battery

CORRECTIONS/CLARIFICATIONs: A fully charged battery should read around 13.6 volts when being charged by the converter/charger. When at rest for some time ,with no loads, at may read around 12.6 volts . With engine running, should read around 14 volts. Tip: Make sure that the aux ( house) battery switch is in "on" position so that converter is charging your house battery(s). In the "off" position, you will read around 13 volts, in the "on" position you should read around 14 volts. You will need to leave the aux/house battery switch in "off" position to keep alarms, etc. from slowly draining your house battery when parked/un-driven and not connected to 110volt "shore power" for extended periods of time. Running the generator charges house batteries slowly. Keep checking electrolyte levels and add distilled water to keep levels above plates. Low levels will shorten useful house battery life which is around 4 years(!) with proper charging and maintenance. Good fully charged house batteries should, in theory, provide power for lights. etc. for up to 3 day/night camping. Furnace blowers can nearly drain house batteries in one night. A day's driving should fully recharge house batteries from the truck's alternator. The converter charger takes longer than truck's alternator to recharge house batteries when connected to shore power or running the generator. Basic RV house battery systems are the "weak link" in RV camping and need regular attention including cleaning of terminal connections. (Sorry if I confused anybody.)