Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: garmp on December 25, 2021, 01:44:01 pm
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Once set up at camp, connected to shore power, etc, do you turn your house battery off until getting ready to leave? Is there any benefit either way, on or off?
Thanks, and sorry for a basic question.
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No, don't turn it off! Plugged in it will be charged by the converter/charger.
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I should have thought of that. Thanks!
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Know that turning off your house battery power using that switch by the entry door, kills 12V to everything that works off 12V including your fridge operating on 110V. At least that is how my 2-way 2007 fridge works. Maybe the newer ones are different. To verify, when plugged into 110V, watch the control panel on your fridge after you killed 12V power. If the display is off, you'd better turn 12V back on or you run the risk of loosing some food.
Our very first trip in our PC back in 2007, I learned that the hard way. Plugged into 110V, I killed the house power forgetting I was shutting down the fridge. We were out for the day. We got back late to the campsite and.........
pyho I quickly learned to never turn off 12V during a trip.
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According to my understanding, the House Battery Switch is there for nothing more than when the unit is being stored without removing the house battery. The OFF position disconnects any internal devices that would otherwise drain the battery. I believe, the truck engine battery is a separate system. And, panel - mounted devices will continue to drain it during storage, unless phyically disconnected.
Interested in knowing more about how the electrical system could be monitored and having learned at an early age about the perils of faulty reasoning when dealing with electricity, I pause those times field tested directions cannot be tracked Ron had a near perfect solution, a few years back, and well before I became interested in the issue.. Having found a proper sized digital device that displayed Volts, Amps,and Clock that he panel mounted alongside the factory gauges, I stopped short of following his lead when it seemed the multi function gauge was no longer being offered.
Reading this contribution and more than a few miles from where the rig is stored, I wonder if the 12V Outlet in the A/V cabinet is sourced by the house battery. So, my question is, can I plug the commonly available cigarette lighter mounted electrical gauges into that receptacle to monitor house battery levels. I am confident the outlet is DC Only. I can only presume it offers isolated power from the house batteries. The similar dash mounted receptacles, which are mounted as a pair, operate from the engine battery.
I apologize for such an elemntary question, but a definitive answer would be appreciated.
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Taildragger,
You and I both own 2007 model years, correct?
I just confirmed moments ago that the 12V outlet in the cabinet to the right of the main TV is powered by the house batteries, not the chassis battery. You can monitor your house batteries from there using one of those 12V socketed volt meters.
I originally monitored our house batteries that way but wanted the information more "in my face", hence the panel mounted volt meter.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/8745/29746341292_7b2b67a8a1_z.jpg)
The temp and clock are over-rated features that I never display. I always display the voltage. I found just the volt meter in 3 different colors SOLD HERE ON EBAY (https://www.ebay.com/itm/124991326118?hash=item1d1a1047a6:g:vTQAAOSwdtJhho50).
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Taildragger,
You and I both own 2007 model years, correct?
I just confirmed moments ago that the 12V outlet in the cabinet to the right of the main TV is powered by the house batteries, not the chassis battery. You can monitor your house batteries from there using one of those 12V socketed volt meters.
I originally monitored our house batteries that way but wanted the information more "in my face", hence the panel mounted volt meter.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/8745/29746341292_7b2b67a8a1_z.jpg)
Thanks Ron for the link. A most likely stupid question, but what is the difference between the two-wire and three-wire option?
Thanks in advance ;)
Dougn
The temp and clock are over-rated features that I never display. I always display the voltage. I found just the volt meter in 3 different colors SOLD HERE ON EBAY (https://www.ebay.com/itm/124991326118?hash=item1d1a1047a6:g:vTQAAOSwdtJhho50).
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Going back to the base question, yes.
- round, 12 volt outlet in AV cabinet over passenger seat is house batteries
- round, 12 volt outlets on dash are truck battery
We use a plug in reader (that also has USB outlets which we charge phones on while driving)
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Regarding garmp's question of "why three wires?" I suspect that one is for positive one is for negative to keep the clock running and the 3rd is for accessory to turn on and off the display when the ignition key is on or off. You could just put a switch in place to turn it on or off.
I did something similar to my PC and installed a device that rotates the display of voltage, clock and 2 temp sensors. One sensor is mounted outdoors inside the vent exhaust flap over the stove. The other sensor is touching the water heater inside the insulation. That way I know how hot the water is and if I need to heat it again. Here's a link to what I bought.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07HFQ4YQ9/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o1_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07HFQ4YQ9/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o1_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
I could only find a device like this with celcius temps. Doesn't bother me that it's not Fahrenheit.
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I wouldn't know why a 3rd wire. Mine had positive and negative, that's all.