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12-12-2018, 09:41 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 40
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Anyone installed a volt gauge in their pup
I just bought a small mictunning volt gauge thats a inch and 1/8 size gauge.. claims not much draw from the battery..
Now I am trying to figure out where to put it and where to run the wires up to the battery or do I just run them to the fuse block on the circuit panel where the breakers are ...anyways I thiught it would be nice to see where my battery is at during dry dock camping ...
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12-12-2018, 09:51 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
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Shortest lead you can is best.
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12-12-2018, 10:10 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VinceU
Shortest lead you can is best.
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Ok Thanks
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12-12-2018, 11:11 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 63
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I have one in mine. I bought a three space unit that has the voltmeter, dual USB charger, and a 12 volt outlet. Very handy. I have a high wall unit and mounted it next to the converter. I put mine on the circuit block with the lights since it’s a 15 amp fuse and all the lights are LED’s. Max draw I measured was 5 amps with everything in that circuit on, so there was plenty of room left for what I added.
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12-12-2018, 11:25 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IonicBrick
I have one in mine. I bought a three space unit that has the voltmeter, dual USB charger, and a 12 volt outlet. Very handy. I have a high wall unit and mounted it next to the converter. I put mine on the circuit block with the lights since it’s a 15 amp fuse and all the lights are LED’s. Max draw I measured was 5 amps with everything in that circuit on, so there was plenty of room left for what I added.
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Thats a great idea also..Thanks for your input
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12-12-2018, 11:28 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Bow WA
Posts: 769
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I have a difference RV - surveyor. But I put new meter next to the various switches at the door. I lifted out the switch panel to find the wires, then cut a new hole for the switch. You will find that you will look at the gauge often; for example, when in storage.
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Ram 2500 diesel / Surveyor 251rks
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12-13-2018, 06:13 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 291
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Mine
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12-13-2018, 08:41 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2rad4u
Mine
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I have the same gauge and didnt think about putting it in the battery cover..Great idea..
I kinda want it inside but dam that would be so easy I may just do it that way.
Thank you ..
I love this site
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12-13-2018, 03:42 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Millcreek UT
Posts: 341
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What happens in wet weather.
While the battery place is a logical place to put the Voltmeter, I wonder how it will hold up to rain, road spray, car washes, and snow.
Mine is a model that is mounted on a cigarette/power plug so I just plug it into an outlet inside. When the trailer is not being used, I just unplug it.
__________________
2018 Rockwood 2509S Mini Lite
Past: 1984 Road Ranger 20', 1988 Kit Companion
1984 Starcraft 24 foot popup
TV: 1999 Dodge 2500 Cummins 4x4
Honda EU2200i Generator, 300 Watts Solar
Ham Callsign KD7UM
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12-13-2018, 05:22 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,083
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It doesn't really matter where you tap your 12V because the meter draws so little current.
I installed a $7 digital voltmeter (Amazon) on my A-frame by the entrance door on the microwave cabinet. I tapped into the stereo power wires. I installed a power switch each for the voltmeter and stereo while I was at it.
The voltmeter switch proved essential because the LEDs were too bright for sleeping at night. I only wanted to check the voltage once or twice a day while camping.
Putting a switch into the stereo power leads eliminated a signficant parasitic battery draw. Car stereos (which FR uses) have 2 power leads - one runs through the ignition switch relay, and the other direct to battery in a car/truck. The direct to battery backs up the stereo memory and presets, and is always on. Without an ignition switch relay in the other lead, I found the stereo would turn itself completely on whenever there was a voltage change - plugging/unplugging the camper, turning the tow vehicle on/off, etc. I could hear the speakers "pop". By putting the stereo switch in, I can completely turn off the stereo. However when I do turn the stereo on, all settings go to factory default. I can live with that.
When the camper is plugged in, the voltmeter reads the converter output. From this, I can tell which charge mode the converter is in. When the A-frame is not plugged in, I read the battery voltage for an approximate state of charge.
hope this helps
Fred W
then: 2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame
now: 2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time
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12-13-2018, 06:31 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 291
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The red switch turns mine on and off so I have zero draw.
The switch and voltmeter are waterproof.
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12-13-2018, 09:15 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 40
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Thanks Fred .. good points
__________________
2007 Rockwood pup #2280
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Ok can we go camping now..
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12-14-2018, 03:52 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,445
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If you boondock a lot, I'll suggest going solar.
With that comes a number of great features, including the fact that the charge controller will give you lots of info. On my HW-277, I bought a sprinkler controller box and mounted the charge controller outside in the weather-proof box, right next to the battery. I just open the door to view the controller display.
My solar kit.
Box. This is an illustration...not the precise box. They come in various sizes.
It also required some weatherproof wire "glands" to go into the box and I added an air vent for the box.
I did this because space is at a premium in a PUP, placing the charge controller on the front wall where one climbs into the bed would make it vulnerable, and I used some of that space for a 400 watt inverter.
Have two batteries, or live where it's "gray"? Add more panels. The charge controller will handle up to 4. My panel is permanently mounted on the roof of the PUP...in sunny Colorado, that's the way to do it. No muss, no fuss. Elsewhere, you might want to have a portable panel so you can point it at the sun. Not worth the trouble here.
__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
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12-14-2018, 05:11 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Posts: 504
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12-14-2018, 10:54 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VinceU
Shortest lead you can is best.
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The length of the lead doesn't matter at all.
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12-14-2018, 11:37 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 40
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Ok thanks
__________________
2007 Rockwood pup #2280
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Ok can we go camping now..
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12-15-2018, 09:56 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Appleton, WI
Posts: 44
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You can buy battery cases with a gauge built in. I have one on my Christmas list for my group 27 batt. $40.
__________________
Flagstaff 625D
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12-15-2018, 10:26 AM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 40
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Thanks ..
I kinda want it inside ..
I guess I am an electronic junkie..
I just bought a inside and outside thermometer that lights up blue ..
__________________
2007 Rockwood pup #2280
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Ok can we go camping now..
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12-15-2018, 10:30 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffnick
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Thats a neat setup jeff..
__________________
2007 Rockwood pup #2280
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Ok can we go camping now..
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12-15-2018, 11:21 AM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
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I just went to Ebay and bought a digital dc voltage display. I added a push on push off switch next to it.
It draws practically nill but I shut it off at night because it's in my line of sight when I'm in bed.
Total cost ~ $5
I just tied in into a hot wire in a switch panel where my slides and awning switches are located.
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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