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: Charging battery while at home?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedCharging battery while at home?

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
mcarter View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Charging battery while at home?
    Posted: 28 Jul 2020 at 4:36pm
Thousand Gomens members, I never add acid to an old battery that has not been drained. Only distilled water and actually use the dehumidifier water like Jato.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
Back to Top
Phil from Maine View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 12 Jul 2020
Location: 04074
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 19
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jul 2020 at 12:18pm
Originally posted by offgrid

+1 to Jato. Placing batteries on concrete is fine. 


I stand corrected. Doing my due diligence,  I read articles from respected sources that confirm Jato's post content.
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: 28 Jul 2020 at 10:40am
+1 to Jato. Placing batteries on concrete is fine. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
jato View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3325
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jul 2020 at 9:16am
[QUOTE=Phil from Maine]

That is what I have always done with my motorcycle and boat batteries and I believe that that procedure is the industry recommended procedure.  I do however monitor the batteries as  the Winter progresses and have been taught by others never to leave batteries on unheated concrete.
EDIT: on ground slabs whether heated or not.

There was a time when battery cases were made out of a special wood however with the advent of plastic battery case construction drastically changed sometime in the 1940's I believe.  With wood cases, yes, you would not want to place on a concrete surface as it would discharge the battery.  However with plastic that is no longer the case - pardon the play on words here.  If it were a problem, my 9+ year old batteries would no longer be useful or work as well as they do.
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: 28 Jul 2020 at 6:09am
StephanH is right., Don't add sulphuric acid, unless the battery was tipped over. The H2SO4 in the battery is not depleted by gassing. Only water. Adding acid will raise the specific gravity in the battery over time, which increases plate corrosion and stress during cycling. There are no battery manufacturers I have ever worked with who recommend changing the electrolyte concentration after initial filling and charging. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
Phil from Maine View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 12 Jul 2020
Location: 04074
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 19
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jul 2020 at 5:43am
Originally posted by jato

Our flooded cell batteries are 12v Interstate group size 24, deep cycle marines.  Since we took ownership of our 177 back in March 2011 I simply take off the ground cable when not using, doesn't take very long to do.  Interesting mcarter to add acid with the distilled water, never heard of that.  Just adding distilled water (from our dehumidifier) for the past 9+ years has worked well for us.  And when we get to winter  (northern Michigan) both batteries are removed in November and set on the concrete floor in our unheated garage.  They each receive a 2 amp trickle charge for 24-36 hours and then 'hibernate' all winter until the following mid-late April where the process is repeated and then re-installed around May 1.  Batteries are kept clean by washing with baking soda 2x/year. Also key is keeping an eye on the water level.


That is what I have always done with my motorcycle and boat batteries and I believe that that procedure is the industry recommended procedure.  I do however monitor the batteries as  the Winter progresses and have been taught by others never to leave batteries on unheated concrete.
EDIT: on ground slabs whether heated or not.


Back to Top
jato View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3325
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jul 2020 at 8:45pm
Our flooded cell batteries are 12v Interstate group size 24, deep cycle marines.  Since we took ownership of our 177 back in March 2011 I simply take off the ground cable when not using, doesn't take very long to do.  Interesting mcarter to add acid with the distilled water, never heard of that.  Just adding distilled water (from our dehumidifier) for the past 9+ years has worked well for us.  And when we get to winter  (northern Michigan) both batteries are removed in November and set on the concrete floor in our unheated garage.  They each receive a 2 amp trickle charge for 24-36 hours and then 'hibernate' all winter until the following mid-late April where the process is repeated and then re-installed around May 1.  Batteries are kept clean by washing with baking soda 2x/year. Also key is keeping an eye on the water level.
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
StephenH View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6417
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jul 2020 at 7:12pm
Why a mix? Why not just distilled water to make up for that which was dissociated into H2 and O2? Yes, I know water  is H2O, but oxygen normally bonds with another oxygen atom when not bonded to anything else so 2 water molecules dissociate into 2 pair of H2 and  one O2. The sulfuric acid does not get consumed, so you are changing the balance if you add acid and water at each filling. You are also likely cutting the capacity of the battery if you add acid along with the water.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
Back to Top
mcarter View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jul 2020 at 4:32pm
+1 to Olddawgs. I have the same battery my Pod came with in 2015. The convertor stays live, I go in every few days and turn on the 12V stuff, watch the convertor go to 13.6, every month I check the water level. Might even shut the convertor down and let battery discharge randomly. I top it off with a battery mix of water and acid. Works for me so far.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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: 27 Jul 2020 at 3:40pm
I come from a belief the battery needs to be used. Just running  trickle charger is your choice. If you pay attention to your battery it will last fa beyond what is normally expected. I do (well did, now LiFePo4) allow the battery to draw, then charge it. Keeping that Draw low and the recharge low balances off the chemical reaction happening nd the plates pretty darn clean.. 

I say yes do charge at home, but understand the draw/charge cycle and how to balance it. 

I say this as MHO and not knowing your particular situation.. Batteries love attention and the more you give them, the longer they last.
Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

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