Question about the battery draw

I recently purchased a new R-Pod 173. I realized that if I left the pod without shore power for more than a week the battery goes down. I measured the amperage when everything I can turn off is off and I get a reading of about .4 amp. Is that normal? I realize the light on the radio, gas sensor and the USB is still on but I see no way of turning these off. I ended up installing a battery turn off switch but I still would like to know what is normal.

Yep, it's pretty normal.  All those things that run all the time draw power, just like the programs on your computer draw memory resources.  The battery switch will help a lot, but you'll still need to keep your battery topped off to ensure maximum life.  It's normal maintenance.

Thanks all for the input. I tend to agree with Glue Guy, .4 amp is high. Did some pulling of fuses to see where the draw was and it seams to be from the converter itself as if I disconnect everything but the converter that's what I get. Did not have time to look into it further but I will. Also, when connecting the battery I hear a click in the converter like a relay click. Will see what that is.

I turned to the manufacture about this issue but the answer I get can't be correct. Please read the chain of emails from the bottom and up between me and Kate Ebbole from Forest River. Obviously a draw from the battery can't be the fault of the battery so changing battery would not help. The latest statement from their engineering department that the pod in rest would draw 2 amp can't be correct either. At that draw a battery would not last any time. Love to hear your opinions....

Good morning,

                Our engineer states 0.4 amps at rest is great usually he counts it at 2.0 amps. Getting a battery disconnect is the way to go if you do not have solar panels to maintain the charge on your battery.

 

 

 

Thanks but apparently something is getting lost in the translation. The list you gave me show what items draw when in use. I am not looking for that. I am looking for the amp/watt draw on the battery when NOT in use. As your warranty advisor pointed out the LP/CO detector will pull of the battery constantly, so does the radio in rest as well as the USB charger in rest (the TV amplifier is off). Apparently so does the converter. Neither has anything to do with the battery itself. I do have  a new Marine battery giving me close to 12.8 volt and at that voltage I have a draw of over .4 amp or basically about 5 watt.

5 watt is the same as an internal light in a car and we all know what happens if we leave that on for a week, the car will not start. As the R-Pod is not delivered with a battery shut-off switch I have to assume you should be able to park the pod more than a week without disconnection the battery so my question again is what is a normal draw from the battery in rest with everything that can be turned off is turned off? Please show this e mail to your technical person. He will understand.

 

P.S. I would contact my dealer but he is 200 miles away and before I know I have a problem, i.e. this is not normal, I would waste his time.

 

From: Katherine Ebbole [mailto:KEbbole@forestriverinc.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2018 9:48 AM

Subject: RE: RV Site - r-pod - Contact Us: "Battery Drain"

Good morning Ronny,

                I have looked in to this with my lead warranty advisor. Items like the refer and LP/CO detector will pull off of the battery constantly. I have attached photo of the amp draws for the RPOD.  Also, we do not provide batteries with the RPODS, the dealers do. I would consider contacting your dealer. We recommend you use a 12V marine battery. For dual batteries we recommend parallel set up.

It's not a battery issue. The problem is the draw from inside the camper. In simple terms, a 0.4+ amp draw is the same as leaving a light bulb on in a car. Give it a couple of days and you can't start the car. It's not the batteries fault. So my question again is, what is a normal draw from the battery in rest without the unit connected to 115 volt. With other word, could someone put an amp meter on an R-pod battery and let me know if this is normal before I take any further step. 

From: Katherine Ebbole [mailto:KEbbole@forestriverinc.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2018 6:58 AM

Subject: RE: RV Site - r-pod - Contact Us: "Battery Drain"

Hello,
The issue you are experiencing with the battery does not sound normal. Have you tried a different battery?

Thank you-
Kate Ebbole
Surveyor/Rpod
Warranty Claims/Service Dept.
(574) 642-3119 opt. 2
kebbole@forestriverinc.com

 Ronny Karlsson has sent the following message in regards to r-pod:

" I recently purchased a new R=Pod 173 from Empire RV & Marine in Liberty TX. I realized that if I park the unit without shore power the battery goes dead within a week even if everything is off (that I can turn off). Put an amp meter on the battery and get about .4 amp. Also, when I connect the battery the speakers click and the fan in the power unit start for a short time. Ended up putting a shut of switch on the battery but is this normal?

The converter doesn't draw any 12v. It can't. If tried to, it would blow the reverse polarity fuses as soon as 12v tried to go "the wrong way"..

What most, or at least many people miss is the antenna booster. But the OP seems to have checked that. The next thing to do, is start pulling fuses one at a time and checking which circuit has the draw.

At .4 amps, that's 9.6 amps a day.. a group 24 has around 30 usable amps.. 

I have seen parasitic draw reports this high before, but usually it's half of that or less. Our Pod drew .12 and we had dual GC2's.. so we could sit idle a good long time, still used a battery cutoff.

Many campers have one from the factory (battery cut off).. we are "2 outa 3"... so far. LOL