Quick tip that I am enjoying! These simple and inexpensive volt / amp meters plug in to your cigarette lighter (They still call them that? or am I showing my age!) and give you instant battery reading for volt / amp. Several come with cell phone usb charge ports built in. Amazon $10
Thanks. I'm gonna get me one.
I've been using one of these for a couple years with no problems. When it goes below ten volts I charge the battery. The battery will run a depth finder auto helm and a couple hours of LED lights for more than five days. Give one a try there cheep.
ROGER
My dad gave me one once and I have no idea where I placed it. I never had need of it before.
Thanks for the tip.
Hey Gary and Joan Lee:
Thank you for the tip. A voltmeter has been on my to do list for the past 4 years. What kind, where to mount, how to wire, all caused procrastination.
Ordered one last night, problem solved.
Thanks again.
regards charlie
Roger - not sure if there's a typo in your post, but discharging a lead-acid battery to 10 volts is likely to seriously shorten its life. The rule of thumb for battery health is never to discharge below 50% state of charge, which would be 12.1 volts for conventional flooded lead acid.
Compass Marine has great info about batteries; see this post and others on their web site:
http://www.pbase.com/Maine cruising/battery_state_of_charge
Wes