marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Aug 8, 2021 20:03:55 GMT -5
I know its a small thing, but after reviewing some threads and thinking about batteries, Ive decided to add a VDC display or battery monitor inline with my SHUTOFF switch.
Recently got my TT back from the RV shop and battery was dead. Evidently they didn't plug it in until they worked on it. So I had no reserve for using the tongue jack.
So after the battery is the SHUTOFF switch. I plan to add a small VDC display unit between the battery and the SHUTOFF switch. This way I can see the battery charge level before and after switching power ON to the TT. Here are some ideas from Amazon. All of them require the same size hole {1"} I am setting up a pole just for the input.
A B C D E
i like A the best because it has the ON/OFF switch. I think E also shows the % of battery charge too!
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Post by WrkrBee on Aug 10, 2021 19:43:18 GMT -5
Will the switch and display be on the outside, by the battery, or on the inside by the converter?
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Aug 15, 2021 18:31:20 GMT -5
The switch is IP67 and water proof. It will be on a small aluminum panel along with the switch. Then I will rivet the panel to cross frame on the tongue for easy access and viewing. I chose the ON/OFF switch on, because I wanted to know the battery charge when off shore power and not connected to my truck. All totaled, I spent $16 for both and I have a panel from scrap. So time and effort means about $20 total.
I will post pics when finished. Hope to get it done this week. Pending wife's chemo treatment.
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Aug 18, 2021 22:34:29 GMT -5
I just got a 7*7" aluminum diamond plate cut. Since I don't have a second battery, I'm gonna use the two angle ribs next to the single battery. Starting this weekend I will complete all the mounting of the shutoff switch and voltage display
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Aug 22, 2021 13:03:31 GMT -5
So here are some pix of my battery monitor and mains shut off. I used a piece of alum diamond plate, drilled the holes for both components and the is a dry fit. The display has an ON/OFF switch so it wont draw any micro amps unless pushed. It's readout allows one decimal place. The display will be tied to battery side at all times. This way with the mains off I can see bettery xharge level. Once the main is switched on it will show mr charging power level (a) when connected to the truck, (b) charging level with shore power/ generator and (c) charge level with solar panels. To me thia setup can help solve or identify many issues. Cost less than $25 for parts from Amazon. Since I only have 1 battery, i can use the space between the "L" rails and mount it on the tongue. It all waterproof and gasketed. I'll post pix & video after it's mounted. Attachments:
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Sept 3, 2021 18:24:45 GMT -5
SURPRISE FOUND ON TRAILER??? While I was prepping the tongue rails to accept my battery monitor, I had a 12ga RED wire break off underneath the tongue by the power distribution box. It broke off right at the STACON ring terminal. Getting on the crawler, I went under the trailer and fiddled, cussed and WD40'd myself (working upside down) and pulled out this little nugget. It was rusted, fragile, corroded and way past it's last leg. My wife made the correct statement, thank goodness it didn't break while we were traveling or at a campsite. My response was a little sharper and shorter. (WTF!!) Fortunately, AMAZON has these for $10 bucks and I may just get a different style or mount it in my own protective box. Definately will be using SILICONE electric jelly. As soon as my parts come in, I am headed back out to finish the entire job and will probably order a new battery too!. The battery box was 1/4 full of water?? So I removed the battery and drilled 4 drain holes in the bottom compartment for drainage. Wow..did I miss this for sure. I am embarrassed (As an EE) that I never bothered to check this out, even a little bit. Stay tuned, a new update will show the changes and the final configuration.
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Sept 19, 2021 7:50:50 GMT -5
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Post by earlelaine on Jul 16, 2022 14:25:14 GMT -5
I just bought the battery monitor that just plugs into a 110v outlet or a 123v outlet, no wiring to mess with. Also I have solar so it monitors the battery 100% time whether battery shut is on or off.
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Post by WrkrBee on Jul 19, 2022 5:45:54 GMT -5
I just bought the battery monitor that just plugs into a 110v outlet or a 123v outlet, no wiring to mess with. Would think a 120vac outlet would blow a 12vdc monitor. 123v ?
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Jul 26, 2022 20:06:37 GMT -5
I agree...besides the 12vdc monitor at the battery is before the panel and CB's. So its easy to read and with the cutoff, I can isolate it to the battery only, batter when plugged into truck 12v, battery when plugged into campsite and charging from inverter, or battery under solar. Its waterproof, and has been operating for almost a year outside and hasn't interfered or quit working. Still consider it a good reminder
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Post by spiderbobr on Jul 27, 2022 8:39:28 GMT -5
SURPRISE FOUND ON TRAILER??? While I was prepping the tongue rails to accept my battery monitor, I had a 12ga RED wire break off underneath the tongue by the power distribution box. It broke off right at the STACON ring terminal. Fortunately, AMAZON has these for $10 bucks and I may just get a different style or mount it in my own protective box. Definately will be using SILICONE electric jelly. margin, what was this item that looks so corroded, purpose?
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Post by bmanfx4 on Jul 28, 2022 5:49:49 GMT -5
SURPRISE FOUND ON TRAILER??? While I was prepping the tongue rails to accept my battery monitor, I had a 12ga RED wire break off underneath the tongue by the power distribution box. It broke off right at the STACON ring terminal. Fortunately, AMAZON has these for $10 bucks and I may just get a different style or mount it in my own protective box. Definately will be using SILICONE electric jelly. margin, what was this item that looks so corroded, purpose? It is a circuit breaker. Venture should be ASHAMED of the shoddy electrical work on these RVs. It's truly ridiculous - it is very easy to do things correctly.
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Post by bmanfx4 on Jul 28, 2022 5:53:52 GMT -5
I agree...besides the 12vdc monitor at the battery is before the panel and CB's. So its easy to read and with the cutoff, I can isolate it to the battery only, batter when plugged into truck 12v, battery when plugged into campsite and charging from inverter, or battery under solar. Its waterproof, and has been operating for almost a year outside and hasn't interfered or quit working. Still consider it a good reminder Very nice job. I like your idea - very handy and no digging out the DVM to check the battery. Yet ANOTHER thing I want to add to my moneypit !!! :-)
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Post by navylcdr on Jul 31, 2022 21:17:16 GMT -5
I just bought the battery monitor that just plugs into a 110v outlet or a 123v outlet, no wiring to mess with. Also I have solar so it monitors the battery 100% time whether battery shut is on or off. I would love to see a 12v DC battery monitor that only plugs into 110v outlet and monitors the battery. I would deem such a device to be absolutely impossible.
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Post by earlelaine on Aug 1, 2022 8:29:23 GMT -5
If you have a outlet wired for 12v you could use a 12v plug monitor. Most new trailer these days have a 12v plug in the bedroom for those cpap machines. Some people with install a inverter and switch all their 15amp piglets to a inverter so you have 120v when plugged into shore power and you still have 120v power when you are just on batteries. I once had a power switch in my 5th wheel. It allow me to move one of my heavy power users to the power switch. I used my fireplace since I would never use my fireplace and A/C at the same time. The power switch had a 20amp outlet on it so I could still plug my trailer into a 30amp pedestal and the power switch into a 20amp on the same pedestal. This allow me to get all the power I need if there was no 50amp outlet available.
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