Monitor saves flat batteries
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by Colin Sowrnan • Power Products is importing a range of devices from the US designed to prevent flat batteries if lights (or other loads) are left on.
Battery Guard and Battery Buddy monitor the state of charge in the batteries, and isolate them before they are discharged to a point where they cannot start the vehicle.
The units are wired into the main battery feed and "memorise" the amount of battery power needed to start the engine against the ambient temperature. Items such as tachographs and alarms are directly wired to the battery.
If the unit trips out the driver will find the vehicle in darkness. Having switched the lights off the unit can be reset and the vehicle started.
Battery Guard has a remote reset button mounted inside the cab with a flashing light to indicate it has tripped out. Twelve and 24V versions are available and it has a direct wire terminal and test button. List price is £135 (ex-VAT). Battery Buddy is cheaper at £90 and has its reset button mounted in the unit which fits next to the batteries. Petrol, diesel and marine versions are available but only for 12V vehicles. A 24V version is expected to be available within two months.
"Fitting Battery Buddy takes about five minutes and is paid for the first time you avoid a call out charge," says Power Protector's George Allen. Both devices are said to prolong battery life by avoiding excessive discharge/charge cycling. A direct feed from the pump (or, with petrol engines, the ignition) prevents the units from isolating the batteries while the engine is running or the hazard warning lights are on.