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Jerry_Amerson1's avatar
Jul 23, 2015

Battery level indicator showing good all the time

I have another question concerning when the batteries are low on charge, there is a switch that shows battery level in that bank of switches below the Microwave, and even today before I started recharging the batteries I checked it and there are three lights, Red, Yellow, and Green. They were all still on and my understanding was that I should have only been seeing the Red one at this stage of discharge. Am I wrong about that or is that sensor bad.
Thanks again

Jake
  • j-d wrote:
    You "started recharging." What's that mean? When our coach is plugged into shore tie, the Converter/Charger will apply charge voltage to the batteries and the meter will show "Good." If shore tie is unplugged, and generator not running, then the "meter" (a group of LED's, like yours) will show less than Full/Good if the battery isn't fully charged. To find out if the battery's actually "up" I have to disconnect 120VAC power to the Converter/Charger. And that's still according to a Less-Than-Accurate "Meter."


    Good Point.

    Are you attempting to read the monitor panel while the coach is plugged into shore power ?

    What about when you are not connected ? That is the information you really need to know. Either way, the the little gadget I mentioned above is better than the panel by far.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    You "started recharging." What's that mean? When our coach is plugged into shore tie, the Converter/Charger will apply charge voltage to the batteries and the meter will show "Good." If shore tie is unplugged, and generator not running, then the "meter" (a group of LED's, like yours) will show less than Full/Good if the battery isn't fully charged. To find out if the battery's actually "up" I have to disconnect 120VAC power to the Converter/Charger. And that's still according to a Less-Than-Accurate "Meter."
  • Yes as above volt meter is most accurate. My meter tells me ball park idea but not to be counted on as gospel.
  • Do you see yourself doing any amount of boondocking or adding more batteries or solar?
  • The battery monitor is useless.

    At minimum, get something like THIS & plug into any available 12 volt outlet. This one can also be used to charge your cell phones, etc.
  • Jake,

    Most of those "idiot lights" are just that.

    A digital voltmeter is really the only way to go-- you are working with a total of 1/2 volt between fully charged and 50% discharged. Analog gauges and idiot lights are really not of much value.