Monitors and Metering
Proper monitoring of a Stand Alone Power System (SPS) should not be overlooked. Typically you will want to know how much power is coming into the system from its charging sources and the state of charge of the battery bank at any point in time. A third and equally important value is how much power the system’s loads are using.
Common meters report current flow or battery state of charge (voltage) at a single point in time - the present. This type of metering is termed instantaneous. These devices are relatively inexpensive and can give a general idea of what is happening.
Cumulative type monitors usually include instantaneous information but also record power over time allowing you to see how much power was generated and consumed yesterday, last month, or last year.