R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > I need HELP!!!
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Battery Drain
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedBattery Drain
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 4>
Author
Message
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Tibof View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 19 Sep 2017
Location: North Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 115 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Battery Drain
    Posted: 07 Jun 2020 at 7:22pm
Batteries seem to test good.  But quickly go down.  I know that could mean a large variety of issues, but I would like to hear any ideas out there.  Perhaps there's something I have not addressed.  Batteries run through an on/off switch that I'll hafta tear apart.  Otherwise I can't think of anything.  So if you have an idea, throw it my way and I'll say thanks in advance.
2015 Pod Hood River Edition
2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter
Back to Top
podwerkz View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 11 Mar 2019
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 966 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2020 at 7:27pm
Are they D size, C size, or double AA? 

Flashlight or radio?

You know they just dont make em like they used to.
r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
Back to Top
Tibof View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 19 Sep 2017
Location: North Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 115 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2020 at 8:46pm
Thanks for your thoughtful help.  Good of you to take the time.
2015 Pod Hood River Edition
2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter
Back to Top
jato View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3229 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2020 at 8:47pm
I currently have a pair of 12v Interstate deep cycle group size 24 batteries that are 9+ years old and still going strong.  Maintenance is key.  I need more info like: do you regularly check and keep the battery acid levels full, do you use distilled water when filling, do you keep your battery clean, have you ever run the battery to levels that will harm the ability of it to recharge?  I will take mine down to 12.32 volts before changing out to the other, if you take it down to flat zero, you have essentially destroyed the ability of the battery to take a charge.  Any other info you can offer would be helpful.
God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 5:58am
Podwerk's facetious point was I think that you didn't give us a whole lot of information so we could help you.

When you say the batteries test good I assume you mean that when charged their voltage is OK? That means very little, the true test of a battery is of course how much capacity it holds. 

What would help us help you is if we could know a few things like

what batteries you have (type and capacity rating)
how old are they
how have they been treated (overcharged, undercharged, storage procedure, plates allowed to be exposed, etc)
what was the voltage when they tested good (to check that charge them then disconnect them completely for about and hour, then measure the voltage)
when they went down quickly, what were you running with them and for how long.
What voltage were they at after running down.

Happy to help, just need a bit more to go on. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 6:20am
Chuckled when I read the response, but... What are they (as OG asks) and how do you test.

I am a believer in voltage testing, but again, it's in the how it's done.

Get them on the charger and charge 'em up. Let them rest 24hrs (6-12hrs will give you idea) of if something is wrong. That rest period is important. You should have about 12.7v at hat point 

If you seeing an issue you can test cell by cell and confirm just how bad (like one is much worst than all others).

Much of this still depends on how you have treated (maintained your batteries).

Give it a run and let us know.
Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
Back to Top
lostagain View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2588 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 8:29am
An inexpensive battery hydrometer is a useful way to check your batteries.  Test each cell with the hydrometer.  All should test about the same.  If one is an oddball, you probably have a problem with your battery.  

I agree with OG and Olddawgs's comments too.
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
Back to Top
mjlrpod View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 27 Sep 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1214 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 10:15am
I don't know if your saying the battery doesn't hold a charge, or it is being drained by something? I am going to offer 1 thing I can think of, if your problem is something is draining the battery. Near the t.v. is a small push button, it's an antennae booster switch. If that is left on, it will drain a lot of power. If the lite is lit, it's on. Hope that helps. 
2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
Back to Top
Tibof View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 19 Sep 2017
Location: North Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 115 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 10:25am
When I said batteries seemed to test good, I meant they have passed voltage, continuity and load.  I was attempting to move on from there. They are Interstate 27,  4 years old and well maintained.  Stored inside each winter on a battery minder.  I will now proceed to test all other possibilities.  I was hoping it might be something obvious that others have experienced.  Everyone's input is appreciated.  
2015 Pod Hood River Edition
2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 10:45am
If you have or are able to eliminate the possibility of stray trailer loads then there is a capacity problem. 4 or 5 years is a pretty typical lifetime for lead acid batteries, they might be done. When you say they passed a load test what were they loaded with? The short duration load testers they use for SLI (starter, lights, ignition) auto batteries aren't meant to check capacity on deep cycle batts. 

I'd suggest disconnecting them from any load in the trailer, charging them well, then put them on a known load for a known length of time. Group 27's should be good for 80-100 amphours, but try not to ever take them down that low. Take em down to 50% or so and use Olddawgsrule's chart. 

If you don't have one already I'd also suggest you get a multimeter with dc current capability, aka a hall effect clamp on probe. They are pretty cheap nowadays and are great for sorting stuff like this out. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 4>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz