Recommendation for amp/hour monitors?
(I searched the archive for the term "amp/hour monitor" and came up completely empty -- am I asking the wrong question?? But there are quite a few for sale out there, so this item does exist. Please...
Forum Discussion
Dan,
I don't have an amp-hour meter in our rig, but I do have a meter that I consider as more basic - but about as valuable. I have a permanently mounted ammeter in our RV ... in addition to a permanently mounted voltmeter.
I monitor the voltmeter for a pretty good estimate of the state of charge of the batteries. I monitor the ammeter to indicate how much amperage every appliance is drawing to make improvements or for maintenance, plus I check the ammeter periodically when charging the batteries to indicate when they're fully charged. The ammeter shows near zero amps flowing when the battery bank is fully charged. The two meters together make up a very simple system for me to keep track of our RV battery bank's condition.
Since the highest priority appliance draw-down situation to keep an eye when drycamping on is the propane furnace's battery draw-down, during the furnace's OFF cycle I check the voltmeter after the short "rebound" of battery voltage back to a steady state reading. When these readings are kindof average around 2 volts, I begin to recharge with the generator or idling main engine's alternator.
I don't have an amp-hour meter in our rig, but I do have a meter that I consider as more basic - but about as valuable. I have a permanently mounted ammeter in our RV ... in addition to a permanently mounted voltmeter.
I monitor the voltmeter for a pretty good estimate of the state of charge of the batteries. I monitor the ammeter to indicate how much amperage every appliance is drawing to make improvements or for maintenance, plus I check the ammeter periodically when charging the batteries to indicate when they're fully charged. The ammeter shows near zero amps flowing when the battery bank is fully charged. The two meters together make up a very simple system for me to keep track of our RV battery bank's condition.
Since the highest priority appliance draw-down situation to keep an eye when drycamping on is the propane furnace's battery draw-down, during the furnace's OFF cycle I check the voltmeter after the short "rebound" of battery voltage back to a steady state reading. When these readings are kindof average around 2 volts, I begin to recharge with the generator or idling main engine's alternator.
