Battery Level - R-pod Owners Forum

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marwayne

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Joined: 25 Oct 2011
Location: Edmonton AB Can
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Posts: 1002

Topic: Battery Level
Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 12:03am

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If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.

offgrid

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Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 10:00pm

50% will be at about 12.2v but you will have to shut off all loads and charging for a half an hour or so to let the battery reach equilibrium and then measure the voltage. Or, once you determine your daily usage is less than 50% you can just recharge once a day, you don’t have to wait till you get down to 50% to recharge.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

SailorDude View Drop Down

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Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 9:21pm

I know how to read the battery voltage via a voltmeter. Is that what you are talking about? I'm trying to determine when I'm about 50% down and I need to charge the batteries so I don't hurt the batteries by taking the charge down to far. I'm planning on doing some boondocking and I don't want to ruin my battery if I can help it.

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Joined: 22 Sep 2011
Location: Chapel Hill,NC
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Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 8:51pm

Those monitors are notorious for being inaccurate.

The best way to test the battery is use a meter that shows the amperage(in volts) and then you can also convert that to a state of charge(SOC) percentage.

The freshwater tank usually can be visually checked by simply looking under the pod and viewing the level of water in the translucent tank.

You can open the flush valve on the toilet and look directly down into the black tank or even use a disposable stick to manually measure.

the gray tank is always a guess.

The thing to remember is that you have 30 gallons in the fresh tank and both the gray and black tank hold 30 gallons each-so it is very unlikely that you will overfill either black or gray.

there are after market sensors that people buy and use. I have no experience with them

Safe travels

Vann

Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

SailorDude View Drop Down

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Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 4:52pm

I have a monitoring systems that monitors the battery, fresh, black and gray water in a single monitor. I assume this is standard to all rpods. There are four levels: Full, 2/3, 1/3, and Empty. My question is how accurate is this unit for monitoring battery level? If it is accurate at what level should I consider charging my flooded batteries before I run then too low and hurt them.

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marwayne Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Location: Edmonton AB Can Online Status: Offline Posts: 1002	Topic: Battery Level Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 12:03am
	instant photo upload
	If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 10:00pm
	50% will be at about 12.2v but you will have to shut off all loads and charging for a half an hour or so to let the battery reach equilibrium and then measure the voltage. Or, once you determine your daily usage is less than 50% you can just recharge once a day, you don’t have to wait till you get down to 50% to recharge.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

SailorDude Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 06 Dec 2020 Location: Washington Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 9:21pm
	I know how to read the battery voltage via a voltmeter. Is that what you are talking about? I'm trying to determine when I'm about 50% down and I need to charge the batteries so I don't hurt the batteries by taking the charge down to far. I'm planning on doing some boondocking and I don't want to ruin my battery if I can help it.

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067	Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 8:51pm
	Those monitors are notorious for being inaccurate. The best way to test the battery is use a meter that shows the amperage(in volts) and then you can also convert that to a state of charge(SOC) percentage. The freshwater tank usually can be visually checked by simply looking under the pod and viewing the level of water in the translucent tank. You can open the flush valve on the toilet and look directly down into the black tank or even use a disposable stick to manually measure. the gray tank is always a guess. The thing to remember is that you have 30 gallons in the fresh tank and both the gray and black tank hold 30 gallons each-so it is very unlikely that you will overfill either black or gray. there are after market sensors that people buy and use. I have no experience with them Safe travels Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

SailorDude Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 06 Dec 2020 Location: Washington Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Posted: 18 Dec 2020 at 4:52pm
	I have a monitoring systems that monitors the battery, fresh, black and gray water in a single monitor. I assume this is standard to all rpods. There are four levels: Full, 2/3, 1/3, and Empty. My question is how accurate is this unit for monitoring battery level? If it is accurate at what level should I consider charging my flooded batteries before I run then too low and hurt them.