Battery Help

[gpa]

Hi every one! I have a new tt with 2 type 24 batteries. Is there a plug in meter that I can plug into my 12 plug in the tt that will give me an idea of what the voltage is? They are not hooked up in series ( don't know what its called).
Also what should the voltage be when I need to charge them?

Thanks

2015 Flagstaff T12rb

[GearHd6]

Search "Cigarette Lighter Volt Meter" on Amazon.

[boondocking]

They are not "deep cycle batteries" so you don't want to let them go below 12.3v before re- charging.

[Vinnie]

Have 2 12v batteries installed in parallel Dealer installed battery switch to select either battery 1 or battery 2 or no battery but if they are wired in parallel and the system sees the battery bank as one battery how would the switch select an individual battery?

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by Vinnie

Have 2 12v batteries installed in parallel Dealer installed battery switch to select either battery 1 or battery 2 or no battery but if they are wired in parallel and the system sees the battery bank as one battery how would the switch select an individual battery?

The system sees them as one bank if you select "ALL" on your battery switch, otherwise your system will see them as individual batteries. They are in parallel only through the switch when set to "ALL."

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by GearHd6

Search "Cigarette Lighter Volt Meter" on Amazon.

Volt meters always draw some power from the battery they are checking. Never leave one connected permanently or you will discharge the battery over time.

Battery monitor systems like the Trimetric have a selection (when cycled through) to shut off the voltmeter function.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

The system sees them as one bank if you select "ALL" on your battery switch, otherwise your system will see them as individual batteries. They are in parallel only through the switch when set to "ALL."

This way of connecting batteries (using a 3 way switch) makes sense in a boat where the second battery is your "spare".

The way most RVs use their batteries is as one "bank" of cells. Using a 1-2-ALL-OFF switch where 1 and 2 are individual battery supplies, insures that those batteries will never be matched again as one will always be in better health than the other. Better to actually wire them as below and just use the 1 (or 2) connection and save the other terminal for your eventual "solar" connection!

Keeping both batteries wired "as one battery" keeps them charged and discharged as one.

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

This way of connecting batteries (using a 3 way switch) makes sense in a boat where the second battery is your "spare".

The way most RVs use their batteries is as one "bank" of cells. Using a 1-2-ALL-OFF switch where 1 and 2 are individual battery supplies, insures that those batteries will never be matched again as one will always be in better health than the other. Better to actually wire them as below and just use the 1 (or 2) connection and save the other terminal for your eventual "solar" connection!

Keeping both batteries wired "as one battery" keeps them charged and discharged as one.

I totally agree. I didn't recommend the switch, he the OP said that they already had one! I was just explaining how it worked.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

I totally agree. I didn't recommend the switch, he the OP said that they already had one! I was just explaining how it worked.

Thanks Scott. I use a 1-2-all switch myself and use mine just as I said; solar on position 1.

[Vinnie]

I might invest in a Solar panel but figure if I need to dry camp will attach alligator clips from solar panel with controller directly to batteries with the selector switch on all batteries to charge them equally when in parallel. thank you to all for the great knowledge on this forum.

[Skyliner]

If charging my batteries on a generator, I prefer to charge them individually and prefer having a selector switch to do so. I've never had a problem with equalization using a triple rate charger on each individual bank.

I actually will have 3 banks of batteries this Spring and like having a backup "just in case" battery bank. Although I have solar we camp mostly in the trees and we have to run the generator a bit each day. Anyone who has had a generator or all of your gasoline stolen from your dry campsite can attest to a ruined camp trip due to running out of power. A third bank would give us at least another 2 days worth of camping or enough time before we need to move into an area with more sun.

We now store our generator in the trailer when we leave the site to hike or explore. Our gas containers are usually now chained to a tree in a site nearby not clearly visible from our camper.

Having our first generator stolen a while ago was a blessing because it gave us the opportunity to invest in a quieter inverter generator.

[Flybob]

You don't mention technology, just battery size. Most likely they are the standard dual purpose type batteries that are supplied as OEM on TT. They are not really designed to be discharged too deeply.
See Chart below. Best to charge around 75% but not less that 50%. You can discharge further, but these levels will extend battery life. There are not deep cycle batteries.

Average Open circuit voltage Approximate state-of-charge specific gravity 2V 6V 8V 12V 100% 1.265 2.1 6.32 8.43 12.65 75% 1.225 2.08 6.22 8. 30 12.45 50% 1.19 2.04 6.12 8.16 12.24 25% 1.155 2.01 6.03 8.04 12.06 0% 1.12 1.98 5.95 7.72 11.89

Originally Posted by gpa

Hi every one! I have a new tt with 2 type 24 batteries. Is there a plug in meter that I can plug into my 12 plug in the tt that will give me an idea of what the voltage is? They are not hooked up in series ( don't know what its called).
Also what should the voltage be when I need to charge them?

Thanks

2015 Flagstaff T12rb

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by TonyD

If charging my batteries on a generator, I prefer to charge them individually and prefer having a selector switch to do so. I've never had a problem with equalization using a triple rate charger on each individual bank.

I actually will have 3 banks of batteries this Spring and like having a backup "just in case" battery bank. Although I have solar we camp mostly in the trees and we have to run the generator a bit each day. Anyone who has had a generator or all of your gasoline stolen from your dry campsite can attest to a ruined camp trip due to running out of power. A third bank would give us at least another 2 days worth of camping or enough time before we need to move into an area with more sun.

We now store our generator in the trailer when we leave the site to hike or explore. Our gas containers are usually now chained to a tree in a site nearby not clearly visible from our camper.

Having our first generator stolen a while ago was a blessing because it gave us the opportunity to invest in a quieter inverter generator.

It's really a shame that we have to deal with thieves. I'm afraid to own too nice of a generator for that reason. Solar panels, maybe in the future but not ready other than portable possibly, but they'll probably steal those also.

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by gpa

Hi every one! I have a new tt with 2 type 24 batteries. Is there a plug in meter that I can plug into my 12 plug in the tt that will give me an idea of what the voltage is? They are not hooked up in series ( don't know what its called).
Also what should the voltage be when I need to charge them?

Thanks

2015 Flagstaff T12rb

Ebay has a whole bunch of plug in meters, USB etc..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-24V-Digi...IAAOSw7FRWX53k

12 volt lighter socket | eBay