Battery Monitors

[msw3113]

Please report back with your findings. I'd be particularly interested to learn about the readings after a full day of using water pump, maybe furnace, etc.

 

[FunSteak]

Please report back with your findings. I'd be particularly interested to learn about the readings after a full day of using water pump, maybe furnace, etc.

In my experience, lights and water pump (unless you run it constantly for some reason) are fairly negligible. The furnace eats lots of power, but doesn't run too often if it's a reasonable temp outside.

Two weeks ago we boondocked, and it got into the forties at night. Altogether, we used about 15% of our capacity in 24 hours. I run the genny for an hour or two each day, and that's enough to keep up at or above that number for the entire stay.

Of course this all depends on your battery bank size and how conservative you are with use. YMMV!

 

[Frank B]

but many folks are satisfied simply to know it's "not empty yet". A battery voltmeter is good enough for them.

Yep. Practical wisdom at its best. No need to overthink this.

We Boondock almost exclusively, and I have never felt any even slight need for a battery monitor.

If it works, great. If it doesn't, boost it from the tow vehicle.