Charging Amps engine alternator vs Generator
After spending 3 days dry camping in my Class C at Yosemite, I fired up my generator to defrost some bagels in the microwave. I have a Xantrex Battery Monitor and noticed I was down about 65 amps for...
Forum Discussion
Sagecoachdriver,
Your measurements all seem about normal. Your new house batteries, fully charged should be around 12.7. Your used chassis battery might measure a bit less. Don't trust those indicator lights, they're only good for a night light. If you want to see voltage at a glance, replace the indicators with an inexpensive meter.
If your rig is set up like most RV's, you'll always have some parasitic draws from radios, circuit boards on appliances, and alarms.
If you wish to have totally accurate battery SOC measurements, the hydrometer will be the best tool. It's better to establish a base line SOC using the hydrometer so that reference in the future can be made accurately. Different batteries will have a different baseline specific gravity but most are close.
Your measurements all seem about normal. Your new house batteries, fully charged should be around 12.7. Your used chassis battery might measure a bit less. Don't trust those indicator lights, they're only good for a night light. If you want to see voltage at a glance, replace the indicators with an inexpensive meter.
If your rig is set up like most RV's, you'll always have some parasitic draws from radios, circuit boards on appliances, and alarms.
If you wish to have totally accurate battery SOC measurements, the hydrometer will be the best tool. It's better to establish a base line SOC using the hydrometer so that reference in the future can be made accurately. Different batteries will have a different baseline specific gravity but most are close.
