Battery voltage reading question

[lowejug]

was wondering if it was normal for the battery voltage reading to be around 12.4 to 12.6 instantly after being plugged in for along time? it will be reading float charging before I un plug . then pretty much right way it reads this lower voltage after being un plugged.
I would think with anthems 8 batteries it would be stronger for longer than that.
does this possibly mean my batteries are starting to ware out? what are other entegra owners experiencing? this is a 2014 model and I have owned it only for about 1 month.

[pasdad1]

Battery voltage is not a very accurate way to indicate state of charge. That being said, the voltage must be measured with "NO load" to be even close to accurate. If you had lights, inverter, etc all running when you take the measurement, it will indicate a voltage drop.





If you want to accurately know how your batteries are doing you should get this.

[dpinvidic]

The SOC VOLTAGE OF 12.65V shoukd be measured with zero load and after the battery has stabilized an hour or so.
i am sure you have some kind of draw on you batteries.
Also, how accurate is your meter?

Czn you check the SG?

Finally, how long does it hold the reading?

Regards,

Dan

[RandyKathyM]

Measuring any battery while not under load with just a volt meter, DMM or VOM will give you inaccurate readings.

[brobox]

From an Entegra owners stand point....mine also drops to 12.6 volts after unplugging. We have a lot of current draws on our all electric coaches and it only take a few minutes for mine to settle down to 12.6 volts which is 100% charged. My concern is how long it stays there.

[DSL417]

Just spent 2.5 months on the road with about 10 days of that dry camping. I noticed the same thing...during and after charging, the house batteries quickly settling to the 12.5-12.6 level after the gennie turned off. It concerned me, because a couple times, the gennie didn't come on when it was supposed to (AUTO GEN) and the batteries dropped to 10.5 and 11.5v. So I wondered if I damaged them. It does not appear so, but I continue to monitor. Have to say though, that those two cases tended to affect my trust in the AUTO GEN functionality. As I was asleep one time and out of the coach the other, I don't know if it was just the generator trying to come on, coughing and then not starting or what. Over three years and two coaches, I still have trouble trusting the AUTO GEN functionality and the impact on house batteries. Do know that when the chassis batteries get drawn down more than once, that is trouble.

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by DSL417

... the gennie didn't come on when it was supposed to (AUTO GEN) and the batteries dropped to 10.5 and 11.5v.

Some AGS systems also have "quiet time" programmed so that the generator doesn't start at times it would disturb other campers.....would be worth checking as that setting might be an issue for you.

You would need to manually run the generator to charge batteries before quiet time starts, so that the batteries will last the night.

[757driver]

According to the Discover Battery website the EVGC6A-B AGM is fully charged with an OCV @ 20C of 12.9 v.

Without more information of what the original poster has set in his inverter panels for a charge profile it may just be a case of under charged batteries. The AGM 2 profile that is suggested in the Magnum manual is not fully charging the batteries in an Anthem or Cornerstone.

[DSL417]

Originally Posted by pasdad1

Some AGS systems also have "quiet time" programmed so that the generator doesn't start at times it would disturb other campers.....would be worth checking as that setting might be an issue for you.

You would need to manually run the generator to charge batteries before quiet time starts, so that the batteries will last the night.

That's a good catch...I had set my gen for no quiet time at night several months ago, because we were dry camping in situations where quiet time was not an issue...set it during mid-day...the time both no starts occurred! Tx

[nothermark]

FWIW What people are ignoring is that when a battery is being charged the charging circuit has to put out more than the cell voltage total to get current flowing back into the battery. That sets up a surface charge that also will be higher. When you remove the charging source the circuit voltage immediately drops then drops again as the surface charge dissipates. Then you get to the state of charge voltage. Go to one of the web sites like battery university for a decent explanation. When you are dealing with house batteries do not use the starting battery testers most automotive oriented shops use as they use too high a current thus give the wrong results.

[lincoln20]

Originally Posted by 757driver

According to the Discover Battery website the EVGC6A-B AGM is fully charged with an OCV @ 20C of 12.9 v.

Without more information of what the original poster has set in his inverter panels for a charge profile it may just be a case of under charged batteries. The AGM 2 profile that is suggested in the Magnum manual is not fully charging the batteries in an Anthem or Cornerstone.

Hi, just ran into this thread. I tried looking up additional info, but can you elaborate on the settings you're running then? I think factory is AGM2?

I'm curious how your batteries are doing after you changed settings?

Thanks,

[757driver]

Originally Posted by lincoln20

Hi, just ran into this thread. I tried looking up additional info, but can you elaborate on the settings you're running then? I think factory is AGM2?

I'm curious how your batteries are doing after you changed settings?

Thanks,

Batteries are doing great with the changed settings. I'll send you a PM with the settings.

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by DSL417

That's a good catch...I had set my gen for no quiet time at night several months ago, because we were dry camping in situations where quiet time was not an issue...set it during mid-day...the time both no starts occurred! Tx

Side note, Dave, sorry to hear you haven't solved your battery issue but on a happy note, I like the addition of the Polaris RZR to your Signature. We'll have to get together sometime for some trail riding. Think I'll add it to mine.
Keep the dirty side down.
Pat

[DSL417]

Already got my first scratch on the side taking a tough stepped trailing rocks. We're at 125 miles in the first 5 weeks. Tearing the deserted the Spring Mountains once or twice a week. Interesting to track up above the snow line! Think I may need to add winch to be safe.