[A/S] More Battery... meters

["Frank Rowe" <rbus4107@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings and thank you for the welcome.  Let me begin by saying the 
most important part of any action or idea is "The Plan".  Lots of 
batteries are great, but there is plus and minus to every change.  
Good batteries are usually measured by their weight.  The more they 
weigh, the more ampacity.  Rv batteries are cycled more deeply and 
expected to recover faster and better.  Batteries maybe be placed any 
where after certain conditions are met.  The placement restricktions 
are physical size, dry warm protected environ, convenience to service, 
and available fresh outside source of air.  The gas from a battery is 
very explosive with any source of ignition.   The vapor or gas from a 
charging battery is very corrosive to every material except some 
plastics.  The conductors to a battery must be sized for the intendeed 
load and charge rate.  That means how much and how fast energy is 
removed or replaced.  The physical weight of a battery or batteries is 
very important depending on other add ons.  My preference for battery 
location is  at or near trailer coupler.  I also mount battery in a 
plastic bos as in the boating industry.  This location is relatively 
close to support electrical and an easy connection to tow vehicle.
            Monitoring gages and such are notoriously inaccurate.  
These gages are only for general reference.  There are no 2 voltmeters 
that will show the exact voltage from the same source.  Only digital 
voltmeters do a super great job of indicating voltage.  There are many 
sources for these digital meters, as they are used  almost exclusively 
in the solar world.  I do not know of any way to silence a converter. 
 The transformer makes the humming sound and tells " I'm Working".  
The units are usually quieted by their enclosure, as in wrapped in 
sound absorbing material.  Dense poly foam works well.  Installing 
digital ac and dc meters with a couple momentary switches will allow 
instant recognition of any electrical condition.  A full battery is 
12.5- 12.6 volts @ 70 degrees F.
Some times the most expensive battery is NOT the best.  When connected 
to shore power, turn off the battery connection.   You will save your 
battery.  A dc voltmeter is of much greater value than any ammeter.  
The ammeter tell at what rate energy is used or replaced, and a volt 
meter tells present condition and capacity.  It's like filling up a 
bottle with water.  A volt reading of 12.6 is a full measure, as a 
reading of 12.0 is only 25% full.
Please ask about any electrical questions.  I have lots of answers I 
have not yet used.     
              Frank Rowe            Idaho