What’s to know before ordering PentaMetric?

There are four main components to the PentaMetric Battery system:

(1)The PM-5000-U Input unit, 

(2)the PM-100-D Display unit,

(3)the PM-100-C  Computer Interface with RS232 interface,

(4)the PM-101-CE Computer/Internet interface with Ethernet connector.

Other accessories you may need:

Shunts: Two types:

100A/100mV,

500A/50mV. 

Temperature sensor: measures temperature from -20C to 65C.

Deciding what Main components you need:

The PM-5000-U input unit is required.    This is the unit that connects to the batteries, and gets the data, and records the logged data.

To access the data, and set all programmed functions you needat least one of the following three items listed below. If you wish you can also use either item 6 or 7  at the same time as item 5.  You cannot use both item 6 and 7 simultaneously.  It is not required that they be connected except when actually reading or changing the programmed data:

(5) PM-100-D Display unit, with 2 line LCD display. This is useful if you need to see the data without having a computer connected or on.

The following two provide an even more friendly  “user interface” than the Display unit, above.  The programmed functions are easier to understand.  But it requires that you have a computer operating while observing or controlling data. Both of them provide easiest access using the PMComm  program for Windows. This is a program downloadable at no charge from the Bogart Engineering website, which operates on a Windows operating system in a computer.  It need not be on at all times.

(6) PM-100-C computer interface: This connects to an RS232 communication port of a computer to allow observation of all data and control of all functions.

(7) PM-101-CE Internet/computer interface: This connects to an Ethernet cable that can be connected to a computer directly or to an Internet router.  If you wish to communicate to a remote location via the internet you must have a static IP address.

Deciding what shunts you need:

There are two types of shunts that may be used.  Each PentaMetric input unit can use up to three shunts for measuring the amps—one shunt is required for each amps channel.  If you do not intend to use all three channels you don’t need three shunts. The three shunts  can be selected in any desired combination. Here is the advantage and disadvantage of each type of shunt:

500A/50mV shunt: Measures higher current, but at lower resolution.  Can measure up to over 400 amps continuous current.. It allows observation of amps with resolution of 0.1 amps. This is often used to measure the “net” current the battery.

100A/100mV shunt: These won’t measure high current, but have better low current resolution. Can measure up to 70 amps maximum continuous current and allows observation of amps with resolution of 0.01 amps. It will take only short overloads of a few seconds. This shunt size is often  used to measure the input solar or wind current, provided they do not exceed 70 amps.  Or they can be used for smaller systems provided charging currents or loads no not exceed its rating.

Temperature sensor:  This measures the ambient temperature of the battery if that is needed. It is not required for operation of the PentaMetric.