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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: The tongue of the Rpod
    Posted: 14 Oct 2018 at 11:54am
I concur, a 1000 watt inverter seems like a complete waste. Too small to run the microwave or air con, too big for a laptop, and everything else in the trailer can be run on 12V more efficiently. Either get a 2kW or larger inverter which could actually run the microwave for a few minutes a day or a 200-300 watt one you can plug into a cig lighter for small AC loads like a laptop.
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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JJT View Drop Down
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Posts: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2018 at 9:38am
thank you for your advice.  I really don't understand why they are offering that inverter for such a  modest travel trailer.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2018 at 9:27am
Originally posted by JJT

Lostagain. I am thinking of purchasing the solar panel option on my new r pod and it comes with a controller and 1000W inverter.  But I live in cloudy midwest so do you think I will get any real benefit from such expensive equipment?
What do you describe as expensive? A 100 watt panel and a solar controller should only be a couple hundred bucks 300 tops. That will do a fine job of topping up your battery/ies in the summer time all the way up to the 40th parallel or so. Of course clouds will affect that to some extent. Don't expect to "operate" on the solar panel, think of it as more of a trickle charger.

That 1000 watt inverter is another thing altogether. It has the potential of draining your battery/ies in a few minutes if you start actually putting a 1000 watt load on it. Plus it will have to be located really close to the battery/ies with some rather large gauge wire. If you're only going to be charging a laptop or phone on it, that is one thing, but don't expect to run a microwave or toaster for very long.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Ghosthawk View Drop Down
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Posts: 128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2018 at 8:21am
We are hitting the road tommorow for points south, I have made some changes on the front.

Power jack came as ordered.

Ordered a second battery box and mounted it next to the first. There is just room to get both lids on and off. Bought some light chain. Attached one end to the frame closest to battery box, same on otherside.

In the middle of each lid I drilled a .250 hole and inserted a 1/4" bolt with washers securing the lid from being lost. And preventing the chain from moving. In the middle a Padlock, making sure both sides are as tight as possible.

Now you could still get into it, but it will take longer, and make some noise.

Left over chain made a loop through propane tank carry handle, down around frame and padlocked.

Padlocks were 3 from Harbor frienght, keyed alike. So I only need 1 additional key on my ring. 3rd one is on the hitch lock.

I have a second propape tank that does double duty. If my first runs out it is a spare. It also feeds a small gass grill and a Mr Buddy heater. It is currently in the back of my TV strapped down on my 4 wheel wagon hauler.

I think pretty much everyone finds their own level of "comfort" especially when it comes to loss prevention. I feel pretty good about starting this adventure with the choices I have made, but circumstances may change my mind over time.

Total costs for my up front mods are pretty low. 11$for chain, maybe 10 for the padlocks.
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JJT View Drop Down
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Posts: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 2018 at 8:01am
Lostagain. I am thinking of purchasing the solar panel option on my new r pod and it comes with a controller and 1000W inverter.  But I live in cloudy midwest so do you think I will get any real benefit from such expensive equipment?
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2587 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 2018 at 4:01pm
You guys make me glad I have a 172, with more deletions than additions, that I'd have to work at to get it up to it's axle weight capacity.  We get along fine with a 100 amp solar panel, never worry about running out of battery power, and the WDH works just dandy for a comfy and balanced load.  Our only issue is to find campgrounds with nice sites and now, at the end of the season, too many of them are closing for the season.
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
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Our Pod 172
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 2018 at 1:06pm
GlueGuy, back to your question yesterday on Li Ion charging, I took a look at the Battleborn website today and they say that as long as your existing charger doesn't exceed 14.4 volts it can be used with their batteries as is, so our WFCO's should in theory not cause a problem. They do imply that that might not be the most efficient charge protocol for their product though and have some other recommendations. WFCO, PD and pretty much all the other charger manufacturers have specific Li Ion chargers or specific programmable Li Ion settings now so I guess it would be good to sift through all that before making a decision what to use.

In my case, my current thought is to move to 24V when I go to Li Ion to reduce copper costs and weight and voltage losses running the big loads (the air conditioner mostly) so I'd need a different charger anyhow.  I'll probably go with one of the 3kw bidirectional inverter/chargers. 

For the OP, the battery management system in the Battleborn battery apparently won't allow charging at batt temps below 25F. I think probably all Li Ion batteries are going to be like that.  So if you know you'll never use the pod in those kind of conditions you can leave them on the tongue as you were thinking, otherwise it would probably be better to keep them in the heated space somewhere.  Or go with lead acid batteries as others on this thread have suggested. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2018 at 6:26pm
I wonder the same thing...
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2018 at 4:44pm
Hmmm, I wonder how many axle failures have a WDH involved, curious and not being problematic?
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2018 at 3:52pm
Yes absolutely the axle load on the heavier pods is an issue. 

My 179 weighs in at about 3900 lbs loaded. But 570 lbs is on the tongue not the axle, so that gives 3330 on the axle. But then when I put about 600 lbs tension on the 30 inch bars of the wd hitch to reduce the TV rear axle loading I generate 1500 ft lbs of moment which is balanced by about 120 lbs additional load being transferred to the trailer axle. So now I'm at 3450 on the axle. So not exceeded but dang close, and that's not counting the weight imbalance between the driver and passenger sides. 

And that's why I want to invest in a heavier axle....
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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