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  1. #1
    Fireside Member wileyAZ46's Avatar
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    AiLi Battery Monitor from Amazon

    I elected to save some money and install the sub $40 AiLi Battery Monitor from Amazon (Chinese) vs the Victron or other more expensive options. I had to extend the 2m cable that came with it, using a 26/4 shielded cable that seemed to match up quite well with the factory cable. Other than that, the install was quite straight forward.

    When I powered the unit on and set my battery parameters (also straightforward), the display continues to blink and indicate a positive amperage as if it is charging. There is a plus sign on the display to also indicate a charging condition. My solar charger nor converter are currently connected so there is no way positive amperage could be seen by the battery/monitor. In addition, the displayed amperage is alternating between ~1.4A and 2.8A (both positive). There seems to be a problem...

    I verified the shunt connections to the battery and chassis are correct. The only thing I can think of is that my splicing of the cable (twice) has a bad connection. Each location has five gel style crimps...one for each of the four 26ga conductors and one for the stranded shield. Perhaps I wasn’t supposed to splice the shielded strands together? I basically took the strands from each cable and spun them into “wires” and used the gel crimp to tie them together. Is that how to splice stranded shielded cable like that?

    I tried to contact the seller thru Amazon but they are in China so who knows. I thought maybe someone on here has had a similar experience? Or my splicing is bad?


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    John and Jessica - Plus 3 Kids...2 Cats...2 Dogs
    Tucson, AZ - Sabino Creek

    2019 Imagine 2800BH
    Towing with 2018 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost 4x4 Super Crew

  2. #2
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    Is there a twist mismatch?
    Most network wires use twisted pairs. The pairs must maintain as similar a twist direction an rate as possible.
    Rick

    2019 Reflection 150 273MK
    2015 Ford F350 CC SB Lariat Powerstroke
    PullRite Superglide

  3. #3
    Fireside Member wileyAZ46's Avatar
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    AiLi Battery Monitor from Amazon

    Quote Originally Posted by RickLight View Post
    Is there a twist mismatch?
    Most network wires use twisted pairs. The pairs must maintain as similar a twist direction an rate as possible.
    That’s what I’m confused about. The cable I used (CBAZY 2547 26 AWG Control Cable... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LVBTFF...p_mob_ap_share) doesn’t have twisted pairs. It has the same 4x 26ga main conductors as the factory cable, plus a foil cover and a stranded bare shield that wraps around the entire group of 4 conductors. I gathered the shield strands and twisted them into a bare wire, which I crimped to the other cable’s stranded shield wire that I did the same thing to. This shield (ground) seems to terminate in the center pin of the 5-pin JST connector.

    I’m confused how I could’ve done it any other way?


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    John and Jessica - Plus 3 Kids...2 Cats...2 Dogs
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    2019 Imagine 2800BH
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  4. #4
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    So double check the original for pairs.

    I'd also quintuple check the joints. Those tiny wires are very hard to work with!
    Rick

    2019 Reflection 150 273MK
    2015 Ford F350 CC SB Lariat Powerstroke
    PullRite Superglide

  5. #5
    Fireside Member wileyAZ46's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RickLight View Post
    So double check the original for pairs.

    I'd also quintuple check the joints. Those tiny wires are very hard to work with!
    That’s my plan, thanks Rick!


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    John and Jessica - Plus 3 Kids...2 Cats...2 Dogs
    Tucson, AZ - Sabino Creek

    2019 Imagine 2800BH
    Towing with 2018 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost 4x4 Super Crew

  6. #6
    Site Sponsor
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    Keep us posted. I also have this but did not extend. I have mine mounted near the ground control panel.
    Jim and Belinda H. Pa.

    2018 337RLS- 2nd ac, dual pane windows, table and chairs, Kodiak disc brakes 12-28-17 (Thanks Ed!)
    720w solar, 100/50 Victron scc


  7. #7
    Seasoned Camper Clanker24's Avatar
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    U can buy a longer cable on amazon. Have read in comments on YouTube videos that people have lengthened their cable using cat5 or cat6 cable. I am going to do that and if it doesn’t work I’ll order a longer cable. I am using the wire connectors that have the solder in them
    John & Joanne
    2018 Solitude 374TH
    2018 GMC 3500HD Duramax CC DRW
    2001 Harley Ultra Classic

  8. #8
    Fireside Member wileyAZ46's Avatar
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    I got it working! I redid all of the gel crimps for the extension cable. Must’ve been a bad connection.

    Is 0.25A a typical parasitic draw? With battery disconnect set to off, only draws 0.003A, presumably the battery monitor display. When I turn on the battery, jumps to 0.25A with no lights or other obvious draws.


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    Tucson, AZ - Sabino Creek

    2019 Imagine 2800BH
    Towing with 2018 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost 4x4 Super Crew

  9. #9
    Seasoned Camper Clanker24's Avatar
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    Did you connect all 5 wires.
    John & Joanne
    2018 Solitude 374TH
    2018 GMC 3500HD Duramax CC DRW
    2001 Harley Ultra Classic

  10. #10
    Fireside Member wileyAZ46's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Clanker24 View Post
    Did you connect all 5 wires.
    I did. Here’s a few pics of how I handled the stranded shield wire. I pulled back the heat shrink cover on the factory wire and they did the same thing...spinning the bare strands into a “wire” which is the center pin on the 5-pin JST connector. Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Adjustments.jpg 
Views:	20 
Size:	93.7 KB 
ID:	25511


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    John and Jessica - Plus 3 Kids...2 Cats...2 Dogs
    Tucson, AZ - Sabino Creek

    2019 Imagine 2800BH
    Towing with 2018 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost 4x4 Super Crew

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