You need to match the battery monitor with your battery bank. Thus, they can accurately determine power consumption. Shunts are extra hardware that all of the current passes through. More accurate battery monitors also use shunts instead of voltage sensors. The temperature of the batteries, how much load on them, and other variables can impact how many amps you REALLY have left. If a fully charged battery discharges 12.8 volts, when the voltage drops to 11.8 volts, the monitor calculates the remaining amp hours on the battery. For example, cheaper versions often determine battery capacity only through voltage drop. If you have a significant investment in your battery bay, protecting it by knowing EXACTLY your battery’s state is vital.Īccurate battery monitor options are more expensive because they are engineered to consider multiple variables. It’s probably an obvious point, but a pricier battery monitor tends to give a more accurate reading. What to look for When Buying an RV Battery Monitor? Accuracy So, systems that incorporate multiple variables are more accurate. Since battery capacities change according to ambient conditions like usage and temperature, the inaccuracies can be significant. Challenges with Measuring a Battery’s ChargeĪ battery measurement system that only measures the voltage to show charge levels does not necessarily provide the best results.

Using this tool, owners will have an accurate record of how much power remains on their batteries to take the necessary steps. The battery’s monitor is equipped with shunting to measure the power that comes into the cell battery. The system displays the cycle length as well as the battery history of the device. So, by installing and using an RV battery monitors, you can extend battery life and use that money to invest in one of thos fancy suspension camp chairs! What Things Does a Battery Monitor Measure?Īn RV battery monitoring device enables RVs to accurately display their charge and load on a battery.

When a battery is discharged too deeply, sulfur crystals will form on the lead plates, preventing the battery from holding a charge and you may need to replace it altogether. That’s a significant increase in life span!Īlso, it can cause damage if you drain too low because it can cause irreversible sulfation of the battery’s lead plates. However, if you drain them to only 70%, you can typically get 700 cycles out of them. This can help extend the life of your batteries so you’re not shelling out big bucks to replace them.įor example, if you drain typical lead acid batteries to under 50% you can usually get 200 drain/charge cycles out of them before they need to be replaced. Why is monitoring your RV battery level important?īy monitoring your batteries, you can ensure that they are always in good condition and prevent them from becoming overcharged or undercharged.

An LED display screen can give you information like.

They help you keep track of your RV’s battery state and charging status. So it was time for the installation! What is an RV battery monitor?Ī Battery monitor is a like fuel gauge for electric systems.

Over the last couple of years we’ve (mostly) had access to shore power, so draining our lead acid batteries was never an issue.Īnd there’s no sense in destroying a perfectly good battery by abusing it. So now that we’ll be traveling a lot more, we’re going to need an RV battery monitor to keep a closer eye on our battery levels.

Install rv battery monitor