Practical Sailor's gear and boat reviews take the guesswork out of your buying decisions.

Volume 30
Number 7
April 1, 2004

Battery Monitors

We recommend two CruzPro units and the Link 10. For simple amps and voltage data, the Microlog is a smart lower-cost choice.

Top, left to right: The CruzPro VAH-30, the Trimetric 2020, the CruzPro VAH110. Bottom: the Link 10 and the Microlog.

The last time we evaluated battery monitors was in 1998, so we felt it was time to revisit the current field. It was no shock to find that there are some new players, some consolidations, some dropouts, and renaming of old products in the industry—but there have been no great revelations or technological leaps.

One monitor we repeat-tested was the Link 10, now sold under the Xantrex name. It has new features, and reflects some changes in capacity and programmability via software updates, which do not really affect the marine applicability. It's still the standard to beat, however. …

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