In my camper van my amp gauge has started to read higher than normal.Where it used to read at the half way point it is now reading between 1/2 and 3/4. Thinking it was a bad voltage regulator in the alternator I decided to change the alternator. No good, it still reads too high. I do have a battery isolator under the hood but don't know if that has anything to do with it. Leaving for Florida next week and don't want this to turn into a major problem. The starting battery seem fine in cold starting , not sure about house batteries. HELP

The start battery may be ok... And we know its not the alternator... Maybe the house battery on its way out.Only when the car is running does it try to charge the house battery...Check the voltage of the house battery in the morning after car sat for awhile. Or do a hydrometer test of the cells.An easy way would be disconnect the house battery and see if the issue goes away..

Check with a multi-meter @ the alternator, could be just a gauge going bad. JMHO

I did disconnect the cable from the isolator to the house batteries but there was no change.

Borrow or buyA clamp on DC amp meterCheck the amps going to the engine battery and the house batteryVoltage checks tell you nothing, unless the voltage is to highAnd is over charging the batteriesYou have a bad batteryUnless the dash guage are going wonkyOr the starter circuits are going out and have developed a sticky contact, which will eventually burn something out

Amp gauge? I think it is more apt to be a voltmeter.I would use a volt meter on the alternator side of the isolator, and then check each of the outputs.What kind of reading is the dash gauge showing?

Dashboard Amp gauge reading high. | Good Sam Community

enblethen
Nomad
Feb 13, 2018
Amp gauge? I think it is more apt to be a voltmeter.
I would use a volt meter on the alternator side of the isolator, and then check each of the outputs.
What kind of reading is the dash gauge showing?
MrWizard
Moderator
Feb 12, 2018
Borrow or buy
A clamp on DC amp meter
Check the amps going to the engine battery and the house battery

Voltage checks tell you nothing, unless the voltage is to high
And is over charging the batteries
You have a bad battery
Unless the dash guage are going wonky
Or the starter circuits are going out and have developed a sticky contact, which will eventually burn something out
thriftydutch
Explorer
Feb 12, 2018
I did disconnect the cable from the isolator to the house batteries but there was no change.
Itchey_Feet
Explorer
Feb 12, 2018
Check with a multi-meter @ the alternator, could be just a gauge going bad. JMHO
lawrosa
Explorer
Feb 12, 2018
The start battery may be ok... And we know its not the alternator... Maybe the house battery on its way out.

Only when the car is running does it try to charge the house battery...

Check the voltage of the house battery in the morning after car sat for awhile. Or do a hydrometer test of the cells.

An easy way would be disconnect the house battery and see if the issue goes away..

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Dashboard Amp gauge reading high.

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