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 > Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Battery Charger
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedBattery Charger

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
lgblau View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 09 Feb 2018
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 140
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Battery Charger
    Posted: 14 Nov 2018 at 3:30pm
Good Afternoon...If I were to carry a battery charger ,because of a possible converter failure, what size charger would I want. TIA
Leonard🌵
2017/179
2017 Ram 1500
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: 14 Nov 2018 at 3:56pm
Really about price and what you want charger to do. Personally I like a multi-use charger that has an engine start option, is automatic, has low and high charge rates and does multiple battery types. I bought a Scumacher at O'Reillys several years back for about 100 dollars that does everything I need. For the Pod you just need a charge capability, this charger will start TV if battery is dead. It's a SC1307.

"85 Amp Engine Starter-Powerful Enough For Starting SUV's And Trucks. Battery And Alternator Tester-Provides Charge Level And Helps Diagnose Electrical Problems. Digital Display, Led Indicators And Button Controls. Schu Eco Energy-Meets The Highest Industry Standards For Energy Efficiency. Charges Compatible Battery Types-Standard, AGM And Deep-Cycle Batteries. Microprocessor Controlled. Float-Mode Monitoring. Auto Voltage Detection. Reverse Hook-Up Protection."

You can get a much cheaper one that that is only a 12V charger which will work fine for the Pod use. I like options. I also am a Scumacher fan.

Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
Back to Top
lgblau View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 09 Feb 2018
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 140
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 2018 at 3:45pm
Thanks Mike....I too am a Schumacher fan, and have an older SE-60. I just did not want to drag the big 
SE -60 around. I was looking for a unit that would keep the house battery charged on case the converter charger went bad. Again, my electrical know how is very limited.
Leonard🌵
2017/179
2017 Ram 1500
Back to Top
lostagain View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2586
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 2018 at 4:35pm
I've been using a Schauer 10 amp charger for over 35 years and it's still running just fine.  It spent most of its life on my various sailboats in a salt water environment, despite not being marine grade.  I still use it regularly.  I think it'll live longer than me.
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
Back to Top
lgblau View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 09 Feb 2018
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 140
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 2018 at 4:49pm
Still trying to find out what the least amount of amps I need to replace the battery charger in the Pod’s converter.🤓
Leonard🌵
2017/179
2017 Ram 1500
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: 15 Nov 2018 at 5:04pm
The charge circuit is 3-5As. The converter does more than charge battery that is why it is rated at total amps. The add on charger will charge at a constant rate vice a phased rate.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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: 6285
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 2018 at 6:27pm
A lot depends on how many Amperes you are using and need to replace. My dual 6V batteries are rated at 215 Ah. A single 12V battery would require much less to fully charge. I have a 15A charger that I carry. I bought it when my converter went bad. It did work to charge the batteries until my new converter arrived and I could get it installed. However, it would eventually say the batteries were bad because it could not fully charge them in less than 24 hours. Not only was it charging the batteries, but it was also supplying the needs of the R-Pod, so its programming did not take that into account and so concluded that the batteries were bad.

Now the 15A charger is sufficient. I have two of them. One stays at home and the smaller unit stays in the bin I carry in the truck bed when we travel with the R-Pod. Since I replaced the converter, I haven't needed it for the R-Pod. I did loan it to a neighbor at the 10th Anniversary Rally in Kentucky in October because his converter had failed. He had a 12V battery and it was definitely sufficient for that battery.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

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