And yet another problem, batt charging. |
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Unclewillis
Senior Member Joined: 26 Aug 2014 Location: NV Online Status: Offline Posts: 100 |
Topic: And yet another problem, batt charging. Posted: 29 Sep 2015 at 5:00pm |
Now I am noticing the battery doesn't seem to be charging while hooked up to shore power or while hooked up to the TV. while its not totally dead, it never shows a full charge like it used too.
While hooked up the power meter shows a full charge but hen I disconnect it shows about one or two dots. I once found the breaker tripped and that seemed to fix the problem although temporarily. any thoughts? |
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Daddy, Mommy and Daughter.
BlackJack & Keno (boston Terriers) Rpod 176T 2015 Nick: ouR-pod |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 29 Sep 2015 at 8:48pm |
The LED meter is telling you that the converter is charging when it is plugged in, so that is good news (otherwise it isn't good for much). But, it sounds like your battery may be dead.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Podster
Senior Member Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: San Antonio Online Status: Offline Posts: 1108 |
Posted: 29 Sep 2015 at 8:49pm |
Pretty dynamic situation here. How long did you charge via POD charger before checking the battery? It could take several hours to bring the battery back up from a 50% state of charge.
Also, the LED lights don't tell us much. Do you have a mult-meter that can be used to measure the battery voltage? Here is a link to a document that I refer to when troubleshooting a battery. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2M4imcnGBJoVl9pSnpLejlOemc/view?usp=sharing |
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Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
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Outbound
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767 |
Posted: 29 Sep 2015 at 8:56pm |
The battery meter measures the 12v system's voltage. Obviously, when plugged into shore power, your converter will be adding power and the reading won't reflect your trailer battery's true state. Same thing if you're connected to your vehicle (wheither the vehicle is running or not).
For the most accurate measure, make sure that your r-pod is unplugged from shore power/your vehicle and turn off everything - all lights, the fridge, the furnace, the TV booster and so on before taking a reading. The purists will also advise that you let the battery rest for 30 minutes... but I doubt you'll find much difference in the reading unless you've been really stressing the battery. As a side note, a deep-cycle battery will withstand about four hard discharges before it starts to noticeably looses capacity. Try not to let your battery level drop too far (to two blips or below) between charges, and always fully charge your battery when you get home at the end of each trip in order to get the maximum life from it. Finally: although modern batteries are mostly very easy maintenance, make sure to check your water level every now and then (water level to the top of the plates) and top up with distilled water if required.
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Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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WillThrill
Senior Member Joined: 04 Jul 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 298 |
Posted: 29 Sep 2015 at 9:20pm |
+1 From the people that I've talked to, I doubt that more than 20% check the water levels of their batteries at all. I try to check mine every six months or so when I'm not using them much, more often when I am. I've noticed that when a good battery maintainer is used to keep the batteries charged, less water is needed, presumably because the batteries aren't being unnecessarily overcharged.
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"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien
2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
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Unclewillis
Senior Member Joined: 26 Aug 2014 Location: NV Online Status: Offline Posts: 100 |
Posted: 29 Sep 2015 at 10:48pm |
OK, I am kind of expecting the battery to be dead. It never seems to fully charge or charge at all. I have it out of the camper this week on a charger. I don't have a multi meter but maybe its time to invest in one
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Daddy, Mommy and Daughter.
BlackJack & Keno (boston Terriers) Rpod 176T 2015 Nick: ouR-pod |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 30 Sep 2015 at 2:05pm |
Once you get the voltmeter ($10 on Amazon), take the battery off the charger for 3 hours and then take a measurement. If it isn't around 12.7 volts then it is no good. If you do get 12.7ish volts there is a 2nd test to verify its capacity...
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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loudog
Newbie Joined: 14 Oct 2011 Location: San Jose, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 6 |
Posted: 30 Sep 2015 at 10:32pm |
I'm just did a pile of electrical work on our pod after a second battery rig didn't charge all the way. First: I have a 2011, and the piece of garbage that they installed as a power converter is junk. I replaced it with a Power Max converter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F8MC440?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00) and now it's charging correctly. I was able to recondition the original battery with an external charger.
I also second the "check the water" recommendation... |
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Unclewillis
Senior Member Joined: 26 Aug 2014 Location: NV Online Status: Offline Posts: 100 |
Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 2:11am |
got 13.05 volts
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Daddy, Mommy and Daughter.
BlackJack & Keno (boston Terriers) Rpod 176T 2015 Nick: ouR-pod |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 10:08pm |
Doesn't make sense, you will only see that if it is (barely) charging. See the colorful chart 2/3 of the way down on this page:
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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