Forum Discussion

Explorer

Nov 22, 2014

Checking 12V from outside the rig

My RV is parked on a gravel pad next to our house and is plugged into a 30 amp socket to allow the television to be powered on all winter and keep the converter charging the battery. I can see it from my upstairs window but I'm looking down on a Sunshield tarp covering the roof and part of the sides.
But what if something happened and the battery stopped getting charged. It wouldn't take long for the battery to completely discharge and probably be ruined by the freezing weather.
So, is there a snappy way to check on the 12V from my window? Possibly leave a light on that I can see or maybe a fancier method?

14 Replies

BFL13
Explorer II
Nov 22, 2014
If you lose the shore power, the 12v light would still be on for a time on battery. Unlikely that you will lose converter 12v with shore power on.
So leave a 120v light on out there plugged into the RV's outside receptacle.
sch911
Explorer
Nov 22, 2014
Easy: Turn on the porch light. If it goes out you'll know...
RoyB
Explorer II
Nov 22, 2014
You can make a mulitmeter DC measurement across the trailer battery terminals which will read 12.6-7VDC if the battery is fully charged without shore power being plugged in or it will read 13.6VDC if the trailer is plugged into shore power telling you the on-board converter is charging your battery...

Roy Ken
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Nov 22, 2014
How far? It would be cheesy but I'd just extend the leads on a cheap voltmeter into the house. there would probably be voltage drop but you could gauge that to just make sure the battery was staying up. Bt the time you noticed a light not being on, your battery would be dead.