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GlueGuy ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2706 |
![]() Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 8:24pm |
We don't leave ours plugged in 24/7. We remove the batteries when we're not using the pod, and do a spot charge every few weeks; maybe about once per month. We will see a small amount of discharge, and they're usually up to snuff in 2-3 hours.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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mcarter ![]() podders Helping podders - pHp ![]() ![]() Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
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I have Pod plugged into 30A service 24/7. I have noticed that every two weeks I need to check water levels. I can tell almost everytime when fluid levels are low, because it has tendency to stay at absorbtion voltage and not go to float voltage as Glueguy describes. Have not had an issue with it boiling water out or excessive heat. I'm pondering shutting off 30AMP CB at end of day and letting battery discharge during night. Like one would do with a vehicle.
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Mike Carter
2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
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podderfj ![]() Groupie ![]() Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
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Thanks fellow ponders: I think I found my problem. My bad, I don't think I was checking the fluid level often enough. I filled battery with distilled water this morning, hooked the battery back in to the pod and have been watching it close all day. Ii is charging fine and the charge on the battery is going up. Now about 13.2. I did all of the checks as listed in the other responses and everything checked out ok. So, I will be checking the fluid in my battery more often. Thank you fellow ponders..
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GlueGuy ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2706 |
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There are a few factors. One is the fluid level in the batteries, which you checked 2 week prior. That part should be OK, but you also should check prior to hooking up the charger (or connecting the pod to AC). The next thing is the state of charge of the batteries. If they're at ~~ 11.5 volts or so, you should be OK. Otherwise, they may have been depleted too much, in which case, you need to monitor them closely during the recharge. If they're really low, you should check both the voltage and fluid about every 15-20 minutes to make sure you're not boiling them off.
If all the above was OK, then the next thing I would look at is the charger. As others have said, it should go to bulk charge, then absorption, then float.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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CharlieM ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
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Check the voltage with a digital voltmeter right on the battery terminals. The converter should limit its voltage to 14.4V for a very depleted battery, then cut back to 13.6V for the majority of the charge time. At full charge it should cut back to 13.2V. If the measured voltage is significantly higher it indicates failure and overcharging.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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StephenH ![]() podders Helping podders - pHp ![]() ![]() Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6418 |
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Failure to charge the battery or supply 12V power to the pod when batteries disconnected is a big sign that the converter has failed. That is how I know mine had failed.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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podderfj ![]() Groupie ![]() Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
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Yes, I did check the fluid level after our last trip out which was about 2 weeks ago. Fluid level was fine. Is there any other sign of a bad convertor other than overcharging the battery? Thanks for your response
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techntrek ![]() Admin Group - pHp ![]() ![]() Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
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Did you check the fluid levels? A good idea every month or two.
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CharlieM ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
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Definitely sounds like the converter has failed.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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podderfj ![]() Groupie ![]() Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
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I need some advice from my fellow podders. I bought a new r pod in March of 2016. This is my second pod. I had a 2010 and when we were planning a trip, I would plug in the pod to 120v receptacle on my porch and turn on the fridge a couple of days before we were planning to leave. I never unhooked my battery. It always stayed on the pod with both terminals connected. After a couple of days the fridge would be cold and battery charged. When we started on our trip, I would switch the fridge over to battery power. On our new pod, we are planning on taking a trip on Saturday so I plugged in the pod a couple of days ago and turned on the fridge. Again, the battery was hooked up with both terminals. I walked by the pod this afternoon and smelled a strong odor coming from the battery box. I opened the box and the battery was hot as a firecracker and battery acid had sprayed out of the box onto my frame. I immediately unhooked the battery and removed it from the box. I washed down everything real good several times. I popped the 2 caps on the battery and there was no fluid in the batteries, and it was very hot. I have never unhooked my battery when on home or shore power at a campground. Need some help. It is still under warranty and I want to get it repaired, unless I am doing something wrong. Need advice. Please help a fellow pooder. Thanks for reading my post
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