A low-cost way to monitor battery levels

Because we cruisers have to rely on trolling motors on Lake Harriet, and have no way to plug into 'shore power', battery level and condition is a constant issue for us. I've always wanted an easy way to monitor battery condition, but have never seen a good, inexpensive, reliable way to do it.
Then I came across this device. The Equus 3721 plugs into a lighter plug on the boat. It shows current battery/charge voltage, and a bar graph that represents the charge level of the battery. Not bad! Amazingly, Amazon sells these things for a little over 12 dollars. I have planned on getting a more expensive panel mount monitor, but I've also just placed an order for one of these. You can find them on Amazon HERE. You can also read more about using solar panels to maintain your battery HERE.

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