R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Platform for dual batteries?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedPlatform for dual batteries?

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>
Author
Message
Woodpod View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 18 Apr 2013
Location: Issaquah, WA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Platform for dual batteries?
    Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 1:40pm
We want to have dual batteries on the front of our RP177.  What have you done that works?  Love this forum!
Rich and Sue
"Woodpod"
2014 R-Pod 177
2004 Chevy Avalance
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 3:08pm
Just slid the first battery over and added the second. There was some unscrewing and rescrewing involved.




Back to Top
hogone View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 09 Apr 2013
Location: St. Louis
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1049
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 3:27pm
Did same, bought two battery cables and hooked them up in parallel. I'm sure you will have to drill new holes in battery holder platform to screw the box down, but pretty simple upgrade.  You can dry camp for quite awhile on the double battery hook-up if your conservative. 
Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
CHEESEHEAD
Back to Top
Outbound View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 767
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 3:39pm
My setup is much like furpod's.

Two group-24s (or golf cart batteries) and their battery boxes will easily fit in the battery tray.  If you want to go with group 27s or 31s, you'll have to build something on top of the tongue.  Use a couple of 4 gauge starter cables to connect the batteries in parallel (serial if you have 6v golf cart batteries).

Don't forget, as you'll need two batteries the same age, you'll likely have to buy two batteries (instead of just adding one).  Otherwise, the older, weaker battery will constantly drain the newer battery.  I also suggest adding in a cut-off switch while you're at it.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 4:42pm
Yes, a cut off switch can be handy.. though it turns out we stay plugged in at home..


Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 9:34pm
If you do use two 12 volt batteries, make sure you hook up the pod's cables to separate batteries.  Put the + on one battery and the - on the other.  This helps to keep the charging and discharging rates equal.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
hogone View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 09 Apr 2013
Location: St. Louis
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1049
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2013 at 8:37am
I need to check mine.  I don't believe that is how I hooked mine up.  Thanks for the advice.  jpp
Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
CHEESEHEAD
Back to Top
TerryM View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Location: Saint Augustine
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1950
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2013 at 8:39am
Does the Pod system charge both batteries okay?

Terry
RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565
Back to Top
hogone View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 09 Apr 2013
Location: St. Louis
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1049
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2013 at 8:44am
I can only assume.  I recently went on a 3 day dry camp and after 3 days my battery indicator inside the pod still said full.  I was pretty conservative with everything(lights, pump, etc).  Would like to hear more thoughts on why the pos and neg cables from the pod should be on separate batteries if they are hooked in parallel.
Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
CHEESEHEAD
Back to Top
Seanl View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Location: Fredericton NB
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 633
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2013 at 9:09am
This is a quick schematic on setting up parallel connections one of the pods leads goes on one battery and the other goes on the other battery.  The schematic is not quite accurate The program I used to create it would not co-operate but I think you can get the Idea.  

Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz