Strange voltage reading (1 Viewer)

[Jofang]

The motor battery on our Hymer continuously shows 11.5 volts on the digital display in the habitation area when we're parked up so I've checked the battery several times with my Fluke meter and it shows 12.5 volts under no load. The true reading is exactly 1 volt error on the display. How could this be?

 

[WillH]

Is the 11.5 reading under load?

 

[Two on Tour]

Logically the 11.5v reading on the digital display is inaccurate and under reading.

 

[Jofang]

Is the 11.5 reading under load?

No, there's nothing switched on and the van is parked up at home.

 

[WillH]

I suggest that the instruments are not accurate, not uncommon. I would trust the reading from the Fluke, they are pretty solid meters. However, when the panel is on that, in itself, is a load. Mine reads 0.15A when everything is 'off'. I do have a solar panel so I have no idea what it would read with no input.

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[Phill D]

I would certainly believe the meter over the display panel

 

[Stealaway]

The motor battery on our Hymer continuously shows 11.5 volts on the digital display in the habitation area when we're parked up so I've checked the battery several times with my Fluk.e meter and it shows 12.5 volts under no load. The true reading is exactly 1 volt error on the display. How could this be?

Panel meters are only an indication very seldom are the a true / correct reading
Assume that the cheap and cheerful meter is always 1 volt out

 

[dunnah01]

If it's a CBE panel you can change the voltage reading in the settings menu

 

[Jofang]

Our Hymer is a 2016 model so no CBE panel. We have the black horizontal strip where you twirl the control knob view the various information. Reading exactly 1 volt less than the system should is not a problem as long as the error will remain constant at 1 volt.