Battery Bug Enables Up to the Minute Battery Monitoring

At the recent SEMA show in the US, battery tester and monitor manufacturer Argus Analyzers released its latest product, a unit the company refers to as a ‘clear, digital window into battery health’. Called the Battery Bug, the deep cycle monitor (DCM) enables a constant monitoring of batteries with results immediately visible to users. Argus Analyzers reports that use of the Battery Bug can extend battery life while also providing peace of mind.

The most common contributor to shortened battery lifespan is chronic undercharging, where a battery is repeatedly used but not fully recharged. Significant loss of battery capacity and shortened battery life are the cumulative effects of chronic undercharging. Used properly, says the company, the Battery Bug DCM series can greatly extend battery life by providing alerts of chronic charging problems and improve the user’s battery maintenance program by providing accurate charge level and battery life information.

The Battery Bug DCM series uses Large Pulse Resistance (LPR) technology, a newly patented technology that measures the battery’s internal resistance – a means of measurement the company states is widely accepted as the most accurate indicator of battery health. This proprietary technology tracks the battery’s deterioration over time and alerts the user when the battery needs to be replaced. As a result, the battery’s lifespan is no longer uncertain. Users are able to use the battery to the end of its service life without risk of failure. The Battery Bug is, says Argus Analyzers, the only battery monitor that communicates percentage remaining battery life, lost capacity, and battery charge level.

Designed for 20-300AmpHour Deep Cycle batteries in 12V-48V applications, the Battery Bug offers battery monitoring solutions for off-road vehicles, boats, R/Vs, custom car audio and emergency vehicles. “There has always been a tremendous market need for a simple, accurate state-of-charge/state-of-life meter for deep cycle batteries, but the technology has never existed to deliver reliable answers at a reasonable price,” said Andrew Kallfelz, Argus Analyzers CEO. “We’ve taken the test from a $600 professional battery tester and shrunk it down to matchbook size and provided the information to the user – once a minute – for under $100.”

The Battery Bug measures two-inches square, mounts directly on the battery, and is waterproof to IP-X5 standards. Once connected to a fully charged battery, it self-calibrates for the battery’s size and begins displaying data.

Battery capacity is measured every 60 seconds and the battery’s real-time charge level is displayed. The result, says the company, is independent of battery voltage or electrical load – a quality unique to this technology. The Battery Bug’s LCD display incorporates a “fuel gauge” that indicates present battery capacity and charge level, with specific indicators for “recharge battery” and “replace battery”. These indicators illuminate and audible alarms sound when the battery’s state of charge drops to critical levels, over/undercharge conditions exist or the battery is approaching end-of-life. A numerical display cycles between volts, MHO (a measure of capacity), and the percent charge remaining.

A resettable memory allows the Battery Bug to be removed and re-installed on the same battery without losing important battery history information. When the battery is eventually replaced, the Battery Bug can be installed on the new battery and reset by pushing a hidden button.

All Battery Bug models are available at Argus Analyzer’s batterybug.com website and at a growing number of automotive, marine, RV and battery dealers. The Argus line of Battery Bug monitors is now available and shipping in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.