WhizBang Jr. + 3rd party monitor

[bldr]

I was planning on using a Whizbang jr with a Classic 150, and was also thinking I needed a second dedicated battery monitor. Does that make sense or does the classic + whizbang jr do everything? I was looking at a victron bvm 7xx series monitor, but I am now wondering if is necessary.

Thoughts?

Thanks

[ClassicCrazy]

I have not looked up that device you listed but you will get most of the information you would want from the Classic and Whizbang . You will want to use the Midnite Local Status app  or Grahams Android Classic Monitoring app ( this one is excellent ).  You can also get a lot of graphed historical information if you have MyMidnite set up - data is sent to Midnite server for that one.  All of those are free .
The Local Status app is the only one that lets you change settings and also back them up for easy restore later after a firmware update that needs to wipe back to factory settings. All the other are just for monitoring.
There are also some opensource monitoring options .
With the Whizbang you can set up SOC state of charge which is a good estimate of remaining battery capacity . With the Whizbang you are also able to see exactly how much power is going into loads and how much is going into the battery .

Larry

[bldr]

Larry, thanks for jumping right in.

The install will be in a zero connectivity environment (boat: no wifi/cell service), would that change the utility of the classic/whizbang setup?

How deep into the display/menu is battery status on the classic?

If there is a lot of digging to get to it, having a standalone battery monitor that is very few buttons might end up being best/simplest.

[ClassicCrazy]

I would suggest you connect your Classic to a wifi router . You should then be able to connect to the local status app on a laptop and Grahams Android app even if you don't have internet .
Either of those is well worth the extra effort for much better display and history .
Most all the info you want for Classic and Whizbang is just a few presses of the status button on the MNGP so that will work for you too . You don't need that extra monitor

Larry

[Resthome]

I would suggest you connect your Classic to a wifi router . You should then be able to connect to the local status app on a laptop and Grahams Android app even if you don't have internet .
Either of those is well worth the extra effort for much better display and history .
Most all the info you want for Classic and Whizbang is just a few presses of the status button on the MNGP so that will work for you too . You don't need that extra monitor

Larry

Yes, on what Larry said.  Just get a wireless router and connect the Classic to it. You could use Graham’s app if you have Android device. I have a laptop to look at local status app and run an android emulator for Graham’s app.

I do have a Link 10 installed also on the helm dash for comparison. Monitors that just monitor battery voltage are not that great IMHO.

[ClassicCrazy]

I would suggest you connect your Classic to a wifi router . You should then be able to connect to the local status app on a laptop and Grahams Android app even if you don't have internet .
Either of those is well worth the extra effort for much better display and history .
Most all the info you want for Classic and Whizbang is just a few presses of the status button on the MNGP so that will work for you too . You don't need that extra monitor

Larry

Yes, on what Larry said.  Just get a wireless router and connect the Classic to it. You could use Graham’s app if you have Android device. I have a laptop to look at local status app and run an android emulator for Graham’s app.

I do have a Link 10 installed also on the helm dash for comparison. Monitors that just monitor battery voltage are not that great IMHO.

John - consider getting an Amazon Kindle Fire 7 tablet and root it . Amazon has them on sale for $30 sometimes . You can wipe out all the amazon stuff and then make it into regular android .  New hack lets you do that https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/development/unlock-fire-t3899860
Takes a bit of geek work but maybe you want the fun challenge of it all .

Larry