Having had batteries die due to being discharged during winter months, I was looking for a simple monitoring system to warn me if my bike battery was running low. I have a couple of trickle charger/tenders but don't like leaving them permanently connected and my old Guzzi, in particular seems to be more battery 'needy' than my Ducatis, being on it's third battery in the 10 years I've had it. I saw this 'Ancel' battery monitoring device listed on ebay; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256906200373 and with 20% off due to some ebay promotion decided to try one. Once connected to the battery, it monitors voltage, temperature and general battery health plus there are charging and cranking tests that can be run and this info is sent by by bluetooth to your phone so you can see the state of the battery without removing any fairings/tanks etc. to get a meter on it. It even 'remembers' where you last parked your bike and shows you on a map. So far I am impressed, so much so that I bought 3 more for all my bikes and Land Rover, all (high-maintenance) vehicles that, at the moment are not being used so battery can be discharging. The unit itself is very small and light and is simply connected to the battery and stuck onto it with double-sided tape (stuck on allows it to monitor the temperature), here's a picture of it stuck to my Monster's battery; And here's a screenshot of the 4 batteries health from my phone; And a single battery screen; As you can see, the bike batteries are currently fully charged the Land Rover not so much but it's actually currently attached to an old battery that I'm using just for testing electrics and I have a new one to go once finished. Not tested how robust they are yet, as in will they stand up to the vibrations etc. from a V-twin engine but so far so good. Anyway, I thought this might be of interest to some.
Presumably if it’s transmitting via Bluetooth one needs to be within range (10mtrs) of the device(s) to get an accurate and up to date reading in the app? Still, it’s a handy little gizmo to keep an eye on things each time one pops into the garage, and as you say, saves having to remove fairings and connect things.
Interesting. I keep the bike and camper van on a constant maintenance top-up charge which feeds the batteries when a volt drop is recognised. Can you leave the monitor in place during a charging process or it is only useful when the batteries are disconnected for the chargers?
If you are not using it for some time ,disconnect the battery. Batteries do not like being overcharged. I would recommend a CCA meter to check. Forget about 11.5v is ok. Alarm/immobilizers are the likely culprit for killing batteries. Optimisers waste of time. No doubt this comment will infuriate some people on here. Sorry.
Yes, can only get the updates if in Bluetooth range, it flashes a blue LED every few seconds which is the update. Fortunately my office is right next to my workshop so I can monitor it whilst 'working' but as I've currently got the bikes huddled into a corner, it's awkward to get at them with any kind of test equipment so, it gives me an easy way to monitor them. Ongoing, should help with knowing when a battery is on it's way out too, and at 1.5mA it shouldn't drain the battery too quickly and if it does, at least I'll know.
Doesn't need to be on the battery, could be anywhere on the bike. Actually, at the moment the one on my 916 is plugged into the charging/12v port on a lead as, where the bike is sitting I can't get the fairing off without moving loads of stuff and I can't be arsed to do it yet.
