Free Battery Monitor (sort of)

[CAJW]

A recent post regarding use of a battery monitor voltage meter, prompted me to post my experiences. If you are already an Escort Radar Detector owner, you don't need to buy one, you already have one. Some folks don't know their Escort Passport Radar Detector has an audio low voltage alert at 10.5 volts, plus a high voltage warning at 16.5 volts. When we park for the night, I just move the detector from the truck to the 12v outlet in the camper and know the voltage exactly, instead of having to rely on a led system that drops in increments of thirds, but no voltage figures.
Escort Radar Detector Comparison chart

As a side note, the RD is really for entertainment value when driving the camper as I don't feel the drop in fuel mileage is worth the risk of moving faster than the speed limit. Also this thread was not started to debate the merits of the use of a RD, but rather full utilization of said unit if you already have one. No, I'm not affiliated with Escort Radar, but have used their products for over 10 years and feel it's a valuable product.

[dakonthemountai]

My Trimetric meter also monitors the charge and voltage, but it does not have an audible alarm to let you know if it drops. I think that was the issue in the other thread..

Dak

[Bedlam]

My Pioneer AVIC as well as my Scan Gauge II monitors battery/input voltage in my TV. When in my TC, the dual batteries are sufficient for overnight use even when the heater is running with longer and more frequent duty cycles in the winter. Only once have I had to start up the TV to be able to crank the genset and that was because we watched a double feature off the inverter the previous night.

[HandyRandy]

Here is another (nearly) free option. Harbor Freight often gives you a cheapy digital volt meter with a purchase. I simply screwed one of my free ones to the cabinet and attached the leads to my +12V mains. To check the voltage just turn it on and read to the nearest 0.1 Volts.