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Topic Closedkeeping hooked up to shore power
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: keeping hooked up to shore power
    Posted: 24 Sep 2015 at 8:26pm
For your average camper I always recommend 30-60 minutes every other day.  That usually keeps the battery in the 50-80% range.  Obviously not enough for a Field Day.  I would go with once a day and pay attention to when it goes to idle.  You could also put a Kill-A-Watt or clamp-on-ammeter in the equation to give you hard numbers.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Oct 2015 at 1:50pm
I finally put my Salem on the Kill-A-Watt. After 25 hours it used .48 kw, so about 20 watts. Battery already charged and nothing on. Hopefully my suspension parts will all be in soon so I can fix the leaf spring and I'll check on the usage again then.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Oct 2015 at 2:41pm
Final update from my Kill-A-Watt. After 6 days it averaged just under 20 watts, or a little over 14 kw per month.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 1676 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Oct 2015 at 3:08pm
Thanks Doug. I kinda got distracted with with camping and stuff so didn't keep kill-a-watt plugged in more than a day or so. Bottom line is I don't think it should be a big (energy) concern keeping plugged in 24/7. Finally building a new garage so looking forward to 30A hookup. Just gotto figure how I'm gonna hang that 60 inch plasma TV in the manpod!

fred
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!
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Oct 2015 at 9:22pm
Arrrr-arrrrr-arrrrr!
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2015 at 7:18pm
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I am new to the R-Pod forum and glad you guys have brought this up.  My last RV, a 28' Dutchmen, had a three stage charger.  If I left the shore power plugged in 24/7/365, the batteries would go dead every other year.  Reason being is a three stage charger has a "float" or trickle charge that never really shuts off. Even topping off the water level, the batteries would eventually end up cooked.  I ended up installing a 4 stage smart charger that actually shuts off when the batteries are charged.

Folks on this forum seem to think it's ok to stay plugged in 24/7/365.  Are the R-Pod 3 stage chargers smart enough to keep from cooking the batteries?

I'm curious because I wired in 30 amp service to my house and would LOVE to just keep the R-Pod plugged in.  Oh, it's a 2015 RP178.

 
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2015 at 8:45pm
Welcome.  Sounds like your converter wasn't working right, most modern converters have a proper 3-stage charger that won't overcharge.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2015 at 9:11pm
Great!  Thank you for your reply.  I was hoping the newer 3 stage chargers were smart enough to not cook the batteries.  
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2015 at 10:09pm
Originally posted by lonestarforever

Embarrassed
I am new to the R-Pod forum and glad you guys have brought this up.  My last RV, a 28' Dutchmen, had a three stage charger.  If I left the shore power plugged in 24/7/365, the batteries would go dead every other year.  Reason being is a three stage charger has a "float" or trickle charge that never really shuts off. Even topping off the water level, the batteries would eventually end up cooked.  I ended up installing a 4 stage smart charger that actually shuts off when the batteries are charged.

Folks on this forum seem to think it's ok to stay plugged in 24/7/365.  Are the R-Pod 3 stage chargers smart enough to keep from cooking the batteries?

I'm curious because I wired in 30 amp service to my house and would LOVE to just keep the R-Pod plugged in.  Oh, it's a 2015 RP178.

 
Ours were on the stock charger converter for 4 years, 1 on an upgraded unit.. batteries still read 100% when tested.
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Posts: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2015 at 10:34pm
Thanks!  That's gives me a lot more confidence in the newer style chargers.  My last RV was a 98 model.  I think back then 3 stage chargers were notorious for trickle charging your batteries to death.
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