Battery usage

[Frosteez]

We have a deep cell battery and recently camped w/o electricity. How can you tell how much power is left? Is there some gauge we can buy to check?

[Miriam C.]

They do make gauges for that. Mine is built into the marine power center. Has all the fuses and wiring included.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... 00_225-5-0



You can try an auto store for just a gauge..........

[bobhenry]

We have a deep cell battery and recently camped w/o electricity. How can you tell how much power is left? Is there some gauge we can buy to check?

Here is a no brainer one !

At or below 11 volts you are running out of battery.

http://store.schumachermart.com/bt-25.html

[S. Heisley]

At the RV supply stores, they have little units about the size of your palm that will give you a reading when you plug it into a 12VDC outlet. Those are digital and read up to 24 volts. They aren't very expensive, maybe $20.

There is also something called a Voltminder that can be either plugged into a 12 VDC outlet or hardwired. It has a digital read-out and a programmable alarm that will sound when your battery is getting close to your battery's recommended state of charge. That costs about $30.

The 100 Amp kind clips to your battery with cable clamps and will read up to 100 volts, using the old fashioned needle pointer display and cost around $55.

Which is the best to purchase for our needs? I don't know but would appreciate knowing, if anybody wants to chime in. Maybe the RV personnel will say which is best?

[planovet]

I wired a cheap voltmeter to come on whenever I have the master battery switch on. I found it on eBay for less than $10.