Forum Discussion

Gjac's avatar
Gjac
Explorer III
Jul 20, 2013

Checking Battery SOC

I have 2 6v batteries that are not on slide out trays so for 8 years I have been checking with a volt meter. I wired the pos and neg with 2 wires that I can easily check from inside the MH. I have no room to fit my temp compensating bulb hydrometer to check above the batteries so I bought a WM short floating needle type which is only 6 ins long that I could fit in above the batteries. Which I use on occasion which always read 1.300 when the volt meter read 12.7v. I decided to test it with distilled water last week and it still read 1.300. I post this for others that have no room for a real hydrometer reading. Has anyone figured out a way to take readings without removing the batteries?

11 Replies

Show More
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Jul 20, 2013
    Of course the best sure way is to use the hydrometer method. I however use this chart to get me in the ballpark of the battery state of charge when I am camping off the power grid. It of course is approximate but served me well over the past few years of re-charging my batteries when they hit 12.0VDC back up to at least 90% SOC. I can do around 12-14 daily runs of these 50% to 90% charge states and them I must do a full 100% state of charge to keep from doing damage to the batteries...

    My 255AH capacity of Batteries are just now dropping off in performance since installed in 2008.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,367 PostsLatest Activity: Mar 10, 2026