battery power? |
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GLBCamper
Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2015 Location: Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 274 |
Topic: battery power? Posted: 08 Sep 2015 at 12:03pm |
Another battery related question. I keep the pod plugged into shore power when storing at home and tow with a charge line, but when I get to a dry camping site and disconnect from the TV the battery indicator on the wall panel shows 2/3 (3 dots). I know the panel lights aren't very specific but it seems like it should read full (or 4 dots).
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Old: 2014 177 HRE
2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
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Don Halas
Senior Member Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
Posted: 08 Sep 2015 at 11:35am |
Thanks. Don't expect to be off the grid often but like to have a plan.
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 08 Sep 2015 at 9:42am |
Yes, you can do that. I would even recommend opening the slide before you disconnect the TV (and leave it running), ditto if you have a power tongue jack, to preserve your available power if you will be camping off-grid. Or if the camper battery is low at the end of the weekend. But I wouldn't leave the TV connected all weekend because it has a starting battery which are easily damaged if you run them down like a deep cycle battery (the type on the pod's tongue) - not to mention you'll be stuck if you can't start the TV.
If you don't have solar or a generator and you'll be camping more than 2-3 days, you can hook up the TV with good jumper cables and run it for 30 minutes every other day (not every day) to top off the pod battery. Don't use the Bargeman connector for this - the wiring is too small. |
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 08 Sep 2015 at 9:38am |
The TV should be set up such that the TV battery is disconnected from the TT when the engine is not running. This prevents the TT from discharging the TV starting battery. When you start the engine the TV will supply power to the TT. The TT will charge the TV battery, but slowly. You may have to let the engine run a few minutes to recharge the TT battery enough to close the slide.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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Don Halas
Senior Member Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
Posted: 08 Sep 2015 at 8:15am |
If the TV is connected to the trailer when dry camping will the TV battery supplement the trailer battery?
I know there's a risk in using the car battery, but curious especially if it would be adequate to power the slide before leaving if the trailer battery has been run down. I'm sure with jumpers from the TV to the trailer that would work, but would be nice if the trailer connections were adequate. Thanks. |
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WillThrill
Senior Member Joined: 04 Jul 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 298 |
Posted: 28 Jun 2015 at 6:06pm |
My Yamaha 2400 iSHC runs the AC well, though I do plan to put a hard start capacitor on the AC to help with the compressor cycling. Storing gasoline isn't really a problem if you store it in very tightly sealed gas containers. I've stored regular E-10 gasoline for over a year this way and burned it with no problems whatsoever. At the end of the camping season, you can just empty your gas containers into your car. |
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"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien
2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
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wingnut2312
Senior Member Joined: 25 Aug 2013 Location: MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 231 |
Posted: 28 Jun 2015 at 3:57pm |
I need one of those for my house!! Lol
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2014 rpod 182G
Ford Expedition |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 28 Jun 2015 at 3:00pm |
For that you need a generator. 2000 watts for microwave and TV, 2400+ watts if you include the A/C. Preferably propane powered so you don't have the problems of long term gasoline storage.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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wingnut2312
Senior Member Joined: 25 Aug 2013 Location: MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 231 |
Posted: 28 Jun 2015 at 2:43pm |
Well that sucks! Lol. We have no power here from the storms and I told the kids we were lucky to have a camper...only to find out I was wrong. Oh well, back to reminding them how people lived without power for a long time.
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2014 rpod 182G
Ford Expedition |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 28 Jun 2015 at 2:22pm |
Microwave and AC will not run an the battery. Some Pods had 12V TVs, but MOST did not. Therefore your TV probably will not run on the battery. BTW, do not put much trust in the 4 light battery indicator. The only light that means anything is the top light and that only means the battery is being charged, not that it is charged. The other three lights mean almost nothing, just like the tank level indications.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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