Need advice on Xantrex Battery Monitor purchase....-gctid381067

[Guest]

I'm pulling the trigger on my first upgrade, and want a cost effective battery monitoring system. What do you guys think of this system and is there anything else I need to buy with it?

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_11151_10001_46288_-1?cid=chanintel_google&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=46288

[2850Bounty]

Mike, will this be the LINK Pro.... or the LINK-lite?

I'd first ask myself if there will be a Freedom series Inv/Chgr in my future.

Double check this, but I seem to recall that the LINK-lite does not offer the full function Freedom interface that the LINK-Pro does.... if that would be important to you.

None-the-less, it will come with the necessary Shunt Resistor.

The single Shunt allows an AH calculation for one bank only.

The second bank reading will be voltage only.

Some have trouble understanding the installation of the Shunt, so see the Vault thread if you have any questions on this.

I believe that you will need to buy the correct wire for the shunt to head unit interface.

You will like having the AH monitoring ability.

[JimMc]

I have the Link lite monitoring our house bank and am very happy with it.

The Link lite calls for twisted pair cable between the shunt and monitor. I used Cat 5e which is twisted pair cable but solid not stranded and not tinned between the shunt and the monitor. I know it was cheating but I have tons of it and the cable gives me spare pairs I can use as a backup. It has worked fine for the last two years.

Shop around as West Marine is high on price, big suprise.

[Guest]

But WM will price match to the cheapest you can find on the net which is $238 compared to the $269 they want. Best part IMHO is no worries about returns to WM and you still got the best price available!

Just my 2 cents on the purchase part, no experience with the monitor

[2850Bounty]

If the LINK-lite will do the trick... here's one for $200.

[Guest]

I have the Link 1000 from Xantrex. It works great, and I rely heavily on it. I went with Xantrex because I already had a Xantrex inverter and wanted the remote control features that come with the Link 1000.

But note that there are many competitors, and some are less money. Search for Trimetric, DOC Wattson, Victron, CruzPro, Clipper Marine Instruments, and Magnum Energy. There are pros and cons to each. If I were installing a whole new system from scratch, I think I'd go with Magnum Energy.

[2850Bounty]

Xantrex 25' 18AWG 4 Twisted Pair Link Wire

[Guest]

I have this and really like it. I'd recommend buying their install kit, it just has everything you need ready to go. Not cheap, but made the install really simple.

Also there are lots of better places to get it than WM. Check out northeastmarineelectronics.com and defender.com, etc.

[Guest]

What you guys keep missing is that WM will match the price of anyone AND you don't have to pay shipping (thereby making it cheaper than company X) AND you will have no problems returning it should something go wrong. Now, if a WM is not near you, that's another story, but I believe there is one near most of us who own boats. I do not work for them but have found no better price/return/no hassle place to buy from. Just my opinion.

[dmcb]

If you are going to get an Xantrex charger/inverter in the future you might buy the Link 1000 right now. It is a combo remote for the charger (which you need) and the Link lite.

This is the install kit.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gray-Xantrex-854-2021-01-Connection-Kit-For-Linklite-Linkpro-/230790856436?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item35bc34fef4&vxp=mtr

[Guest]

What you guys keep missing is that WM will match the price of anyone

What you keep missing is that many of us don't want to support a company who will screw us until we force them to stop. I'll give my business to the company with the right price, and reward their behavior, not the one who only does what they are forced to.

[JimMc]

WM Now only price matches other retail stores. My local west marine will not price match internet only stores.t

[dmcb]

SwampNut wrote:
What you keep missing is that many of us don't want to support a company who will screw us until we force them to stop. I'll give my business to the company with the right price, and reward their behavior, not the one who only does what they are forced to.

A big plus 1

[Guest]

WM Now only price matches other retail stores. My local west marine will not price match internet only stores.

Their national corporate policy is to also match internet stores. I've seen Amazon and Defender specifically mentioned. I did have them price match Amazon once when it was something I needed urgently for a trip that day, or cancel the trip. $140 WM price, matched Amazon's $95 price. And what really kills me is that Amazon is really not a discounter. They just have reasonable prices, never the lowest, but great service.

[dmcb]

Here is West Marine price match policy.

http://www.westmarine.com/wcsstore/MadisonsStorefrontAssetStore/LightBox/SC_LowPrice.htm?placeValuesBefore

I will say this about West Marine. If you have a problem with the local store not treating you right, contact the main office.

They will make it right and it will be the store manager of the problem store that does it.

He/she will actually beg you to allow them to make it right after you contact their boss.

Been there, done that on 2 or 3 occasions and it was amazing the response I got.

Like Camping World on the RV side of life, they are damn expensive and I like to keep the people in business that keep the prices low. If you just use them to get a better price form West Marine, they will not be in business to give you the good price.

Doug