Forum Discussion
- _1nobbyExplorerThanks, Westend.
I'm just happy that I cleared up the confusion.
That hand held voltmeter has now been recycled. - westendExplorer
When this gauge shows 100% it is with 13.7 Volts.
At 84% it is when the batteries are at 12.6.
I am going to keep an eye on the meter and create a table of sorts so that I know when the batteries hit 12V.
I also have another volt meter that I might install....it shows the actual volts.
If I had to keep watching that meter and be continually puzzled/PO'd, it would be replaced with a voltage meter that read in V, not percent.
I have two big, switched, Simpson analog meters that I can tell at a glance from 10' that voltages are correct.
Since I installed a Victron battery minder with AH meter, I mostly use that but it only measures the 12V system. I'm starting to understand that TT electrical systems are complicated, even if you build them yourself.
Just wait until you start considering solar, it gets another whole level of considerations beyond voltage measurement. The good news is that you have two excellent batteries to start with. Those Crown's will serve you well. - _1nobbyExplorer
#1nobby wrote:
When this gauge shows 100% it is with 13.7 Volts.
At 84% it is when the batteries are at 12.6.
I am going to keep an eye on the meter and create a table of sorts so that I know when the batteries hit 12V.
I also have another volt meter that I might install....it shows the actual volts. - bartlettjExplorerBattery voltages are also temperature and battery terminal type dependent, so the best way to check the state of charge of the battery would be to measure the specific gravity of each cell. That is not load dependent.
- _1nobbyExplorerI think I found the problem.....and it had nothing to do with the trailer. :)
- _1nobbyExplorer
westend wrote:
I looked on the Crown website and your Crown batteries should be charged at 14.5 V
Absorption stage and 13.5 V at the float stage.
I actually think that everything is ok.....except, perhaps, my hand held volt meter. One of my cars has a new battery......it's resting voltage, according to my voltmeter, is 12.23.
So......
I'm going to retrieve my Fluke meter on Friday from my tool box at job #2 and do a comparison. - westendExplorerI looked on the Crown website and your Crown batteries should be charged at 14.5 V
Absorption stage and 13.5 V at the float stage.
I'd say your Parallax charger is not doing the job. You want to make sure that all connections are clean and adequate wire size is installed between converter and batteries. If you have a different battery charger, use that to charge batteries to confirm the Parallax is a dud.
IMO, there are a couple of different roads to take with new batteries and an ancient converter. FWIW, what I did was install a solar panel and I rely on that for charging the batteries, primarily. My old converter is used only when the sun doesn't shine for days and I need some voltage to get me by. The advantage of solar is that it is working every day and the programmable charge controller does a better job of charging than I can with all manner of 120V chargers. My rig is always ready to go, fully charged. For reference, I have two banks of batteries, 2 X 6V and 3 X AGM 12 V. On the roof is one 235 W module. I do have a generator but haven't used it. For Winter storage, the Module is tilted and snow melts off in a day or two. No worries and no battery carrying is necessary.
An alternative is to buy a new converter, making sure you can get it up to 14.5 + volts for those new batteries.
Nobby, you're getting a fast education and the price isn't bad. Most RV'ers would have their trailer at the dealer's shop and be paying up the a** for repairs, waiting patiently in line for months to use their rig. Don't get shook, you're almost there. - _1nobbyExplorer
Lspangler wrote:
More than likely you have a WFCO charger
I have the Parallax 7100.....if that makes a difference. - _1nobbyExplorer
proxim2020 wrote:
If you're confident that voltmeter is accurate then I would trust it. Since you're measuring 12.13 volts with a surface charge then that's a good sign that something is amiss with the battery. I wouldn't trust the trailer gauge at all. It probably reads anything over 12v as full by design. The percentage meter seems to be off by quite a bit as well. 12.13v would put you a little over 50% capacity.
Well....good question about my volt meter. It is a cheaper version. My Fluke is in my tool box at job #2.....I'll have to wait to go get that as I am in between contracts and the location is a*s.
For fun, I checked my car that also has a new 12V battery on board.
It hasn't run in 2 days and my meter says that it is at 12.23V.
So....maybe that meter should be booted through the uprights. - Community AlumniIf you're confident that voltmeter is accurate then I would trust it. Since you're measuring 12.13 volts with a surface charge then that's a good sign that something is amiss with the battery. I wouldn't trust the trailer gauge at all. It probably reads anything over 12v as full by design. The percentage meter seems to be off by quite a bit as well. 12.13v would put you a little over 50% capacity.
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