Well I have started the install of a new Battery Monitor in the rig. This is a Trimetric TM-2030-A with a 500 Amp Shunt.
Parts:
1. TM-2030-A w/500 Amp Shunt ($178 - ebay)
2. 2-Pair Twisted Wire with Fuse ($30 - ebay)
3. 4 Screws with caps ($2 local hardware store)
After a review of the instructions and my own plan, I decided to install this in plain view for the purposes of keeping an eye on the batteries when we are boon-docking. This system will be tied into a Solar Charging system at a future time.
Removed the maintenance center to understand what is going on inside and around this area with wires.
Review the insides - looks like the person in charge of opening holes for wire runs on the day our rig was build was 3 or 4 years old and used a shot gun to open the walls.
Cut open the side panel for the control panel. I scored the panel to start to make sure I did wreck the finish outside of where I was going to open the panel. (*** Side note - I now know where I will be running my wires from the solar panels on the roof down to the batteries - this chase runs from the floor with access to the area in the basement with wires.)
Prep the panel and screws for install.
Panel has been installed for now... I pre-drilled the holes also to prevent splitting.
Next steps (after the wind dies down) is to install the Shunt and run the wires across from the panel to the shunt. Will add more pictures and updates on its performance after it is all installed.