SOC - R-pod Owners Forum

After bending down to chase after all the pieces for a few years, you learn that those WV farmers had some good ideas. I lived in SW Virginia for 6+ years - Blacksburg.

2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!

So funny. Small world stuff !!

2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!

Solar is awesome!!

On my STECA SOLARIX PRS 2020 20A charger controller (150 watt rook mount panel) the chart for voltage levels is:

End of charge voltage (float) 13,9 V

Boost charge voltage (boost) 14,4 V

Equalization charge (equal) 14,7 V (MONTHLY)

The equalization charge only happens every when there's enough solar power to do so. This is on 2 Trojan T-105 6 volt golf cart batteries in series (12 volts). There must be an internal clock keeping track of when it happens. The solar charge controller is directly hooked to the batteries, regardless of whatever the charger/converter is doing, the solar does it's thing when it decides to do it. Which is nearly 100% of the time. I only plug into shore power at home when prepping for a trip (cooling fridge on electric, or running the A/C while cleaning inside the camper).

It looks like the Renogy solar controller might have a similar feature, but stuck on equalization?

I have had my batteries installed in the trailer (mine are in the trailer nose, not an R-Pod), always check water levels before storage, and left alone all winter to take care of themselves. So far results are great. Just a little water to add each spring. Solar is awesome!!

2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD)
2013 VW Touareg TDI

Modified version of panel mount/stand is much stronger. Shortened legs, glued it up, added some bracing with pvc blocks and vhb tape and added a simple preventer with paracord and trucker's hitch to keep it from collapsing. It's easier to adjust than the Renogy suitcase.

I think this will work.

2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!

I'd recommend against placing pressure on the backs of the cells like that, they can develop fractures really easily. You won't see them but they will eventually degrade electrical performance. The frame is fine, you can just outboard the mounting legs to the corners, and drill holes in the frame where you want them The inboard holes are there so the modules can be mounted to handle really heavy wind and snow loads which you will never see in a portable application.

I would guess that the controller just resets when you disconnect it from battery power. One of the software versions warns against having a load on the batt during equalization because it can get stuck if that's happening, not sure which version was causing the issue originally at this point. Anyhow in gel/AGM mode it will never equalize so problem solved. You don't need both controllers to equalize anyhow.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold