Onan battery meter

[Ray Griffiths]

So, for the first time I have a working battery meter on my 1973 4.0 CCK. It has 3 levels, green, yellow and red, corresponding to Good, Fair and Poor, respectively.

Questions - What is this meter, a volt meter?
How useful is the information it gives?
If I don't use it, what should I use instead to measure the charge on my battery?
Thanks,


Ray

[pops]

It's a voltmeter (of sorts). Get a digital multimeter, it's the only way to know. Battery is about 12.5 just sitting, 14.2-14.8 charging. Higher or lower than this is bad. Battery tenders hold battery at 13.5 (plus a little temperature fudge).

[pegasuspinto]

14.8 is boiling profusely
somewhere between 13.5 and 14 would be best, but if your charging system holds it at 14.8, you're gonna have a dead battery soon

gauges like that work OK, as long as you know where they normally sit, and that that spot is OK, then when you glance at it and it's not at that spot anymore, you have a problem

Robert

[Ray Griffiths]

Thanks Guys,

I charged the battery and it was well up in the green (almost new battery). After sitting for a week it is near the bottom of the green where it seems to be residing. I wasn't sure whether it meant I had something to worry about or not. I'll check with a multimeter just to see what it means and take it from there. Thanks again.
Ray