12 volt capacity

thunderstruck · 03-20-2018, 07:58 PM

Does anyone know of a gauge I can install that will show the condition of 12 volt system better then the 3 red dots

raspivey · 03-20-2018, 08:05 PM

Just about anything, lol. Depends on how accurate you want to be or how critical it is to you. I just use a cheap multimeter and check voltage once or twice a day when it's been sitting for a few hours with nothing on. You can go the opposite way and install one of these

TriMetric Model Descriptions - Bogart Engineering

or somewhere in the middle of the price range. Many people get some sort of clamp on meter.

boondocking · 03-20-2018, 08:06 PM

One of these will work well for you. I have this monitor in my trailer and am quite pleased with it.

raspivey · 03-20-2018, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boondocking

One of these will work well for you. I have this monitor in my trailer and am quite pleased with it.

I may go with one of those myself. It's not so critical for me to really watch it, but I do go dry for a few days a year where I've got to watch power. Beats sticking a meter on a battery in the cold and wet.

clarkbre · 03-20-2018, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boondocking

One of these will work well for you. I have this monitor in my trailer and am quite pleased with it.

This is interesting. Are you able to see Amps used or just amps currently being used?

How is it wired into your trailer to take an overall measurement?

**ependydad** · 03-20-2018, 08:22 PM

When I upgraded my batteries, I knew I wanted a good look at the state of charge, voltage, and amp hours used. This gives me everything I need and has a handy app on my phone that talks to it via Bluetooth.

http://learntorv.com/victron-battery-monitor/

boondocking · 03-20-2018, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarkbre

This is interesting. Are you able to see Amps used or just amps currently being used?

How is it wired into your trailer to take an overall measurement?

Amps used, present amp usage, voltage, state of charge plus other readings.

It is wired in with a shunt. Comes with the install instructions.

Kimber45 · 03-20-2018, 09:09 PM

The factory meters are worthless. Yesterday my batteries were so dead the landing gear would not work but the meter read full.

joeuncool · 03-21-2018, 09:16 AM

I used a less than $20 volt meter and the volts to % chart. This works much better than the 4 lights. Granted I had to pop the cover off the battery box to test the battery once or twice a day but it only takes a minute and is no big deal.

That being said, I think I finally found the interior one I am going to install this year. Tracks everything from amps in and out to total amps used and more. It's expensive but I like the features.

http://amzn.to/2uc5CzM

acadianbob · 03-26-2018, 10:23 AM

The Victron 700 is a very nice unit and relatively easy to install.

HOWEVER, I wound up with a big disappointment. Installed it in our new Wildcat to monitor the batteries (when dry camping) because of the residential refrigerator (est. 7 amp draw) that uses an inverter when not hooked to shore power. Got the Victron installed, started the inverter to read the refrigerator draw on the batteries; NO CHANGE.

Further investigation showed me that the inverter has a whole separate circuit off of the batteries (that I hadn't really noticed). Therefore, the Victron does not measure the draw on the batteries for the inverter.

I know, I kinda hijacked the thread but thought the OP's question had been answered.
Big disappointment.

Anyone got any ideas how to get around this issue? I'll say that the inverter battery connections are a lot larger diameter wire.

wahoonc · 03-26-2018, 10:35 AM

I use a cheap plug in gauge in the 12 volt outlet by the television. Gives me a quick read of what is going on. I also have a SOC table taped to the wall right by the outlet. Eventually I plan to spring for the Victron with the bluetooth.

Aaron

Skyliner · 03-26-2018, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoonc

I use a cheap plug in gauge in the 12 volt outlet by the television. Gives me a quick read of what is going on. I also have a SOC table taped to the wall right by the outlet. Eventually I plan to spring for the Victron with the bluetooth.

Aaron

Using voltage as a measure of battery charge requires that ANY load on them be removed for at least 4 hours for battery to reach equilibrium. At that point voltage is a fairly accurate representation of state of charge.

Although I'm a firm believer of using a Trimetric or Victron battery monitor for folks who are fairly dedicated dry campers, for $88 (almost 1/2 the cost of the monitor plus shunt plus wiring and time install) you can get a 2 stroke harbor freight generator that puts out 800 watts to top off your batteries for a couple of hours each day. The generator isn't that noisy and I barely hear it running when I'm inside the camper. A 20 feet extension cord would make the generator noise virtually non-existent.

boondocking · 03-27-2018, 12:13 AM

I wouldn't say 91 db is not very noisy, that is annoyingly loud.
That would be like listening to an old gas lawn mower (90 db) operating for a couple hours every day. No Thank You!

**bikendan** · 03-27-2018, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyliner

you can get a 2 stroke harbor freight generator that puts out 800 watts to top off your batteries for a couple of hours each day. The generator isn't that noisy and I barely hear it running when I'm inside the camper. A 20 feet extension cord would make the generator noise virtually non-existent.

Yea, but how loud is it to the campers next to you?

acadianbob · 03-27-2018, 07:26 AM

Yes, I tried using a voltmeter and it didn't help much at all . . . .

pgandw · 03-27-2018, 05:43 PM

I find a $7 digital voltmeter (from Amazon) does everything I want it to. I put in a permanent installation near the door with a switch. I turn on the switch to glance at the system voltage, and then turn it off.

The current draws of my little A-frame are small enough (3.7A for the heater fan) that the voltages are a reasonable approximation of battery state. And when plugged in, the meter shows what mode the converter is in. Without a generator or solar to mess readings up, the voltmeter is good enough.

batteries: 2 GC-2 232AH Interstate batteries from Costco ($150 for the pair in 2016)
2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan

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