How can you tell if the house batteries are being charged?

[Iggy]

How can you be sure the house batteries are being charged while hooked up to shore power or generator?
Other than the led lights on the control panel you really don't know if the charger is charging the batteries or not until lights go dim.

2nd question
While driving does the engine alternator charge the house batteries or just shore power and generator?

[Herk7769]

The easiest way is with a volt meter. Anything over 12.7 volts is charging.

The "charging" (top) Idiot Light will be lit anytime the batery voltage is over 12.7 volts. You "should" be getting more like 13 -14 volts when the alternator or generator is running.

[donn]

Better is to go on Ebay and buy one of the 5 dollar Chinese digital volt meters.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by herk7769

The easiest way is with a volt meter. Anything over 12.7 volts is charging.

The "charging" (top) Idiot Light will be lit anytime the batery voltage is over 12.7 volts. You "should" be getting more like 13 -14 volts when the alternator or generator is running.

Originally Posted by donn

Better is to go on Ebay and buy one of the 5 dollar Chinese digital volt meters.

Thanks but I knew I could check with my $200 meter but was wondering if anyone else had a good idea to monitor the charger.

Thanks

[Herk7769]

I really like my TM-2025RV monitor.

Voltage, amps and percent capacity remaining displayed real time.
Fairly inexpensive too.