battery meter inside van

[jongeorge1]

has any body heard that the meter inside the van could be 10% out as when i got my new van aug last year and i put a fully charged battery in the van it only showed 12.5 were the battery was 13.8.

it is in a workshop now been replaced but i am just wondering if it is only my van or is it a comon fault.

it is also a fault on my mother in laws van as well

 

[Damian]

Common fault with the type of indicator fitted to most vans.

They are only there to give a rough (VERY rough) indication of battery state, they are not properly calibrated.

On several vans I have worked on when the internal meter has shown fully charged, the battery has actually been as low as 10v.

Never rely on them to be accurate,they are not.

 

[xtrailman]

Dont get fixed on the actual meter reading, but refer more to its position.

When the battery is fully charged, note the needle position and use this as your reference point.

The meters are cheap and nasty, but better than nothing.

 

[jongeorge1]

spoke to bailey and they have never heard of the 10% to they are changing it a new one and go from there but will take in information given thanks

 

[xtrailman]

Jon

Any meter, digital or analouge can have a tolorance of accuracy.

If you look at the technical spec, this is usually declared.

For example a car speedo can show exaggerated readings.

Ford in the 70s were noted for it.VAG were known as more accurate.Dont know if that still applies.

When i worked, part of the job was weighs and measure calibrations. to do this we used a calibrated instrument.

For a temperature reading of 1600 degrees we were allowed +/-3 degrees.

I doubt any 50p volt meter would be as accurate?

 

[Guest]

A vital part of our camping kit has been carrying a small pro multi meter. It has been used on all sorts, caravan and car electrics, batteries both automotive and rechargable domestic cells, RC Toys, Wind Speed meter, TV's, satellite systems and also been loaned out to others on sites.

I always check the solar panel output with it as well as the caravan battery.

Caravan meters only give a rough guide. Away from home and dealers a small fairly inexpensive multimeter can give answers to lots of problems even if its just telling you that there is power to your tail lights and that the healthy looking bulb is actually duff.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Jon

Any meter, digital or analouge can have a tolorance of accuracy.

If you look at the technical spec, this is usually declared.

For example a car speedo can show exaggerated readings.

Ford in the 70s were noted for it.VAG were known as more accurate.Dont know if that still applies.

When i worked, part of the job was weighs and measure calibrations. to do this we used a calibrated instrument.

For a temperature reading of 1600 degrees we were allowed +/-3 degrees.

I doubt any 50p volt meter would be as accurate?

Actually Ray, I am sure you will recall that ALL measuring equipment has tolerances, even the calibrated instruments have limits and correction factors.

At least when you know the limits of accuracy you can allow for them when using the instrument and give a reading with statistical probability allowing for the uncertainty of measurement.

 

[Legsmaniac_374344731]

I carry a small multimeter too but I bought a digital voltmeter off eBay for 4 quid and fitted this in the van. Far more accurate and readable than the indicators usually fitted.

 

[JohnM20]

Hi Jon-George

Reading your thread reminded me to go and check my battery.

My Abbey Vogue 460 is fitted with a charger made by Nordelettronica in Italy and has a digital voltage display. Comparing the reading shown on the unit with the voltage reading on my digital multimeter there was only 0.01 volts different so my caravan unit seems to be accurate but thanks anyway for bringing this possible 'problem' to our attention.

John M