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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Battery disconnect, and when to recharge
    Posted: 10 Oct 2013 at 1:17pm
Around here, every pod I have looked at has group 24's, and in fact mine are Interstate brand group 24's (from the dealership) at a claimed 75 ah each. I can put two on the tongue as designed. So 150 ah at 12v.

In the same space.. (my "for the buck" includes space, weight, etc, not just $$) I can place two 6v EGC-2's, from Sam's no less, with 230 ah rating.

To me 150 ah vs 230 ah for about $30 more and 15 pounds.. is a well worth it.

Also every pound you put on the tongue does not go directly to tongue weight. It would if you mounted it all right above the ball.. but we don't. It does add weight, and I do have the skills to figure the percentage, but don't aim to ever bother.

Plus I get the added bene of better charging etc.
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2013 at 12:30pm
Originally posted by furpod

The difference between two 12v's and two 6v's isn't that much. But for the slight weight difference, the AH gain is substantial.We will go two sixes once I kill these 12's in another 3-4 years..

Not usually.  Weight = amps with lead-acid batteries.  Where a 12 volt battery with 6 cells may be rated for 110 amps, the same weight 6 volt battery will have 3 cells that are just twice as large, giving you a 220 amp rating.  

The 12 volts batts in parallel gives you 12 volts @ 220 amps.
The 6 volt batts in series also gives you 12 volts @ 220 amps.  
Amps gets added in parallel wiring, and volts gets added in series wiring - but not both.

The 6 volt batteries are still better, though, because they eliminate problems you can encounter with paralleled batteries (charging and discharging imbalances).  
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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wingnut2312 View Drop Down
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Posts: 231 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2013 at 7:35am
Furpod-Robin read your post and told me not to get any ideas. The rpod is not allowed to become the man-pod! Lol
2014 rpod 182G
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wingnut2312 View Drop Down
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Posts: 231 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 8:29pm
retired...we did take into account the extra weight. We don't take a lot of extra gear with us. The kids are our only variable and they just keep growing and growing and growing....lol. The Expedidtion can handle most of the extra heavy gear if needed.
2014 rpod 182G
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 4:38pm
Originally posted by Camper Bob

We probably err on the more aggressive side.  I had a group 27 GSM battery installed when we took delivery.  They are sealed and do not require additional water.  Since our Pod is next to the house I also had a 30 amp connector added to the side of the garage.  When we return from a trip and over the winter months, the Pod is connected and the internal charger does what it needs to do.  I do winterize and cover the pod for the winter, but I also keep a ceramic heater to maintain an internal temp of 50 degrees.  I agree that this is overkill, but it allows me some comfort during the winter months.  Safe Travels. 


We do the same.. and keeping the Pod/Refuge warm is a nice thing in case I need to hide for a while... Embarrassed
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 4:37pm
The difference between two 12v's and two 6v's isn't that much. But for the slight weight difference, the AH gain is substantial.We will go two sixes once I kill these 12's in another 3-4 years..
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Posts: 24 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 4:26pm
Originally posted by wingnut2312

Thanks for the info! We will be starting fron scratch and I will go that route!

  Just be sure you can handle the weight. Those batteries must each be around 70 pounds. Two six volts will give you great power, but you just need to be aware of how heavy they are for you personally to handle and to put on the tongue of your pod.
Looking hard at a pod
2006 Jayco 1206 (pup) with slideout, shower,solar
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Camper Bob View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Sep 2011
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Posts: 913 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 7:38am
We probably err on the more aggressive side.  I had a group 27 GSM battery installed when we took delivery.  They are sealed and do not require additional water.  Since our Pod is next to the house I also had a 30 amp connector added to the side of the garage.  When we return from a trip and over the winter months, the Pod is connected and the internal charger does what it needs to do.  I do winterize and cover the pod for the winter, but I also keep a ceramic heater to maintain an internal temp of 50 degrees.  I agree that this is overkill, but it allows me some comfort during the winter months.  Safe Travels. 
Camper Bob and Camper Sue
Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund)
2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod)
2016 Lance 1685
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 9:29pm
I went with a waterproof 12 volt fuse for a disconnect.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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wingnut2312 View Drop Down
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Posts: 231 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 9:02pm
Thanks for the info! We will be starting fron scratch and I will go that route!
2014 rpod 182G
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