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Topic ClosedRunning the fridge while driving
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Running the fridge while driving
    Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 9:29pm
The voltage may still be present with the engine off in some cases.  Chevy doesn't turn it off, but I think Ford does.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 9:41pm
Originally posted by techntrek

The voltage may still be present with the engine off in some cases.  Chevy doesn't turn it off, but I think Ford does.

Yeah, I keep forgetting about you Chevy guys. I meant the voltage should disappear. What I forgot to add is if it doesn't, get the damn thing fixed!" Tongue. I'll try to do better in the future Smile .
Charlie
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Enríquez View Drop Down
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Posts: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 8:24am
Hey Charlie,

Terrific advice, very precise. My neighbor has a volt meter.
So far I think my first mistake was running the fridge while traveling.
Could the second and bigger mistake be that I left the battery all winter with no recharging?

I'm going to figure this out fast. My grandkids are coming from Norway in July and we are going on several r-pod trips. 

Gracias,

Enríquez
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 10:46am
Originally posted by Enríquez



So far I think my first mistake was running the fridge while traveling.
Could the second and bigger mistake be that I left the battery all winter with no recharging?


Yes and Yes. Run the fridge on gas while traveling and check the battery every 2-3 months in storage. Recharge when it reads 12.0V. Have fun with the grandkids.
Charlie
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Posts: 27 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 9:57pm
Great discussion we only ran on 12v but fact most big fridges don't run on 12v convinced me that running on gas is ok so that's what we will do to preserve battery charge. 
Rhona & John
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6417 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 9:24am
Originally posted by Enríquez

Could the second and bigger mistake be that I left the battery all winter with no recharging?

I'm going to figure this out fast. My grandkids are coming from Norway in July and we are going on several r-pod trips. 


If you know you will be leaving it for extended periods, install a battery cut-off switch (see my mods for an example). That will disconnect the battery from the R-Pod and eliminate the discharge caused by the LP/CO2 detector, etc. You should still check it periodically though and recharge as suggested.

I hope you get your battery problem solved. Please enjoy your time with your grandkids. We will be going to see ours in December. We will be going in our R-Pod, but likely won't be camping with them.
StephenH
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 8:46pm
Originally posted by CharlieM

Originally posted by techntrek

The voltage may still be present with the engine off in some cases.  Chevy doesn't turn it off, but I think Ford does.

Yeah, I keep forgetting about you Chevy guys. I meant the voltage should disappear. What I forgot to add is if it doesn't, get the damn thing fixed!" Tongue. I'll try to do better in the future Smile .

Yeah I keep meaning to add a relay but it is on the bottom of that long to-do list...
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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jato View Drop Down
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Posts: 3324 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 8:54pm
Another podder, since March 2011, who has always used propane for the fridge while traveling.  Once tried my battery to cool off the fridge while sitting at home a day before leaving.  Was disappointed in that after 8 hours my battery was totally drained, and my fridge was still warm.  Since then have used 110 when at home to cool off fridge 12 hours before leaving, then run on propane the rest of the time.
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Rustler View Drop Down
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Posts: 100 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 9:41pm
There's been a lot of good information shared on this thread. I don't remember seeing anyone mention whether a discharged camper battery would reduce the effectiveness of the trailer brakes. I assume you would get enough current through the the tow vehicle connection. But perhaps the voltage applied to the brakes would be higher with a well-charged camper battery.
Russ
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1452 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 10:13pm
Interesting question.  I assume the trailer brakes are powered by voltage from the TV (except in the case of emergency break-away), but I don't know for sure.

TT
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