Battery Level Display

uwe · 07-03-2002, 10:15 PM

My battery level display never gets much above the middle section, even with a fully charged battery at 13.6V
I replaced the battery terminals, cleaned the wiring to the Univolt, redid the ground connections, all with no noticable improvements. I pulled the entire control panel down, but couldnot find any loose wires etc.
This is a 1971 Tradewind 25 trailer.
The system seems to work fine, and the battery holds on for a long time, the Univolt charges very well, but the darn meter is obviously off.
Does anyone have the same scenario?
Uwe

niftypkg · 07-04-2002, 10:19 AM

Got the same problem!! The meter doesn't have an adjustment, either. I have a 71' INt. The ampmeter doesn't work either! I found two wires laying near the univolt , both with right angle connectors. Suspect they belong to the ampmeter?? I think we will have to live with it !!

uwe · 07-04-2002, 10:40 AM

Hey Nifty,

I got no extra wires anywhere, and my ampmeter does do the expected song and dance whe I turnon the waterpump or the ceiling fan etc.
Just these other gauges seem sort of useless.
I might install a different monitoring system inthere one of these days, after I figure out the essentials of the Airstream a little better.
Happy 4th!!
Uwe

Inland RV Center, In · 07-04-2002, 12:49 PM

A voltmeter was used in the older models. It is not a true battery condition indicator in that it does not place a load on the battery. It does however, in a relative manner, tell you that
the battery is sort of up, or sort of down.
The ammeter does have a variable shunt that is built into the univolt. If your univolt has a small copper plate in it with a wire connected to a screw, that screw can be moved, which will change the readings of the ammeter.
But again, the purpose of the ammeter, is relative. It does not need to accurately tell you how many amps you are drawing. It's basic purpose is to tell you that you are charging, of sorts, or not.

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com

uwe · 07-04-2002, 07:31 PM

Thanks for the info, Andy.
I can live with this, sort of.
So long that we know if it's doing it's thing, sort of, and that voltage is sort of happening.
Once the lights go dim, we know what's up anyways, no? It's for fun and vacation anyways - I got to keep reminding myself.
Uwe