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Subject Topic: volt / amp meter...can`t be right? Post Reply Post New Topic
06/7/2014 at 11:34pm
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View paul2727uk's Profile View Profile   Reply to paul2727uk Reply   Quote paul2727uk Quote  
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Not sure if I am getting the correct battery voltage state,

Any reason why I would have 12.8v starting power running
running the Tv and satelite for an hour
Then it dropped to 11.9v
Turned it off and the voltmeter has gone up to 12.4v , surely my battery wouldnt charge in the dark, is my tester wired properly?


07/7/2014 at 12:27am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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The only way to find out is to test the battery with a multi-meter at intervals and see if the reading is identical to that of the battery condition gauge or not. It probably is reading right as the voltage can sometimes fluctuate especially after appliances have been switched off as the battery seems to regenerate a little energy.


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07/7/2014 at 12:40am
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The no load voltage is always higher than when it is being discharged.

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Bernie


07/7/2014 at 7:37am
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Just woke up and it's back to 12.9, I have a 140w solar panel,didn't think it would charge that quick, yeah suppose I'll have to buy a handheld and check.


07/7/2014 at 7:36pm
 Location: North Lincs
 Outfit: Self Build PVC
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Your battery does not look healthy though as a level of 11.9 is a total discharge. To drop from 12.8 which is fully charged to totally discharged in 1 hour is indicative of a battery on it's last legs.

Mike


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07/7/2014 at 10:13pm
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: Dreamer(Rapido) D.55 select Plus
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Agree with Mike!
Your battery may be on it's last legs!

Also may be helpful to temp. disconnect your solar panel from battery to simplify testing.

Further notes: If I run TV and lights etc for 1 hour on our 100Ah aux battery it wouldn't drop more than say 0.2 volts in 1 hour. (Also not good to let aux battery drop below say 12.2 volts anyway for a long life.)


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The older I get the better I used to be.



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