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Originally Posted by jeepmedic
I have an issue with my dash gauges that started a couple years ago. All seem to read correctly for the most part except for the charge gauge. It will read as high as 12.5 (ish) after being on shore power.
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That might be normal as on some Coaches (probably yours) the Chassis batteries will not charge on Shore Power. So you are reading the discharged Chassis battery while the Inverter/Charger charges up the House batteries.
Newer Coaches have the ability to charge both Chassis and House batteries on Shore Power (such as with the Big Boy solenoid and BIRD relay).
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After driving some time it will fall to 12 then to 11. Never really seen it lower. I tested the output of the alternator at the battery and I have 13.4 -14 V.
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This is a problem. Your dash voltmeter should read the chassis battery voltage (13.4 - 14V) when the engine is running.
Perhaps the dash gauge is broken and wont read into the 12.5+ range. You could try to run a temp wire from the ignition switch (or wherever) you have a confirmed 13.4+ volts to the Voltmeter to see if it will display correctly.
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At the ignition solenoid in the front run box I have B+ and ground tests good but when I key the ignition on, engine off I'm showing around 12.4v. The solenoid closes and powers the sub fuse panels and the fuses have 12.4 same as the B+ terminal on the relay.
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If your chassis batteries are "actually" reading 12.4 (engine not running), which would mean the batteries are not fully charged up, then this would be expected.
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I removed the instrument panel and went to back of the ignition switch, various gauges and the charge gauge, all have between 10.8-11v. I know grounds are crucial but mine are good.
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You have some voltage drop between the power source and the ignition switch. You should at least be getting the 12.4V you are seeing in the Run box. You can try to isolate by disconnecting the ignition switch plug and then seeing if you have 12.4V. If you do the voltage drop is after the switch. if the voltage still reads low, check the wire from the Run bay to the ignition switch.
The wiring diagram show the Voltmeter gets its source form the oil pressure gauge - which gets its power form the 15A fuse in the ignition fuse block. Find this fuse and check the voltage on it (pull the fuse (to eliminate any drop on the supply side of the circuit) and check the supply voltage going to the fuse. Is it 12.4?)