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SailorDude
Groupie
Joined: 06 Dec 2020
Location: Washington
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Posts: 48
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Topic: Battery Level Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 4:52pm |
I have a monitoring systems that monitors the battery, fresh, black and gray water in a single monitor. I assume this is standard to all rpods. There are four levels: Full, 2/3, 1/3, and Empty. My question is how accurate is this unit for monitoring battery level? If it is accurate at what level should I consider charging my flooded batteries before I run then too low and hurt them.
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Pod People
Senior Member
Joined: 22 Sep 2011
Location: Chapel Hill,NC
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Posts: 1088
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Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 8:51pm |
Those monitors are notorious for being inaccurate. The best way to test the battery is use a meter that shows the amperage(in volts) and then you can also convert that to a state of charge(SOC) percentage. The freshwater tank usually can be visually checked by simply looking under the pod and viewing the level of water in the translucent tank.
You can open the flush valve on the toilet and look directly down into the black tank or even use a disposable stick to manually measure. the gray tank is always a guess. The thing to remember is that you have 30 gallons in the fresh tank and both the gray and black tank hold 30 gallons each-so it is very unlikely that you will overfill either black or gray. there are after market sensors that people buy and use. I have no experience with them Safe travels Vann
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Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179
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SailorDude
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Joined: 06 Dec 2020
Location: Washington
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Posts: 48
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Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 9:21pm |
I know how to read the battery voltage via a voltmeter. Is that what you are talking about? I'm trying to determine when I'm about 50% down and I need to charge the batteries so I don't hurt the batteries by taking the charge down to far. I'm planning on doing some boondocking and I don't want to ruin my battery if I can help it.
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posts: 5290
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Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 10:00pm |
50% will be at about 12.2v but you will have to shut off all loads and charging for a half an hour or so to let the battery reach equilibrium and then measure the voltage. Or, once you determine your daily usage is less than 50% you can just recharge once a day, you don’t have to wait till you get down to 50% to recharge.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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marwayne
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Joined: 25 Oct 2011
Location: Edmonton AB Can
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Posts: 1003
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Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 12:03am |
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If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.
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SailorDude
Groupie
Joined: 06 Dec 2020
Location: Washington
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Posts: 48
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Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 1:11am |
Thanks that helps. I'll have to check that out next time I'm using the rpod.
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jato
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3325
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Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 8:55am |
+1 to Marwaynes post. A voltmeter is a cheap but necessary tool you need to keep an eye on your battery strength. I purchased mine years ago at Harbor Freight for $3. The two batteries I own are 12v Interstate group size 24 deep cycles. Purchase dates are 12/2010 and 3/2011. They were last charged October 31 and Nov. 1 on a 2 amp trickle charge for 24 hours each and currently reside on a cement floor in an unheated garage. A few days ago the voltage was read and recorded. 12.59v and 12.71v; not bad for batteries of this age.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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SailorDude
Groupie
Joined: 06 Dec 2020
Location: Washington
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Posts: 48
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Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 10:00am |
Do you have both those group 24's mounted on the tongue? I'm considering replacing my one group 27 with two batteries so I have more capacity.
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posts: 5290
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Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 10:18am |
Look into getting two 6V deep cycle golf cart batteries and connecting them in series. Case size GC2. They are the largest size that will fit on the tongue, have the most available capacity, are designed to handle deep cycling, and are very cost effective. Also, the series connection is better than two 12V batteries in parallel because it keeps the same current flowing in and out of both batteries. The drawback is tongue weight, which will go up by 70-80 lbs so be sure your tow vehicle can handle it.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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jato
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3325
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Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 12:33pm |
Sailor, yes both batteries are mounted on the a-frame as is also a pair of 20# propane tanks.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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