monitoring battery state of charge

[48Rob]

No scientific records kept here...but I have discharged my battery bank (2-6volt Trojans) well past 50% quite a few times (6-8 times) over the last 6+ years and they are still working.
I do recharge as soon as I get home, or to a place that has an outlet.

I agree with the above thought that age may kill a low use battery faster than discharge habits.

Rob

[bdosborn]

So where is the divide between "good enough" and "obsessive" particularly in view that our trailers are used rather sparingly?

I guess you'll have to answer that question for yourself. I crossed over into obsessive about 5 years ago when it comes to trailers; I'm not sure I can give unbiased advice.

Bruce

[PcHistorian]

well, I found an led array from a power system, I'm wondering if it has the resistors and "zenier diodes" built in (a zenier is a diode with a specific-fixed voltage drop.) With a bridge or series of them I can tell how much voltage is left by lights, maybe red is below 12, first green is 12, second is 12.1, third is 12.2,... I think there is 5 or 6 lights.

I think the best idea about batteries is to keep them topped off all the time, but don't over charge either. Most batteries will discharge sitting there, it just depends on the battery and what it's sitting on. (never just sit a battery (lead/acid/wet cell) on concrete. I understand it discharges them quickly. But even to put them on a trickle charger in the garage over the winter, maybe 100 ma. (0.1 amps) and it should be ok. I use a digital multi meter that gives me 100ths of a volt. If you use a wall wart type transformer from something that is thrown away, it should eventually go over 12.76 volts for a car starter battery. I don't know what the exact voltage is for a deepcycle wet cell. I have some deep cycle drycells, from various things... One is a 4ah I plan to use on just my LED circuit, then charge when I have external power, along with the heavier battery. That way I have led even if I discharge the heavy duty to the point of sensible shutoff. (I'm using one of those "peak-car-starter-booster" cuz it was a total failure when I needed to start the car, might as well get some use out of it... maybe it can power my music system, or some "dome" lights if nothing else... (installation photos forth coming on my build pages.)

There's something I can do with one of those lighter accessory plugs I have, make it for connection to a meter for battery readings. (I have a few dozen lighter-cell phone charger cords. If you donate old phones to the military for the troops they don't want the wall-wart charger or the lighter charger. (they probably give off traceable electrostatic noise.) I've got a friend with an "American Legion" hall that will give me these. barter anyone? )

[Shadow Catcher]

I did buy the Vectron battery monitor and the deciding factors were smaller size than a Trimetric only needs a 2" hole for mounting and less cost for reportedly greater accuracy. I am waiting for warmer weather to install it and the inverter. The change over switch from shore power to inverter can be installed in side the Progressive Dynamics power center.

[fromeo]

I did buy the Vectron battery monitor and the deciding factors were smaller size than a Trimetric only needs a 2" hole for mounting and less cost for reportedly greater accuracy. I am waiting for warmer weather to install it and the inverter. The change over switch from shore power to inverter can be installed in side the Progressive Dynamics power center.

Once you get it installed, please post back how you like it. As mentioned earlier, I do like my older Vectron except for the few quirks I had talked about. Curious if that was ironed out in the newer model.

- Frank