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03-07-2018, 11:26 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: TEMECULA
Posts: 34
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Battery Meter - How to Calculate
Hi,
I have a new Cougar 25RES 5w and wanted to ask the seasoned pros her about how to know the % left in my battery.
There are the 4 idiot lights on the control panel, but I don't believe them.
I am looking to know when I am at 50% levels of my battery, for good maintenance.
Is there a calculation by looking at the voltage with multi-meter? Or do I just need to get a better digital gauge?
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03-08-2018, 02:18 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,345
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__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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03-08-2018, 06:43 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 24
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The idiot lights are aptly named. You can measure the voltage at the batteries when they are not under any load or use a hygrometer to measure specific gravity.
Or, if you really want an accurate measure, get and install a TM-2030.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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03-08-2018, 06:46 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
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The "four idiot lights" for the battery condition is probably the most accurate measurement on that panel. That said, what does 2 lights really mean??? Hard to tell objectively, so I installed a voltmeter panel above the stereo in our Cougar so I can get an accurate voltage reading by turning on a switch. The switch is just to the right of the panel and when turned on, powers all three devices. There is a "cigarette lighter socket", a USB plug and the volt meter. The switch must be turned on to power any of the devices and during use, I can monitor the battery voltage. For my purposes, this allows us to power the TV (with a plug in inverter) and monitor how much battery power is remaining during the entire time we're watching TV. Same with recharging devices using the USB connections. The switch also gives us the ability to remove the volt meter drain (even though it is a very small drain smaller than the propane monitor, stereo backlight, etc).
If I were you, rather than dig out a multimeter, walk out to the tongue (or battery box) to measure remaining voltage, I'd suggest considering installation of a device similar to this.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-08-2018, 07:52 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Bragg Creek
Posts: 636
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I like that install John.
__________________
2016 Bullet 1800RB, UVW 3260, led by a 2005 Chev Silverado Z-71 1500, Crew Cab, 5.3L, 4WD, Tow & Off Road Package with 4.10 Rear Axle, GVR 7000 lbs, Front GWAR 3925 lbs & Rear GWAR 4000 lbs., Payload 1600 lbs., Hellwig 6012 Air Bags. 97' Honda Goldwing GL1500.
Home Base is the Alberta Foothills at 4300 ' ASL.
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03-08-2018, 09:06 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: TEMECULA
Posts: 34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
The "four idiot lights" for the battery condition is probably the most accurate measurement on that panel. That said, what does 2 lights really mean??? Hard to tell objectively, so I installed a voltmeter panel above the stereo in our Cougar so I can get an accurate voltage reading by turning on a switch. The switch is just to the right of the panel and when turned on, powers all three devices. There is a "cigarette lighter socket", a USB plug and the volt meter. The switch must be turned on to power any of the devices and during use, I can monitor the battery voltage. For my purposes, this allows us to power the TV (with a plug in inverter) and monitor how much battery power is remaining during the entire time we're watching TV. Same with recharging devices using the USB connections. The switch also gives us the ability to remove the volt meter drain (even though it is a very small drain smaller than the propane monitor, stereo backlight, etc).
If I were you, rather than dig out a multimeter, walk out to the tongue (or battery box) to measure remaining voltage, I'd suggest considering installation of a device similar to this.
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I really like this too. Simple install gives you the same control over the main worries.
Simple and smart.
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03-08-2018, 01:42 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texarkana, TX
Posts: 1,052
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Voltage is OK. There are "more advanced" power control systems (hundreds of dollars) that actually monitor the charge/discharge of the battery in terms of amp hours and you setup specifically for your battery type.... If you want a true %, you have to do it this way.
John's way is next best and WAAAY cheaper. Not to mention much easier to install.
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03-08-2018, 03:28 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Bainbridge NY
Posts: 214
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I bought 2 of these use 1 in truck and 1 in camper ,mounted it over inverter,
pics of inverter before I put in meter
cheap buy 2 easy install
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-Digital...UAAOSwEFNZnPe9
added small rocker switch from radio shack a buck or two
__________________
2017 Keystone 1750rd
2006 Hummer H3
1968 Oldsmobile 442
1983 Honda CX650C
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03-08-2018, 03:42 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Lisbon
Posts: 551
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fourfourto
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I installed one of those little meters on my control panel. Going to add an inverter similar to what you did by the power panel. Easy access to the battery supply there to hook up the inverter.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
__________________
2018 Keystone Cougar 22RBS
2020 Ford F-350 XLT SC SRW 6.7l Powerstroke.
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03-08-2018, 03:59 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Bainbridge NY
Posts: 214
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nice set up mines just a 300 watt portable one I installed, good enough for 19 inch tv and dvd.
I use a flat plugged 3 foot extension cord with a 3 plug end to reach up where outlet is .
I don't dry camp much , usually for overnight at casino or rest area
__________________
2017 Keystone 1750rd
2006 Hummer H3
1968 Oldsmobile 442
1983 Honda CX650C
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03-08-2018, 06:19 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
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If you're looking for something that's about as easy to use as it could possibly get, you can always just get one of these, plug it into the 12 volt socket on your TV antenna booster. I used one similar to this in my boat before I bought a GPS/sonar system with a "real" voltmeter built in. It's somewhere in the bottom of a tackle box, I think....
https://www.amazon.com/Zeltauto-Ciga...cket+voltmeter
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-09-2018, 05:51 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,752
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I used this voltmeter https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's waterproof so I installed it into the front of the battery box, and a battery disconnect on the lid. When I go to hitch up in storage the battery state is easily seen and when setting up I can see when the ems kicks in and the converter is charging.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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