|
|
05-23-2017, 09:25 AM
|
#21
|
3 Rivet Member
2016 19' Flying Cloud
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 103
|
To get the true state of discharge you need to remove the load and let the battery sit for awhile. That say 4 hours. So 12.3 V may not be an unreasonable reading. I think you are doing the right thing in getting to know the characteristics of your batteries and monitor by testing them. IMO
|
|
|
05-23-2017, 11:23 AM
|
#22
|
Rivet Master
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Florence
, Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 713
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15
|
Thx, Peter, these were good reads.
__________________
The Colonel and Southern Belle
|
|
|
05-23-2017, 09:12 PM
|
#23
|
4 Rivet Member
1997 25' Safari
Montgomery
, Alabama
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 262
|
Here is a mod from Dick Mansfield's VERMONT BIRDER blog. A solution for the Dometic fridge's lack of a climate control.
http://www.vtbirder.com/power-drain-fixed/
__________________
PAT & AL MEYER
TAC AL-26 WBCCI 2626
Montgomery, Alabama
follow the Two Bikes and an Airstream blog at https://airgo.blogspot.com
|
|
|
05-23-2017, 09:45 PM
|
#24
|
Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,673
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Colonel
Yep, grp 24. I'm running one fan, everything else is off. Been going 6 hrs and v indicator in AS shows 12.3, pretty much since I started this am. Not sure how good A measurement I get from that indicator. Shooting for 8 to 10 hours
|
It sounds like you may be reading the voltage while the fans are running. As ATownTX posted, battery voltage should only be used as an indication of state of charge when there has been no current going into or coming out of the batteries for some time. If you were reading 12.3 at the beginning and it stayed constant during your test it may just be due to the batteries having a load on them.
Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 04:09 AM
|
#25
|
Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ATownTX
To get the true state of discharge you need to remove the load and let the battery sit for awhile. That say 4 hours. So 12.3 V may not be an unreasonable reading. I think you are doing the right thing in getting to know the characteristics of your batteries and monitor by testing them. IMO
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy
It sounds like you may be reading the voltage while the fans are running. As ATownTX posted, battery voltage should only be used as an indication of state of charge when there has been no current going into or coming out of the batteries for some time. If you were reading 12.3 at the beginning and it stayed constant during your test it may just be due to the batteries having a load on them.
Al
|
Good points. Before checking the specific gravity, I would disconnect from shore power for a similar 4 hour period with the Use/Store switch on Store. Check the specific gravity of each battery cell, then put the Use switch back on, and check the battery voltage readout on the panel.
An improved report of battery condition will then be possible.
Cheers,
Peter
PS -- Just a reminder that only distilled water should go into the batteries, wear safety goggles and gloves when working on them, and wait another 4 hours to check SG if you add water.
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 04:38 AM
|
#26
|
.-. -...
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake
, ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,837
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Colonel
...Suppose to go BD this fall. ...
|
What is BD?
__________________
Ray B.
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 05:40 AM
|
#28
|
Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by twobikes
|
Thanks for the link, which shows helpful photos FYI, about disabling the 12-volt feed for the climate control with an inline quick-connect crimp fitting.
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 06:14 AM
|
#29
|
Registered User
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Fairfield
, California
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 905
|
BD is boondocking.
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 07:29 AM
|
#30
|
Rivet Master
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Florence
, Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 713
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15
Good points. Before checking the specific gravity, I would disconnect from shore power for a similar 4 hour period with the Use/Store switch on Store. Check the specific gravity of each battery cell, then put the Use switch back on, and check the battery voltage readout on the panel.
An improved report of battery condition will then be possible.
Cheers,
Peter
PS -- Just a reminder that only distilled water should go into the batteries, wear safety goggles and gloves when working on them, and wait another 4 hours to check SG if you add water.
|
Thx, I'll do that is soon as I go get a hydrometer
__________________
The Colonel and Southern Belle
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 07:36 AM
|
#31
|
PianoTech
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Lansdale
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 32
|
Good post. Thanks for the battery data. Question - if one watches tv via the pure sine wave inverter will the total load mean a dead couple of batteries in the AM?
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 09:03 AM
|
#32
|
3 Rivet Member
2016 19' Flying Cloud
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 103
|
As an example.
Your Television is 120 Watts (maybe), which is 1 Amp at 120 V.
Through the inverter it's pulling 10 Amps from the 12 V batteries. (10 A x 12 V = 120 Watts). There are some losses there, too, through the inverter but, for the simplicity, lets go with 10 Amps.
So, over 8 hrs you would use about 50% of the capacity of your Interstate batteries, which is fine. You would need to account for other 12 V items too. e.g., fans, lights, etc.
A good AC/DC clamp meter comes in handy to monitor your system.
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 09:29 AM
|
#33
|
Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,656
|
Through all of this I'm thinking, "Why not run the tow vehicle every so often to charge batteries or the generator?"
BD does not mean you're on the Moon.
Maybe it's challenging to know every bit of minutia about batteries.
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 10:32 AM
|
#34
|
PianoTech
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Lansdale
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 32
|
Thanks! I'm getting a generator after this chat.
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 12:33 PM
|
#35
|
Rivet Master
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Florence
, Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 713
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Colonel
Thx, I'll do that is soon as I go get a hydrometer
|
Ok, pretty much did that, forgot to put in store. V at batteries was 12.92, V at inside indicator read 13.5. All cells but one at post end read 1.3, one cell read1.28~. I topped off with distilled water and put power on after a few hours I'll check the different cell again, but don't think there is too much of a problem right now. I sure hate dealing with acid.
__________________
The Colonel and Southern Belle
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 01:08 PM
|
#36
|
Rivet Master
1955 22' Safari
Laredo
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,342
|
Agm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Colonel
Ok, pretty much did that, forgot to put in store. V at batteries was 12.92, V at inside indicator read 13.5. All cells but one at post end read 1.3, one cell read1.28~. I topped off with distilled water and put power on after a few hours I'll check the different cell again, but don't think there is too much of a problem right now. I sure hate dealing with acid.
|
One of the many advantages of AGM...
|
|
|
05-24-2017, 01:45 PM
|
#37
|
Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Colonel
Ok, pretty much did that, forgot to put in store. V at batteries was 12.92, V at inside indicator read 13.5. All cells but one at post end read 1.3, one cell read1.28~. I topped off with distilled water and put power on after a few hours I'll check the different cell again, but don't think there is too much of a problem right now. I sure hate dealing with acid.
|
Thanks for the update. Be sure to wait an hour after you disconnect from the shore power, to measure the battery voltage. Before this waiting period you can get false high readings.
Have a great trip!
Peter
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|