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Battery Drain

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StephenH View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Battery Drain
    Posted: 16 Oct 2022 at 9:25pm
Also, don't think of the lights as 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full. There are two sets of figures on the battery/tank level gauge. Look at the boxed lines that surround the text and the lights. One set is for the tank levels (Empty, 1/3, 2/3, and Full). The other set of markings is for the battery. I'm not home to look at them. The lowest light is for low battery. The middle one is partially charged. The third one is marked g for good. The top one is marked C for Charging. They are a general indicator. A voltmeter is better. A specific gravity refractometer is best, but a bit of overkill. You can remove the caps and using voltmeter probes, measure between cells (carefully, so you don't get acid on you). It will tell if you have a weak cell. You can also check the levels and add DISTILLED water as needed to ensure the electrolyte level is above the plates.

Jato's advice is definitely sound. 

StephenH
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ouR escaPOD mods
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janderaz View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote janderaz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2022 at 7:56am
Just wanted to post an up date in case anyone else has this problem in the future. So I believe my problem is resolved. Turns out the battery type selected on the solar control panel was incorrect. It was set to battery type AGM. My battery type is WET. Once I changed the battery type on the solar control panel to WET everything started to work correctly. The solar panel is now charging the battery during the day and turns off once there is no sun hitting it. In the morning when I check it, it is no longer beeping the warning that the battery is low/dead and reads 12.7 volts.  Then when the sun comes out it turns on and starts charging again. I think the solar panel ran all night and was draining the battery trying to charge the wrong battery type. 
Thanks everyone for all the help and suggestions. 
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JR View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote JR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2022 at 8:03am
Thank you for posting the conclusion which might help someone else in the future.  It shows that the problems might lie in the minutiae. Now start enjoying the trailer and solar panels.
Jay

179/2019
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Grinkle192 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Grinkle192 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 2022 at 8:53am
I bought one of these battery testers from Amazon and I really like it.


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.
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Jefferson View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jefferson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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. 



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jato View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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. 
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Jefferson View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jefferson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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!
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jato View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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."
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote GlueGuy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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
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Jefferson View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jefferson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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.
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