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02-12-2015, 10:51 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 630
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Added a Volt Meter
Just thought I would post and show my new addition to the MH. Now I can keep track of my batteries.
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Andrew & Donna Reyes 2012 Georgetown 378XL 2015 Ford Taurus & Our Baby Dachshund Cammie
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02-12-2015, 10:56 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,948
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Good idea Andrew.
I also have been watching Ebay for the exact same blue meter.
Is it wired directly top the batteries?
Nice Job.
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02-12-2015, 11:10 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 630
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I connected it to the hot and ground wires for the floor lights, found that those are fused and are connected to battery. When checking with volt meter the reading were identical to what the batteries were showing. Also it has an adjustment so you can set the reading.
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Andrew & Donna Reyes 2012 Georgetown 378XL 2015 Ford Taurus & Our Baby Dachshund Cammie
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02-13-2015, 09:43 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,652
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I'm in line with ramair but also added a momentary press to test so no parasitic battery draw (spliced into awning power) when in storage mode. Very useful when issues arise.
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02-13-2015, 09:52 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Clarksville Va.
Posts: 10,422
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ramair
Just thought I would post and show my new addition to the MH. Now I can keep track of my batteries.
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nice job Ramair..
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Coachmen M/H
Concord
2018 / 300 DSC
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02-13-2015, 09:59 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,948
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbles
I'm in line with ramair but also added a momentary press to test so no parasitic battery draw (spliced into awning power) when in storage mode. Very useful when issues arise.
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Nice job Bubbles with the mounting and momentary button. Smart idea.
Where did you find the backplate?
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02-13-2015, 10:06 AM
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#7
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(Dry Huunday)
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eastern North Carolina
Posts: 2,298
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Great job to both of you!!!
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Beau & Sue
FurKid Express
2015 Coachmen Catalina 303RLS
2016 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD Duramax
The more people I meet, the more I like my dogs!
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02-13-2015, 10:39 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iggy
Nice job Bubbles with the mounting and momentary button. Smart idea.
Where did you find the backplate?
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The back plate is just thin hobby plywood from Hobby Lobby. Cut to size, cut out holes (meter comes with snap in capability on each end) and found the tiny switch at local electrical supply house (drilled all holes to mount). Sprayed panel with several heavy coats of Rust-Oleum hammered black paint. I always install a thin plywood backing plate with 5 minute epoxy to whatever I screw to those thin walls of the MH so the item will stay secure and can be removed and replaced without screwing (no pun) up the holes. Got the meter same as ramair (ebay) but don't remember source. Numerals are green but the source had several colors available. really cheap also. Oh yeah a couple coats polycrylic.
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02-13-2015, 02:54 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 17
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Has anyone thought about installing an amp meter, this will show the draw on the battery and also the charging rate.
I saw one in operation on a sailboat and it was very effictive
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02-13-2015, 03:02 PM
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#10
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Malc
Has anyone thought about installing an amp meter, this will show the draw on the battery and also the charging rate.
I saw one in operation on a sailboat and it was very effictive
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Adding an amp meter can be expensive even buying a cheap China bomb.
A shunt is required in the 100 amp range to be safe.
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02-13-2015, 03:12 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 25
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Hi, I personaly added a little more on my 325RES, and AC volt/amp meter. Nice to monitor current draw in a camp site where they have 30Amp breaker.
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Jean & Lucille
2014 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition
2011 Silverado Duramax 6.6L W/Allison
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02-13-2015, 11:13 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,832
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBS
Adding an amp meter can be expensive even buying a cheap China bomb.
A shunt is required in the 100 amp range to be safe.
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A better idea is a complete battery monitoring system that can actually tell you amps, REAL state of charge, present usage, hours remaining at present usage, parasitic loads, loads for each item used etc.
About $160 includng shunt.
Victronix and Trimetric make them as does Xantrex at a higher price point for the same performance.
Needed if you boondock...not needed if you remain plugged in. Used one on my sailboat off the grid with solar, wind and genny for a number of years. My favorite and most used instrument other than the GPS!
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Cam
2015 Georgetown 280DS
2019 Vespa Primavera 150's (pair)
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02-13-2015, 11:45 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 981
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Another good idea,but not a new one!I had digital ro volt/amp gauges on the Kenworth Camper and on the Merhow LQ horse trailer as well. I just havent decided where to put them on the new one,and its snowing 6" tonight with 45 mph wind,so thats another project for march.
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02-14-2015, 01:14 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 191
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Just another approach with meter, push button & 3 position rotary switch. With wiring going to BCC posts, coach & chassis batteries can be checked under load/no load, charging, converter output etc.
see below for schematic
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02-15-2015, 07:07 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 312
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Malc
Has anyone thought about installing an amp meter, this will show the draw on the battery and also the charging rate.
I saw one in operation on a sailboat and it was very effictive
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Here is a meter that measures amperes both in and out of a battery (battery bank) to the .01 of an ampere. Bogart Engineering TM-2020 TriMetric Meter Battery Monitor I used the 100 amp shunt for our 5th wheel, but a 500 amp shunt is available. I would think 100 amp would be adequate unless you include the starting circuit in a motorhome. The most I ever saw displayed was 60 amp when our converter/charger first started charging 50% depleted batteries (two).
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2013 Flagstaff 8528IKWS, 2006 F-350 6.0L
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02-15-2015, 08:08 AM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,525
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Come on one of you guys- post an ebay link to the digital volt meter!
-never mind- just search for digital voltmeter
Rats! Clicked too soon. I paid a whopping $1.91 and I could have gotten
it for a measly $1.45
note- these are shipped direct from China so will usually take about 4-6 weeks
to arrive via USPS. With any luck it will be warn enough by the time I get it
to actually enjoy being out there tinkering in the trailer.
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