Alternator Current Gage

[terry.etapa]

I have a 2025 R31. I would like to know how to view alternator current output. It seems it can’t be set as an option in either the Volvo gage, or the Garmin.

 

[Full_O_Fish]

Generally speaking the Volvo system does not monitor current output of the alternator, only the voltage output and thereby the Garmin cannot receive that data either as the Volvo gateway can only share what it has.

Across Ocean systems and maretron make ac/dc clamp style ammeter sensors which connect to the nmea2000 backbone and can be configured to display as "Alternator Current". Just clamp it around the cable from the alternator to the battery and plug into the network backbone that's it (data would be viewable on Garmin but not Volvo as their gateway is not bi-directional).

Other brands have shunt style monitors which require cutting of the cable or fabrication additional jumper cables, and pose a small risk in the event of failure, but they do work well. Oceanic systems and Victron would be good examples.

If you already have existing Victron infrastructure such as a cerbo connected to your nmea2000 and/or Garmin Marine network(s) then their smartshunt is by far the quickest and cheapest way to add alternator current monitoring to your system.

 

[Chimo]

I’m just wondering why you want to know? The current coming from the alternator gets used in a number of ways but the input to charge the batteries seems the most important to me. The Victron shunt gives me that information on my phone, including history.

 

[terry.etapa]

Generally speaking the Volvo system does not monitor current output of the alternator, only the voltage output and thereby the Garmin cannot receive that data either as the Volvo gateway can only share what it has.

Across Ocean systems and maretron make ac/dc clamp style ammeter sensors which connect to the nmea2000 backbone and can be configured to display as "Alternator Current". Just clamp it around the cable from the alternator to the battery and plug into the network backbone that's it (data would be viewable on Garmin but not Volvo as their gateway is not bi-directional).

Other brands have shunt style monitors which require cutting of the cable or fabrication additional jumper cables, and pose a small risk in the event of failure, but they do work well. Oceanic systems and Victron would be good examples.

If you already have existing Victron infrastructure such as a cerbo connected to your nmea2000 and/or Garmin Marine network(s) then their smartshunt is by far the quickest and cheapest way to add alternator current monitoring to your system.

Thanks. That explains the message the Volvo panel gives when you select current.