Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: prfleming on March 03, 2013, 11:03:33 am

Title: Cheap battery and alternator status
Post by: prfleming on March 03, 2013, 11:03:33 am
Ok, you guys that have the fancy battery status panel with amps in, amps out, charge level, etc... don't laugh... :))

In our older coach (1991) the battery and alternator status going down the road is pretty limited. Here is a cheap ($5) tester that works amazingly well Amazon: Easy Instant Car Battery & Alternator Tester - Test Battery Condition & (http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Instant-Battery-Alternator-Tester/dp/B005ZT5UEC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1362325607&sr=8-4&keywords=alternator+tester) . It will tell you battery charge level when the engine is off, and the alternator output when the engine is running. I plan to wire 2 of these to both sides of the boost relay, and then double-stick tape them up in the cockpit somewhere. A word of caution, any time you connect directly to the batteries, put an inline fuse in the circuit, the one I will use is in the photo (5 amps).
Title: Re: Cheap battery and alternator status
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on March 03, 2013, 11:31:32 am
Could connect to the engine solenoid just under the dash top. One of the cigar lighter plugs is house, the other engine so this would also be an option.

I bought a couple of these for the cars: 12V 24V Cigarette Lighter Socket Port Battery Monitor Voltmeter Voltage Meter | (http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-24V-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-Port-Battery-Monitor-Voltmeter-Voltage-Meter-/121074382425?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c30987659&vxp=mtr)

Less than $3 delivered and they work great.

The colored lights on yours will get your attention even out of the corner of your eyes.

Pierce