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Changing out battery
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Rvkv View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Oct 2023
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Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rvkv Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Changing out battery
    Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 2:42pm
Hello all! We are looking for direction on the steps we need to take to change out our battery properly. We have a 2020 196 with solar panels. Any input would be most appreciated!
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 3:47pm
Hello Rvkv,

Welcome to the forum. I don't know how long you have had your RPod. I hope you have had or will have many fun adventures and made or will make many great memories with it.

It depends. Are you looking to replace the battery with the same type? Are you wanting to upgrade to an LiFePO4 battery? Are you going with a pair of flooded lead acid 6V batteries? The answer depends on knowing what you intend to do.

If you just want to switch to a newer one of the same type, here are the steps:

1. Go to your power panel. Turn off the converter.
2. If you have a battery disconnect switch, turn it off. 
3. Note which color wire is connected to the positive terminal and which is connected to the negative terminal of the existing battery. This is important! You need to connect the new battery properly or you risk damaging your converter.
4. Remove the cable connected to the negative terminal.
5. Remove the cable connected to the positive terminal.
6. Remove the old battery.
7. Set the new battery in place.
8. Connect the positive battery cable to the positive terminal.
9. connect the negative battery cable to the negative terminal.
10. Verify that the connections are correct (see #3).
11. Turn the battery cut-off switch on and observe whether the lights are working properly.
12. Turn the converter back on.

That is for a battery of the same type. For two 6V flooded lead-acid batteries, you will need a jumper cable. In step 8 and 9, connect the positive cable to the positive post of one battery. Connect the jumper from the negative of that same battery to the positive post of the second battery. Connect the negative cable to the negative post of the second battery.

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery connection is similar, but you need to have a converter that is auto-detect or replace the converter module with one suitable for the LiFePO4 charging profile. You will also need to check the instructions for your solar controller to set it to the proper profile for LiFePO4 batteries.
StephenH
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Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rvkv Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 4:11pm
Hi StephenH!

Thank you so much for this information. We had 1 24 dc/wet and replacing with the same.
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Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rvkv Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 4:28pm
Another couple of questions.

Do we need to do anything with the solar controller. I read views on covering the solar panel to disconnecting the wire.

We noticed upon removing the old battery that the batter display inside the camper shows it is set on the incorrect battery type. When do we change the battery type to WET, before or after installing new battery?
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 4:56pm
Originally posted by Rvkv

Another couple of questions.

Do we need to do anything with the solar controller. I read views on covering the solar panel to disconnecting the wire.

It might be easy or it might not be to try to disconnect the panel. When you use a battery cut-off switch, you are disconnecting the battery without disconnecting the panels. I don't think it will hurt them if you disconnect and reconnect the batteries without messing with the solar panels/controller. If you are worried, do the changeover at night when the panels are not generating power.   

We noticed upon removing the old battery that the batter display inside the camper shows it is set on the incorrect battery type. When do we change the battery type to WET, before or after installing new battery?

I don't know what display you are talking about. Is it one from your solar controller or the panel that also has the switches for the pump and water heater and the tank levels? If it is the solar controller, refer to whatever instructions came with it. Download a set from the manufacturer's web site if you can't locate the manual. If it were me, and it is the solar controller, I would switch it before removing the old battery. After all, you are going to be taking it to someplace to be recycled anyway. Then it will be correct for your new battery. What is it set to currently?
StephenH
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ouR escaPOD mods
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Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rvkv Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 5:34pm
Sorry, I’m still learning the technical side of this. So the solar controller was set to AGM with an installed WET battery. We successfully changed the setting to WET and new battery is installed. Everything is working with exception to two item, the power to the hot water heater and refrigerator. After switching everything on, the hot water heater is tripping our shore power to the house breaker now. We haven’t tried it on propane yet but it has always worked in the past.

We do not have a dedicated 30 amp rv outlet. Using 20 amp from house and not running any appliances or a/c.

Water heater has water and is full.

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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 5:59pm
Originally posted by Rvkv

Sorry, I’m still learning the technical side of this. So the solar controller was set to AGM with an installed WET battery. We successfully changed the setting to WET and new battery is installed. Everything is working with exception to two item, the power to the hot water heater and refrigerator. After switching everything on, the hot water heater is tripping our shore power to the house breaker now. We haven’t tried it on propane yet but it has always worked in the past.

We do not have a dedicated 30 amp rv outlet. Using 20 amp from house and not running any appliances or a/c.

Water heater has water and is full.


I'm not sure about the refrigerator. Are you referring to AC power or DC power? For the refrigerator, if it is AC power, check your GFI outlet to make sure it hasn't tripped. If it has, reset it.

Is it possible that the water heater's electrical element was turned on with the tank empty? That could explain the tripping breaker. You may need to remove the electrical element to see the condition of it if you can't see it through the anode rod opening (think fiber optic inspection camera).
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rvkv Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 6:21pm
Using AC. My hubby says he is going to try it running the propane tomorrow and complete the check per hour instructions. We can’t thank you enough for your time and knowledge!!!
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 7:58pm
Okay. I am glad to help. I hope you get everything figured out. I look forward to reading the results.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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