, surface
mount or panel mount.
PN 8243
PN 8243
3. Surface Mount: Drill fi ve clearance holes as shown below. The part number of the meter will
determine the size and location of the clearance holes. Use the nuts and washers supplied in the
accessory package to secure the four mounting studs to the mounting surface. This method will
work on mounting surfaces up to 5/8” thick.
Panel Mount
Surface Mount
Micro Meter
PN 8240
Standard Meter
ucts
Marine Electrical Prod
Analog DC Voltmeter
18-32 Volts PN 8240 / PN 8243
Meter Specifi cations
Input Voltage: 18 Volts DC to 32 Volts DC
Amperage Draw: 1 Milliampere
Display: Analog scale 18-32 Volts
Accuracy: 3% of scale range (.48 Volt)
PN Inches Millimeters
Face Width: 8240 2-1/2 63.50
8243 2 50.80
Mounting Hole: 8240 1-7/8 47.60
8243 1-1/2 38.10
Document 9311 Rev.C
Blue Sea Systems Inc.
Any Blue Sea Systems product with which
a customer is not satisfi ed may be returned
for a refund or replacement at any time.
Guarantee
www.bluesea.com
E-mail conduct @ bluesea.com
Phone (360) 738-8230 Fax (360) 734-4195
425 Sequoia Drive Bellingham, WA 98226 USA
(
Installation (continued)
PN 8240
PN 8243
PN 8243
3. Surface Mount: Drill fi ve clearance holes as shown below. The part number of the meter will
determine the size and location of the clearance holes. Use the nuts and washers supplied in the
accessory package to secure the four mounting studs to the mounting surface. This method will
work on mounting surfaces up to 5/8” thick.
Micro Meter
panel. Blue Sea Systems offers meter mounting panels for our standard size meters only. For
PN 8240 use PN 8013 to mount a single meter or PN 8014 to mount two meters.
Wire the meter as shown below, making certain to attach the positive lead to the terminal on the
meter marked “+” and the negative lead to the terminal marked “-”. Use a minimum 16 AWG
wire, red for positive and black or yellow for negative (ABYC recommends yellow for negative).
Install a 1 ampere fuse in the positive lead near the source. Do not connect the voltmeter in a
serial (in-line) confi guration.
A full treatment of the subject of battery management is beyond the scope of these instructions.
However, we believe that it is necessary to alert our customers to the issues involved and urge
that the issue be studied further. There is probably no other activity that will contribute more to a
healthy electrical system than proper battery management. There are several ways to measure
the state of charge in a battery or battery bank. The three most common methods are:
1. Open Circuit Voltage 2. Electrolyte Specifi c Gravity 3. Net Amp-Hours
None of these methods is perfect, but the primary determinant of success in measuring battery
charge and managing battery condition is the operator’s knowledge. Voltage is an effective
method of determining charge condition when properly used with an understanding of the battery
charge/discharge process. It is not generally realized that the difference between a fully
discharged and a fully charged battery is about 1 volt. The table below shows the percent of
charge for various voltages:
Experts recommend that for maximum life a battery be discharged no more than 50%. Once a
battery has been charged to approximately 80% of full charge its acceptance rate decreases
rapidly and it can take a great amount of charging time to bring the charge to 100%. For this
reason, in practice, the operating range becomes the 50 - 80% of charge area. Voltage is a good
indicator of charge condition only when a battery’s true open circuit voltage is measured. Open
circuit voltage is obtained when a battery is neither charged nor discharged and then the voltage
is allowed to stabilized. There is disagreement about the length of time the battery is required to
rest before a usable open circuit voltage is obtained. However, the user will observe that in the
fi rst 10 to 20 minutes of rest the voltage will settle to a fi gure close to its completely rested open
circuit voltage, which is generally considered to be obtained at 24 hours. Gel batteries can take
up to 48 hours. With experience, the user will learn the time required for reliable readings on any
particular system.
A particularly good treatment of this issue is presented in Nigel Calder’s Boatowner’s Mechanical
and Electrical Manual (Second Edition, McGraw Hill).
4. Panel Mount: For thicker mounting surfaces, the meter can be mounted into a 0.125” thick
Installation of Voltmeter Wires
Use of Voltmeter
Wire the meter as shown below, making certain to attach the positive lead to the terminal on the
meter marked “+” and the negative lead to the terminal marked “-”. Use a minimum 16 AWG
wire, red for positive and black or yellow for negative (ABYC recommends yellow for negative).
Install a 1 ampere fuse in the positive lead near the source. Do not connect the voltmeter in a
panel. Blue Sea Systems offers meter mounting panels for our standard size meters only. For
PN 8240 use PN 8013 to mount a single meter or PN 8014 to mount two meters.
4. Panel Mount: For thicker mounting surfaces, the meter can be mounted into a 0.125” thick
Installation of Voltmeter Wires
serial (in-line) confi guration.
A full treatment of the subject of battery management is beyond the scope of these instructions.
However, we believe that it is necessary to alert our customers to the issues involved and urge
that the issue be studied further. There is probably no other activity that will contribute more to a
healthy electrical system than proper battery management. There are several ways to measure
the state of charge in a battery or battery bank. The three most common methods are:
Use of Voltmeter
1. Open Circuit Voltage 2. Electrolyte Specifi c Gravity 3. Net Amp-Hours
None of these methods is perfect, but the primary determinant of success in measuring battery
charge and managing battery condition is the operator’s knowledge. Voltage is an effective
method of determining charge condition when properly used with an understanding of the battery
charge/discharge process. It is not generally realized that the difference between a fully
discharged and a fully charged battery is about 1 volt. The table below shows the percent of
charge for various voltages:
Experts recommend that for maximum life a battery be discharged no more than 50%. Once a
battery has been charged to approximately 80% of full charge its acceptance rate decreases
rapidly and it can take a great amount of charging time to bring the charge to 100%. For this
reason, in practice, the operating range becomes the 50 - 80% of charge area. Voltage is a good
indicator of charge condition only when a battery’s true open circuit voltage is measured. Open
circuit voltage is obtained when a battery is neither charged nor discharged and then the voltage
is allowed to stabilized. There is disagreement about the length of time the battery is required to
rest before a usable open circuit voltage is obtained. However, the user will observe that in the
fi rst 10 to 20 minutes of rest the voltage will settle to a fi gure close to its completely rested open
circuit voltage, which is generally considered to be obtained at 24 hours. Gel batteries can take
up to 48 hours. With experience, the user will learn the time required for reliable readings on any
particular system.
A particularly good treatment of this issue is presented in Nigel Calder’s Boatowner’s Mechanical
and Electrical Manual (Second Edition, McGraw Hill).
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