Doclocke
Washington
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The battery status display in our motorhome leaves a lot to be desired, and I've found through experience that I can't trust it when it comes to knowing if the shore cord needs to be attached during winter storage.
I'd like to install a small dial that would be be directly wired to the battery terminals, with an on/off switch to prevent the meter itself from using juice when I don't need it.
Have any of you guys done something like that? If so, where did you find the meter?
Thanks for any suggestions.
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Moving-on
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There are all sorts of things floating around eBay. I believe I'm going to use one of the victron bmv series. But I'm here for better suggestions as well..
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agesilaus
North Florida
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Look at the AiLi monitor on Amazon
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KMLsquared
Cotati CA
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I have installed a BM2 from ebay. No local display but it is bluetooth to your phone. You can check you voltage from bed and it has data logging that allows you to see your voltage on a graph.
This past weekend I knew from bed that my batteries had died at 3 am for some reason. That reason turned out to be low water.
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Boon Docker
Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
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Monitor with on/off switch.
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DrewE
Vermont
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Lots of digital panel meters are available at Amazon, etc. One of those plus a switch would work (though without the needle, of course).
Here is a nice looking analog gauge for battery voltage, with an appropriately sensitive range. I don't think it would be great for your purposes, though, in as much as any converter would peg it on the high side. When operating off of battery power it would be fine; maybe have a momentary pushbutton switch to connect it in under those circumstances. (No numbers on the scale, unfortunately.)
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time2roll
Southern California
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Basic LCD meter will use less power than the battery self discharges.
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theoldwizard1
SE MI
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Victron Battery Monitor. Several different models, some with Bluetooth. Not cheap, but probably the best one out there.
* This post was
edited 02/10/21 08:23am by theoldwizard1 *
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BarabooBob
Baraboo, WI
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I use a digital voltmeter that I plug into a cigarette style outlet that I installed just inside the door of the TT. I can also use that socket to charge cameras, flashlights, anything that needs a 12 volt outlet. Cost me about $15 total and multipurpose.
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mbopp
Henrietta, NY, USA
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time2roll wrote:Basic LCD meter will use less power than the battery self discharges.
Yes, my 3-1/2 digit panel voltmeter draws 9ma (.009A). It's hard wired, no switch.
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