Instruction Manual

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filter time is possible-- this same number is used for ALL filtering functions, so filtered volts and filtered
amps must have the same filter time applied. There is also an option for no filtering, if desired.
The labels for these 3 items are determined by Program mode P7, P8 and P9. “Amps” label: see
section above for AD7, AD8, AD9 for a description of these.
AD13, AD14, AD15: #1Amp-hours (AD13), #2Amp-hours(AD14), #3Amp-
hours(AD15)
Two options for #1Amp hours and #2 Amp hours: AD13 and AD14 can be is used for two
somewhat different purposes depending on whether the Amps1 (or Amps 2) is being used to measure
battery current, or current from a charging source or load. How you set this up will depend on which
purpose it is used for. Note that AD15: #3 amp hours can only be used for the second purpose.
Using amp hours to keep track of battery energy content (option 1):
When used for this purpose it measures the number of amp hours removed from a fully charged
battery. A fully charged battery is indicated by zero amp hours. As energy is removed the value of
amp hours will become gradually more negative. This option also compensates for the “self
discharge” of the battery, as specified by program numbers P34 and P35. Also, when used for this
function, the PentaMetric resets the value automatically to 0 when the battery is sensed as “fully
charged”, as specified in program number P32. The measurement process is more fully detailed in
section 7: “How the PentaMetric keeps track of battery state of charge” If you are using Amp-
hours for that purpose, refer to that section to understand how it works, and, most importantly, to
understand how the program modes must be set for this option to work correctly. Select this
option by setting “Battery Capacity”, program number P14 or P15 to a non zero
value of
capacity.
Program modes affecting data when measuring battery energy content: P7, P8, P9, P11, P12, P13,
P14, P15, P32, P33, P34, P35.
Using “true” amp hours to measure a charging source (such as daily or
weekly solar input), or load over a period of time (option 2):
This option measures “true” (uncompensated) cumulative amp hours from a charging source or
load, (such as your total solar or wind energy over some period of time)—beginning at a time when
the amp hours are manually reset to 0: With this option the amp hours are never automatically
reset to 0 (which can occur with the battery option). This is the only option available for #3 amp
hours. To begin a new amp hour measurement manually reset these values to 0 using the
Reset button (described above in section 4.A.1 under “RESET”) The meter will accumulate true
amp hours until it is manually reset again. Select this measurement option by setting “Battery
Capacity”, program number P14 or P15 to “zero.” When this is done that Battery capacity will
display “NOT USED . Or specify “no battery” if using the computer interface .
Program modes affecting data when measuring “true” (non battery) accumulating amps: P7, P8, P9,
P11, P12, P13, P14, P15.
Program modes that affect AD7, AD8, (Amps1, Amps2), similarly affect this display. Refer to
section AD7 AD8,AD9 for information about program modes P7, P8, P9, P11, P12, P13.
AD16, AD17, Cumulative (battery discharging) Amp-hours1(AD16) Cumulative
(discharging) Amp-hours2(AD17)
Program modes affecting data: P11, P12, P14, P15.
This has a function analogous to an odometer in a car, in that the purpose of this is to measure how
much total duty the batteries have seen in their lifetime. It is intended to accumulate for the entire life
of batteries, if desired. It measures the discharging “amp hours” only, from the batteries. So when the
amps have a negative value (discharging) it accumulates those amp hours--however when the amps
are positive (charging) it accumulates nothing. Thus it measures the “one way” chemical change seen
by the battery, and thus is a measure of how much usage the battery has seen in its life. If a battery is
cycled from 100% full to 50% full and then back up to 100% the PentaMetric will measure the same
“wear”, or cumulative amp hours, as two cycles from 100% to 75%. This is approximately reflective of
the real wear caused by cycling a “deep cycle” battery, which will last about twice as many cycles in