TRACE METER User Manual

TraceMeter

Battery Status Monitor

4.55”

BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM

4.55”

BATTERY

LEVEL

%

SELECT

V

CHARGED

A

Ah

RESET

AMP HOURS
REMOVED

INVERTER

0N/OFF

INTRODUCING THE TRACE BATTERY STATUS MONITOR

The Trace Meter battery status monitor features six data-monitoring functions and three
indicators including:

!

State of Charge/Amp-hour content: full or percent of capacity

!

State of Charge/Voltage: real-time voltage level, historical high & low system
voltage

!

Amps: real-time amps, total charging amps, total load amps

!

Amp-hours removed

!

Days since fully charged

!

Cumulative amp-hours

!

Recharge indicator

!

Low voltage indicator

!

Full charge indicator

The Trace Meter works with 12-volt, 24-volt, and 48-volt battery systems
shunt board required for 48-volt systems).

Copyright Trace Engineering Co. Inc. Tel [phone] Part Number 3507 Rev B,

a

5916 195th Street, NE Fax [phone] January 11, 1999
Arlington, WA 98223 USA www.traceengineering.com Page

(optional TM48

1

BASIC OPERATING FUNCTIONS

The Trace Meter enables you to monitor battery state-of-charge, voltage, amps, and amp­hours used. You can configure the reporting functions of the Trace Meter to your specific
application by setting the fully-charged criteria, battery capacity, charging efficiency, low­battery warning conditions, and recharge reminder. You can monitor any DC energy supply
from zero to 65 volts, track energy consumption and estimate remaining battery life. In
addition, you can turn your Trace inverter (if equipped) On or Off remotely.

MOUNTING AND INSTALLATION

Your Trace Meter package (Part Number TM500) includes this manual, a 50-foot
communications cord, one Deltec 500-amp/50-millivolt shunt (P/N TM500NS does not
include a shunt), a 12/24-volt shunt board equipped with an in-line two-amp fuse (order
Trace part number TM48 for 48-volt systems), and a molded plastic mounting enclosure.

Mount the Trace meter in the enclosure provided or in a standard double-gang plastic
electrical box. You can surface-mount the Trace Meter on a control panel, or flush-mount it
by creating a rectangular opening 3 7/8“ wide by 3 1/4“ high to allow clearance for the
circuit board. Allow at least two inches clearance behind the meter for attaching the
cabling. Be sure to mount the Trace Meter in a clean, dry environment.

The Trace Meter faceplate with the plastic mounting enclosure is designed to allow you to
choose how to mount the meter. Remove the four screws on the faceplate and remove the
meter from its enclosure. Decide upon the mounting location and type: flush or surface.

For a flush mount, cut a rectangular opening 3 7/8” wide by 3 1/4” high in the surface in
which you are going to mount the meter. Carefully remove the recessed dimples at each
corner of the faceplate. Use an Exacto knife or razor knife to remove the center of each
screw plug. Ensure adequate clearance behind the meter for cables. Install your
communications cable and (if used) your remote control cable and mount in the surface you
have selected. Attach with appropriate length wood or sheet metal screws.



BATTERYMONITORING SYSTEM

BATTERY

V

%

LEVEL

SELECT

CHARGED

AMPHOURS

A

Ah

REMOVED

INVERTER

RESET

0N/OFF

Remove plugs from

access holes

For surface mounting, remove one or both of the access plugs in the bottom of the molded
plastic enclosure, and mount the enclosure on the surface of your choice by inserting a
wood or sheet metal screw in each of the holes in each corner of the enclosure. Then
install the meter in the enclosure, being careful not to over tighten the screws. Alternatively,
remove the center plug in the back of the enclosure, mount the enclosure on the surface,
attach the appropriate communication cables, and re-install the meter in the enclosure.

For flush mounting in new construction, install a standard double-gang plastic box (do not
use a metal box) on a stud in the usual manner, discard the molded plastic enclosure
provided and install the meter in the double-gang box after attaching the appropriate
communications cables.

a

Copyright Trace Engineering Co. Inc. Tel [phone] Part Number 3507 Rev B,
5916 195th Street, NE Fax [phone] January 11, 1999
Arlington, WA 98223 USA www.traceengineering.com Page

2

Hookup Procedure

Mount the Deltec shunt on or near the battery box near the negative (-) battery terminal
or DC supply. The shunt is installed in the negative DC supply circuit. Disconnect the
negative battery cable at the battery or battery bank and attach it to the side of the shunt
labeled ‘Inverter’. Install a short cable of the same gauge from the negative (-) battery
terminal to the side of the shunt labeled

Remove the fuse from the fuse holder in the black (+) DC wire and attach the wire terminal
to a positive (+) battery terminal or DC supply. Insert the shunt communications cable into
the RJ6 connector on the shunt board. If desired, you can extend this cable up to 100
feet. Replace the fuse in the fuse holder.



DC Supply

‘Bat Minus.’

Inverter
or Load

Shunt

DC fuse

(-) in from
DC supply

BAT MINUS

PN3077

To order a Trace Meter without the shunt, use part number TM500NS. This kit includes a
shunt board, two 8-32 x 5/8” machine screws, and two spacers (standoffs). Attach the
shunt board to your shunt by first removing the two screws, flat washers, and lock washers
that came with your shunt. Replace the screws with the screws provided in the shunt kit.
Place a lock washer on the machine screws, then insert into the shunt board. Place a
spacer over each of the screws, and attach to the side of the shunt as shown in the
illustration below.

8-32 x 5/8” Machine Screw

Shunt Board

Copyright Trace Engineering Co. Inc. Tel [phone] Part Number 3507 Rev B,

a

5916 195th Street, NE Fax [phone] January 11, 1999
Arlington, WA 98223 USA www.traceengineering.com Page

INVERTER

(+) DC

(-) out to inverter

or load

Lock Washer

Standoff

Shunt

3

To complete the installation, insert the shunt communications cable into the RJ6 telephone­type connector on the back of the Trace Meter printed circuit board (PCB). There are two
RJ6 connectors on the back of the PCB. The one near the top left of the board is the shunt
connector. The one on the lower left of the PCB is the remote control connector. Do not
confuse these two connectors. Irreversible damage to the PCB will result if the shunt
communications cable is connected to the remote control connector or vice-versa.

PN3077

BATMINUS

(-) in

INVERTER

(+) DC

(-) out

Shunt Connector

Remote Control

Connector

Back of Trace Meter

TRACE METER INDICATORS AND CONTROLS

The Trace Meter features a large three-digit LED display, four red mode indicators, one
yellow full-charge indicator, one green Inverter On/Off indicator, and three pressure­sensitive pushbuttons. The LED screen displays alpha-numeric messages with resolution
to 0.00. A negative value (-) indicator is positioned just to the left of the screen.

SELECT

CHARGED

RESET

The Select button is used to switch between meters and modes. The four LEDs beneath
the screen light to indicate the operating mode: battery state-of-charge; volts, amps, and
amp-hours.

A Reset button is provided to change the user-defined parameters and to reset the fully­charged ‘Happy Sun’ indicator located between the Select and the Reset buttons.

A third button (labeled Inverter On/Off) enables you to turn your inverter On or Off remotely
if your system includes a Trace inverter/charger equipped with an RC4 or RC8 remote
control jack. The “Inverter On/Off” button duplicates the operation of the RC8 remote
control if you connect a remote control cable between the Trace Meter and your inverter.
Remote control cables are available in 10, 25, 50, and 100 foot lengths. Order Trace part
number TC/XX according to the length desired. See the RC8 Owner’s Manual (included
with the TC/XX cable) for remote control operating instructions.

INVERTER

0N/OFF

Basic Meters

To select a meter display, press and release the Select button until the desired mode
indicator lights. There are four mode indicators:

BATTERY

LEVEL

Copyright Trace Engineering Co. Inc. Tel [phone] Part Number 3507 Rev B,

a

5916 195th Street, NE Fax [phone] January 11, 1999
Arlington, WA 98223 USA www.traceengineering.com Page

V

%

A

Ah

AMP HOURS
REMOVED

4

!

%

V

A

Ah

% (Percent State of Charge)

display the battery state-of-charge based upon the amp-hour capacity. Range is
LO setting(<27.5%), 30% to 90% in 5% increments, and ‘FULL’ when over 92.5%
of capacity.

!

V (Volts)

voltage from 08.0 to 35.0 volts (12 and 24 volt system) with
or 16.0 to 69.9 volts (48 volt system) with and 0.2 volt accuracy.

!

A (Amps)

current or load current in amps. The range is from ± 0.1 to ± 999 amps, with a
speed of response of one second. Accuracy is ±1.5%.

!

AH (Amp Hours)

source since the last reset. Range is from 0.00 to ±167,000 amp-hours. When
the decimal point flashes, multiply the reading by 1000. (111. = 111,000).
Automatically resets to zero about one minute after the Charge LED remains on
(stops flashing).

When this indicator is lighted, the LED screen will display the real time

When selected, the LED screen will display the real-time charge

This meter displays the total amp-hours removed from the DC

When this indicator is lighted, the LED screen will

±0.1 volt accuracy

±

Power Saving Mode

Pressing the Select button until the display goes blank puts the Trace Meter in power
saving mode. None of the red mode indicators are lighted when the meter is in power­saving mode. In this mode, the meter consumes approximately 18mA (milliamps).
Maximum power consumption in any mode is 32mA.

Data Monitors

There are several additional data displays that are accessed by pressing and holding the
Select button until “dSF” is displayed on the LED. Then p
button to s The data types will alternate with the data
values.
will display the basic meters again. The data monitors are listed below in the order in
which they appear on the display.

Press

and Hold

To reset the data monitor values to zero (or present value) press and hold the Reset button
for about 5 seconds (the data monitor value will flash On and Off three times, and then
update).

croll through the data displays.

When the “bLO’ data value has been displayed, another press of the Select button

!

dSF (Days Since Full)

days since the battery was fully charged. The range is from

0.00 to 655. The value resets to zero when the battery is
recharged. (Charged LED flashes)

!

cAH (Cumulative Amp Hours)

cumulative amp-hours removed. Use it as a battery life
indicator. Its range is from 00.0 to 999,000. Multiply the
reading by1000 when the decimal point flashes on and off.
The cumulative amp-hours are retained in memory even if
the meter is disconnected.

!

bHI (High Battery Voltage)

voltage. Use to determine if an over-charge event has
occurred. Resets to current battery voltage when theTrace
Meter is disconnected and reconnected.

!

bLO (Low Battery Voltage)

Use to detect over-discharge. Resets to zero when the
Trace Meter is disconnected, then reconnected.

press &

SELECT

release

To Reset

press & hold

then

SELECT

RESET

ress and release the Select

This meter shows the number of

This meter measures the

Displays highest battery

Displays lowest battery voltage

Copyright Trace Engineering Co. Inc. Tel [phone] Part Number 3507 Rev B,

a

5916 195th Street, NE Fax [phone] January 11, 1999
Arlington, WA 98223 USA www.traceengineering.com Page

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