R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Reviews and General Information
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: WiFi Ranger (on the cheap)
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedWiFi Ranger (on the cheap)
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: WiFi Ranger (on the cheap)
    Posted: 25 Aug 2017 at 7:45am
Originally posted by podenvy

Originally posted by furpod


Once you have solar panels, extra USB and 12v ports are still better then an inverter. Why change 12v to 120v and then back to 12v or 5v.. when you can just pull 12v or 5v straight from the system without doubling or tripling the conversion losses?

How are you running your MacBook Pro off 12v? I need 110v to charge its battery and that's not possible without an inverter.
 




Well, first of all, you couldn't give me a macbook, but that's a different forum. LOL

BUT... I do charge my Alienware using a step up DC transformer.

Here is the first random link from my web search, I did not buy from here, but from Amazon.

Linky.
Back to Top
podenvy View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 06 Jul 2015
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 33 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Aug 2017 at 10:21pm
Originally posted by StephenH


I use a CPAP machine. That is why I went with dual 6V batteries for 215 AH. I do not use the humidifier if I am running on battery power. I only have water in the tank but the heat is turned off for passive humidification. It seems to work okay and ensures the draw on the batteries is not excessive. I could have sprung for batteries with a higher AH rating, but the ones I got at Batteries and Bulbs were at a reasonable price. The brand is Duracell.

I don't have dual 6V batteries -- I have 2x Group 24 deep cycle. We don't use the humidifier either and we try to make what we have work until we can upgrade the system's capacity. This requires managing our power consumption to that 80AH and figuring out how long we can stretch it.
2013 FJ Cruiser + 2015 rpod 179 HRE
Back to Top
podenvy View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 06 Jul 2015
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 33 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Aug 2017 at 10:15pm
Originally posted by furpod


Once you have solar panels, extra USB and 12v ports are still better then an inverter. Why change 12v to 120v and then back to 12v or 5v.. when you can just pull 12v or 5v straight from the system without doubling or tripling the conversion losses?

How are you running your MacBook Pro off 12v? I need 110v to charge its battery and that's not possible without an inverter.
 


2013 FJ Cruiser + 2015 rpod 179 HRE
Back to Top
StephenH View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6417 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2017 at 4:14pm
Originally posted by podenvy

Originally posted by StephenH


Have you wired a USB charging port into your R-Pod? If so, you could plug your phone in when using it as a hotspot to keep from draining your battery too quickly. They, along with standard 12V power outlets, are easy to install.

Yes, but the 80 AH from dual deep cycle batteries we have is needed for more important things like a CPAP machine so I use an external 10000 mAH to charge the phones. Once we have solar panels and a pure sine wave inverter, it will be easier.

I use a CPAP machine. That is why I went with dual 6V batteries for 215 AH. I do not use the humidifier if I am running on battery power. I only have water in the tank but the heat is turned off for passive humidification. It seems to work okay and ensures the draw on the batteries is not excessive. I could have sprung for batteries with a higher AH rating, but the ones I got at Batteries and Bulbs were at a reasonable price. The brand is Duracell.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
Back to Top
StephenH View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6417 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2017 at 4:06pm
Originally posted by Kiddo and Baca

Stephen:  Where did you get your window "kit".  We are looking for the privacy glass like the new R-Pods have and are interested in the size, thickness, and where you got your materials for your door.  Kiddo and Baca

The usual place--Amazon. It was this one: R-Pod RV Tear Drop Trailer Camper Windows New 14" x 21" for 1-1/2" Walls.

Amazon does have the privacy glass models available, but the ones I looked at do not specify door thickness. Also, they seem to have plastic instead of metal frames.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2017 at 7:19am
Originally posted by podenvy

Originally posted by StephenH


Have you wired a USB charging port into your R-Pod? If so, you could plug your phone in when using it as a hotspot to keep from draining your battery too quickly. They, along with standard 12V power outlets, are easy to install.

Yes, but the 80 AH from dual deep cycle batteries we have is needed for more important things like a CPAP machine so I use an external 10000 mAH to charge the phones. Once we have solar panels and a pure sine wave inverter, it will be easier.


Once you have solar panels, extra USB and 12v ports are still better then an inverter. Why change 12v to 120v and then back to 12v or 5v.. when you can just pull 12v or 5v straight from the system without doubling or tripling the conversion losses?
Back to Top
Kiddo and Baca View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 01 Apr 2015
Location: Sebastopol, CA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2017 at 11:15pm
Stephen:  Where did you get your window "kit".  We are looking for the privacy glass like the new R-Pods have and are interested in the size, thickness, and where you got your materials for your door.  Kiddo and Baca
Back to Top
podenvy View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 06 Jul 2015
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 33 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Aug 2017 at 11:29am
Originally posted by StephenH


Have you wired a USB charging port into your R-Pod? If so, you could plug your phone in when using it as a hotspot to keep from draining your battery too quickly. They, along with standard 12V power outlets, are easy to install.

Yes, but the 80 AH from dual deep cycle batteries we have is needed for more important things like a CPAP machine so I use an external 10000 mAH to charge the phones. Once we have solar panels and a pure sine wave inverter, it will be easier.
2013 FJ Cruiser + 2015 rpod 179 HRE
Back to Top
StephenH View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6417 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Aug 2017 at 9:29pm
Our 179 is a 2016 model that was built early enough on that it is more of a 2015.5 model since it lacks some of the 2016 changes such as the flip foot and the stainless steel sink. I had to install my own 12V outlets and USB charging ports. It was nice that Forest River incorporated these into the newer models, much as they did a window in the door of the new ones which is also something I had to install myself.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
Back to Top
PilotPodder View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 04 May 2016
Location: Portage, MI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 305 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Aug 2017 at 7:54pm
I don't think the 179s had the factory installed USB ports until 2017, but Belkin has a nice plug-in unit that I use as well the factory USB port in my 2017 179. I show this in my top 5 tech video (see link in signature). Also at Amazon search for: Belkin Surge Protector with USB Ports BST300 if you are interested. I really like the product. 

J.M. 
Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — My RPod YouTube Videos
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz