TM-2030 Technical Manual

3
B. How to Install METER and SHUNT
B.1. Preliminary
•IMPORTANT: A qualified person familiar with safe electrical practices and the local electrical
code should install this meter--particularly when installing the shunt. Accidentally shorting
the battery with a tool or other metal such as a finger ring can result in severe burns
from an arc. Mistakes in wiring could seriously damage your electrical system.
•Refer to wiring drawing on last page--please read all notes.
•To prevent damage to meter, do not install into a battery system that has a voltage that will rise
above 65 volts. It is designed for a maximum “nominal” 48 volt battery system.
•A (1Amp, fast-blow) fuse shown located near the battery for each battery in the wiring diagram will
protect the wire and the meter even if you accidentally miswire to the terminal block.. If not
provided with your meter, such "in line" fuses are available at Radio Shack and other electrical
supply stores.
B.2:For installation you will need:
•Suitable wrench or tools for connecting the large cables to battery and shunt
•Very small screwdriver for connecting wires to terminal block on the back of the TM-2030.
•Small Phillips screwdriver for removing front panel of meter
•Medium screwdriver for connecting wires to shunt
•For TM-2030-RV only: A drill for making a small hole to allow wires to enter the meter box
•For TM-2030-A only: A “double gang” electrical box of suitable size to accommodate the meter panel.
• One shunt (usually 500A/50mV size). This is the sensor that measures the “amps”.
•“shunt to battery cable:” Prepare or obtain from an electrical supply or auto store a “shunt-battery cable” (about
6 inches to several feet long as needed,) with diameter at least as large as the largest cable going to the negative
battery connection. The cable size must be large enough to accommodate the maximum system charging or
discharge amps from the battery. It should have suitable bolt lugs at each end. One end will connect to one large
bolt on the shunt—the other end to the battery negative post. See Figure 1 on page 7.
• Small, 4 or 5 wire cable long enough to connect from meter to battery system—with one or two 1Amp
fuseholders: Virtually any multi conductor cable available in a hardware or electrical supply house will be OK,
including CAT5. Or 4 or 5 individual wires may be used. Required wire size shown next paragraph. (Five wires
if two batteries are being measured.) The wire used for the + connection of both the main (and secondary
battery if used) should each have a 1A fuse at the battery end to protect against a short in the wire.
Minimum size wire for distances shown: #26 gauge: 45 feet. #24 gauge: 70 feet. #22 gauge: 110 feet. #20 gauge:
180 feet. #18 gauge: 300 feet.
For long runs over 100 feet our website has an application note describing how to use Cat 5 cable for going up
to 350 feet. See the Bogart Engineering web site under SUPPORT/APPLICATION NOTES entitled: Using
CAT5 cable up o 350 ft. for TriMetric.
B.3: Eight steps to install shunt and meter:
Steps 1-3: Install Shunt
Steps 4-6: Connect wires from meter to shunt and batteries.
Step 7: Check of wiring.
Step 8: Install two program values for your system
STEP 1:Turn off main breaker to battery. Check figure 1 on page 7 to see how the shunt will be
connected when you complete step 3. Remove EVERY wire and EVERY cable connected to the
negative side of your battery system. After you have accomplished this step you will be left with one or
more dangling cables that will be reconnected to the shunt in STEP 2. A common error is to leave one
or more still connected.
If your system has one battery, or if you have two (or more) batteries in series, then before step 2
you will have one negative pole (on one battery) that should be completely bare, disconnected from
any (current carrying) wires or cables, such as chassis ground.