Battery Drain

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   Cleaned all connections and terminals - let charge overnight, voltage still ~5-6v when unplugged from shore power. In the market for two new batteries. Thanks again for all the help - great resource we have here.

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Jefferson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Apr 2021 Location: NorCal Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jefferson Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Battery Drain Posted: 02 Dec 2022 at 1:28pm
	Cleaned all connections and terminals - let charge overnight, voltage still ~5-6v when unplugged from shore power. In the market for two new batteries. Thanks again for all the help - great resource we have here.

Jefferson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Apr 2021 Location: NorCal Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jefferson Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Nov 2022 at 11:10pm
	Got it - thanks. All starting to make sense now. Appreciate the additional info.

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6422	Post Options Post Reply Quote StephenH Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Nov 2022 at 10:09pm
	6V batteries need to be connected in series so you have 12V power. Parallel maintains the same voltage but adds the capacity. Series adds the voltage. but maintains the same capacity.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Jefferson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Apr 2021 Location: NorCal Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jefferson Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Nov 2022 at 12:43pm
	Thanks Jato and GlueGuy for the suggestions. Maintenance-free is not quite what it implies. Yes, 2-12 V wired in parallel. Will clean up the terminals and double-check but I suspect new batteries are needed. Thinking of replacing with similar batteries + specs - have a suitcase solar panel to charge batteries when boondocking. Any thoughts on using 6V batteries in parallel or is that even possible? Thanks again for the very useful info.

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2707	Post Options Post Reply Quote GlueGuy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Nov 2022 at 11:16am
	If the batteries are 12V, then they must be wired in parallel. Please double check your connections. That said, 7 years stored outside, they may likely be at their end of life. The terminal you show pictured looks quite corroded. I would clean those up as best you can with a wire brush. Then put some sort of moisture protectant on the terminals before you re-assemble. I use DC4, but there are several alternatives. After that re-test and see where you're at. I suspect that the batteries are likely done.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3340	Post Options Post Reply Quote jato Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Nov 2022 at 7:23am
	Really do not like the 'maintenance free' type as you allude to, you cannot check the levels, much more efficient IMHO to go with the style you can add distilled water to.
	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."

Jefferson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Apr 2021 Location: NorCal Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jefferson Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 2022 at 9:42pm
	Thanks for the info - yes, 12V and I suspect they're original; date stamps not filled out. Assume you need to check the electrolyte levels on your Interstates or are they sealed as mine are, at least they appear to be, and say 'maintenance free'. Probably time to purchase two new batteries - thx for the suggestions!

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3340	Post Options Post Reply Quote jato Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 2022 at 9:21pm
	Hey Jefferson, If you have a pair of 6v batteries there is hope, if they are 12v then yes, time to replace, they have been hurt big time. How old are they? (I can't see from the pic what month and year they were purchased, unless the dealer 'forgot' to do this when the unit was purchased. As you have read, I have had great success with my 11+ year old Interstate, however have been told that they aren't as good as they used to be. The other battery recommended (if you are looking at lead acid) are the Trojan line - used on many electric golf carts and is the 'gold standard' for electric golf carts. I purchased (August 2021) a Trojan T-1275, a heavy weight at 85lbs and puts out 150 aH. Keep an eye on electrolyte level, don't draw down below 12.2v before recharging and keep posts clean from corrosion.
	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."

Jefferson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Apr 2021 Location: NorCal Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jefferson Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 2022 at 8:07pm
	Following this thread, very informative. I recently took my 2015 Rpod out for a road test of ~10 miles and returning home, noticed the batteries - have two CrossCountry batts wired in series - were not powering much at all, lights very dim or not coming on at all. Plugged into 30 amp shore power, get 13.5 volts. A few days later, unplugged from shore power and took out the multimeter - only reading 5-6 volts per battery. Am I correct in thinking the batteries need to be replaced. Pod purchased a year and a half ago, batteries likely original. Sits in the yard plugged into shore power on the coast in Northern California when not in use...Suggestions welcomed on both battery care and next steps, battery recommendations - likely purchasing a couple new batteries from what I'm reading. Thanks, as always.

Grinkle192 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 15 Oct 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Grinkle192 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Nov 2022 at 8:53am
	I bought one of these battery testers from Amazon and I really like it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08K3885C4?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details My wife's car was showing signs of needing a new battery, and I decided to buy this when I had the opportunity to use it on a suspected bad battery as well as the new battery in my car. It reported the bad battery as "poor" and the new battery as "great". Checking my so far symptom-free Class B battery, is says "poor", no big surprise after 5 years in Texas weather.