running appliances and battery charging |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Topic: running appliances and battery charging Posted: 26 Sep 2015 at 12:31am |
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The PWM solar charger doesn't buy you anything when charging from the TV. The PWM controller is really an off/on switch that temporarily and periodically connects the charging source to you battery. When charging from a 12V source you need a full time heavy duty connection. PWM and MPPT controllers only work if the charging source is higher voltage than the battery being charged. You could use a 12V to 14V boost inverter. Such a thing exists, but it's not common. The jumper cable thing works if you use good heavy duty copper cables. |
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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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sunflashx
Newbie Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Posted: 25 Sep 2015 at 9:00pm | ||
Is there a 12v -> 12v charger that would work better than straight jumper cables? Is there any reason you couldn't dual purpose a slightly over sized pwm solar charge controller that could be fed from panels or jumper cables? That way the batteries received a quality charge either way. Sunny days get panels, shady days get the cables. |
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2013 R-Pod 177 Hood River
2006 Acura MDX Tow Vehicle |
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kp57george
Newbie Joined: 13 Aug 2015 Location: Bay Village, OH Online Status: Offline Posts: 24 |
Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 6:02pm | ||
Thanks very much I will try that on the next trip. George
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kp57george
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 5:36pm | ||
George,
A few extra points: six volt GC2 batteries are available from Sam's Club for $85 each. The amazon price is way too high. Battery boxes are purely cosmetic. The batteries don't need protection from the elements. Good Trojan GP24 batteries are 85AH. Most less expensive GP24s supplied with trailers are 70 or less. A good pair of GC2s are 230AH. Do the math. Even with solar you will want plenty of battery capacity in case of rain or shade. The water pump does not draw any current unless it's pumping. No need to turn it off, unless you have a leak. |
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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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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 5:24pm | ||
Welcome. With just LEDs, the water pump, and fridge (the control board uses some energy even in LP mode), the original battery should last you 3 days.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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kp57george
Newbie Joined: 13 Aug 2015 Location: Bay Village, OH Online Status: Offline Posts: 24 |
Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 4:25pm | ||
I have the RPOD 177. I only need electricity for the water pump and a few LED lights--no TV, NO AC and the frig will be on propane. I will only be in non electric campsites for 3 day periods. The golf cart batteries from Amazon, ANSTON 6v are $195 each at Amazon. That is almost $400 plus the box for another $100. I could go solar for less than that and for a few bucks more go for Zamp. I am thinking I will start off by sticking with my 12 v. that came with the unit and see how long that lasts by judiciously shutting the pump off when not needed and using a few battery lanterns at times.
I just don't understand how anyone has felt that the two golf cart battery is better. This is my first year with the RPOD and I need all the help the old pros have. Thanks. George
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kp57george
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 04 Aug 2015 at 8:56pm | ||
The rule of thumb is 30-60 minutes every other day (not every day). Due to the way lead acid batteries accept a charge you'll get more total charge for the time and gas spent doing it that way.
The goal isn't to charge it fully, only up to a max of 80%. Above that the battery accepts less and less charge so it is best to top off from an outlet - which should occur every 7 days since it isn't being fully charged every day. That will help prevent sulphation. As long as you generally keep it between 50% and 80%, with an occasional dip to 30% you are fine (assuming that full top-off every 7 days). If you are going to do this more than a few days here and there, maybe for a week once a year, then you need to add a proper charging source. Solar, if you camp where there isn't any shade, or an inverter-generator.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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WillThrill
Senior Member Joined: 04 Jul 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 298 |
Posted: 04 Aug 2015 at 12:33pm | ||
I've used the jumper cable trick before to get out of a jam with a rented RV. Apparently, the battery on the RV was already badly sulfated and would not hold much of a charge: running the refrigerator's electronic circuit board only (the unit was being cooled with propane) completely discharged the battery in less than 24 hours. At any rate, you must be careful of sparks with the jumper cables, and you must be sure to start the TV immediately after connecting the cables to the Pod's battery. Otherwise, you may drain your TV's battery and be unable to start it. FYI, most vehicles' alternators output 20-50 amps while idling. Considering that most TVs are bigger than average, you're probably looking at at least 30 amps of output. It would take about 3 hours to completely recharge a dead marine battery at that rate. Keep in mind also that this is not 3 stage smart charging, which is best for battery life: it's a raw current dump. But in a pinch, it will work. You should ALWAYS have a set of jumper cables with you anyway. :) |
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"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien
2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
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WillThrill
Senior Member Joined: 04 Jul 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 298 |
Posted: 04 Aug 2015 at 12:33pm | ||
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"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien
2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
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Chuck
Senior Member Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Location: Waukesha WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 140 |
Posted: 04 Aug 2015 at 9:41am | ||
Thanks guys. I am using #4 copper jumpers so I guess I'll just have to do a trial & error.
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Z-pod
Chuck Janet & Bogie the dog '12 RP 177 1972 Shasta 1400 2005 Ford F-150 5.3L V8 |
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