Battery Bug DCM-12 Deep Cycle Battery Monitor Support

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The whole BB display is flashing and an alarm is sounding continuously.

Cause: The BB-DCM has determined that the battery or battery pack to which it has been attached is larger than the capacity limit of the BB-DCM. The BB-DCM12-100 is designed for 12V batteries up to approximately 100Ah in size. The BB-DCM12-300 is designed for 12V batteries up to approximately 300Ah in size. For monitoring larger batteries or packs please contact Argus sales.

Solution: If the battery is believed to be within the size range of the BB-DCM, reset the BB-DCM by depressing the <reset> button on the back of the BB-DCM.  If the battery is too large for the BB-DCM, install the next larger size BB-DCM.

Why does the entire display flash and the monitor beep continuously after the boot up period?

The BB-DCM has determined that the battery is larger than the capability of the monitor.  Install a BB-DCM designed for a larger battery.  More <link to T6>

Does the BB-DCM need to be installed directly to the battery or can it be installed away from the battery where there is a 12V connection?

The BB-DCM must be installed directly to the battery terminals, and failure to do so will cause the BB-DCM to operate incorrectly.  If the battery is located in an inconvenient location, audible alarms will inform you that further investigation is necessary.

Can the BB-DCM12 be installed on a 24V system?

Yes, if the 24V system is composed of two 12V batteries.  The BB-DCM12 must be installed accross only one 12V battery. Installation accross 24V will permanently damage the monitor.  The correct installation on a 24V system is to connect one BB-DCM12 to one battery.

Can the wires of the BB-DCM12 be extended to mount the display remote from the batteries?

No.  The wire lengths are specific to the design of the product.  Modifying the BB in any way can cause it to function incorrectly or not at all.

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The battery is new, but the BB-DCM12 indicates that battery health below 100%. How can the battery lose battery health so quickly?

Cause: Batteries begin to lose capacity as soon as they are manufactured. A new battery may be two or three months old before it is first used and may have lost some capacity compared to its new value.
Solution: Erase the memory values by depressing the "reset button" on the back of the BB-DCM.

Cause: The Battery Bug microprocessor may be using stored memory values of a different battery.
Solution: Erase the memory values by depressing the "reset button" on the back of the BB-DCM.

Cause: The battery is now operating in a colder environment than earlier when the BB-DCM was newly installed. A cold battery has a lower effective capacity than a warm battery. It is normal for the battery health to decrease and increase somewhat as the temperature drops and rises.
Solution: The battery will return to normal health level after the temperature returns to the normal level.

The BB-DCM is beeping a few times every two minutes. What does this mean?

Cause: The BB-DCM has determined that the battery is in a low state of charge. If the charge level drops below 50%, the BB-DCM will turn on the 'low battery icon' and beep every two minutes.
Solution: Charge the battery immediately to avoid permanent battery damage.

Why is the BB indicating to replace the battery but the battery is still working?

Cause: The BB-DCM has determined that maximum stored energy has decayed to nearly 50% of its original usable capacity and is near end of life. The battery will appear to charge normally but the running time under load will be significantly shortened. Expect an accelerating rate of decay in battery performance.
Solution: Replace the battery and install the BB-DCM on the new battery.

Cause: The battery is operating in a very cold environment compared to when BB-DCM was first installed, and the BB-DCM has detected a significant decrease in effective capacity. A very cold battery will have a significantly decreased capacity compared to when the battery is warm. Under most conditions the BB-DCM can distinguish decreases in capacity due to cold temperatures and will not indicate a low battery health as a result of low temperature. A 'temperature icon' will be indicated on the display if the BB believes the measured capacity is the result of cold temperatures.
Solution: The capacity should return to normal levels when battery temperature becomes normal.

The whole BB display is flashing and an alarm is sounding continuously.

Cause: The BB-DCM has determined that the battery or battery pack to which it has been attached is larger than the capacity limit of the BB-DCM. The BB-DCM12-100 is designed for 12V batteries up to approximately 100Ah in size. The BB-DCM12-300 is designed for 12V batteries up to approximately 300Ah in size. For monitoring larger batteries or packs please contact Argus sales.

Solution: If the battery is believed to be within the size range of the BB-DCM, reset the BB-DCM by depressing the <reset> button on the back of the BB-DCM.  If the battery is too large for the BB-DCM, install the next larger size BB-DCM.

What is the purpose of the single bar on right side of the 'fan display'?

The bar on the far right of the display indicates the present capacity of the battery if it is fully charged.  The distance between the single bar and the far right of the display represents amount of battery capacity decay compared to the largest amount of energy the battery has stored in the past.  Over a period of months or years of use, the far right bar of the display will slowly move to the left representing the continuing decay of the battery.  When the rightmost bar reaches approximately the center of the fan display the BB-DCM will indicate to replace the battery.

What does the 'half full' battery icon mean?

The BB has determined that the battery charge level is low and the battery should be charged.

What is the meaning of the numerical value followed by 'MHO'?

MHO is the inverse of the DC internal resistance value of the battery.  It is the most fundamental characteristic measured by the BB-DCM.  It is the absolute measurement of the ability of the battery to deliver energy at the moment of the most recent test.  This value can be compared to the MHO value of another battery to understand relative performance of multiple batteries in a series pack.

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The display has some indications but they do not make any sense.

Cause: The microprocessor in the BB needs to be reset.

Solution: Reset the BB by removing one BB lead from the battery and re-attaching it.

The battery is new, but the BB-DCM12 indicates that battery health below 100%. How can the battery lose battery health so quickly?

Cause: Batteries begin to lose capacity as soon as they are manufactured. A new battery may be two or three months old before it is first used and may have lost some capacity compared to its new value.
Solution: Erase the memory values by depressing the "reset button" on the back of the BB-DCM.

Cause: The Battery Bug microprocessor may be using stored memory values of a different battery.
Solution: Erase the memory values by depressing the "reset button" on the back of the BB-DCM.

Cause: The battery is now operating in a colder environment than earlier when the BB-DCM was newly installed. A cold battery has a lower effective capacity than a warm battery. It is normal for the battery health to decrease and increase somewhat as the temperature drops and rises.
Solution: The battery will return to normal health level after the temperature returns to the normal level.

The BB-DCM is beeping a few times every two minutes. What does this mean?

Cause: The BB-DCM has determined that the battery is in a low state of charge. If the charge level drops below 50%, the BB-DCM will turn on the 'low battery icon' and beep every two minutes.
Solution: Charge the battery immediately to avoid permanent battery damage.

Why is the BB indicating to replace the battery but the battery is still working?

Cause: The BB-DCM has determined that maximum stored energy has decayed to nearly 50% of its original usable capacity and is near end of life. The battery will appear to charge normally but the running time under load will be significantly shortened. Expect an accelerating rate of decay in battery performance.
Solution: Replace the battery and install the BB-DCM on the new battery.

Cause: The battery is operating in a very cold environment compared to when BB-DCM was first installed, and the BB-DCM has detected a significant decrease in effective capacity. A very cold battery will have a significantly decreased capacity compared to when the battery is warm. Under most conditions the BB-DCM can distinguish decreases in capacity due to cold temperatures and will not indicate a low battery health as a result of low temperature. A 'temperature icon' will be indicated on the display if the BB believes the measured capacity is the result of cold temperatures.
Solution: The capacity should return to normal levels when battery temperature becomes normal.

The whole BB display is flashing and an alarm is sounding continuously.

Cause: The BB-DCM has determined that the battery or battery pack to which it has been attached is larger than the capacity limit of the BB-DCM. The BB-DCM12-100 is designed for 12V batteries up to approximately 100Ah in size. The BB-DCM12-300 is designed for 12V batteries up to approximately 300Ah in size. For monitoring larger batteries or packs please contact Argus sales.

Solution: If the battery is believed to be within the size range of the BB-DCM, reset the BB-DCM by depressing the <reset> button on the back of the BB-DCM.  If the battery is too large for the BB-DCM, install the next larger size BB-DCM.

The display is blank.

Cause: The BB has been installed with the leads reversed.
Solution: Reverse the red and black leads of the BB to match the polarity of he battery.

Cause: The microprocessor in the BB needs to be reset.
Solution: Remove one BB lead from the battery, wait 5 seconds and re-attach it to the battery.

Cause: The battery is completely discharged.
Solution: Fully charge the battery. Remove and re-attach one BB lead to reset the Battery Bug microprocessor.

Cause: The Battery Bug has an internal failure.
Solution: Replace the Battery Bug.