Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Battery charging

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Battery charging

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10017
Printed Date: 30 Jun 2025 at 2:35pm
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Topic: Battery charging

Posted By: Robwid
Subject: Battery charging
Date Posted: 23 May 2017 at 3:11pm

I will probably be pushing the limits of my 6 year old batteries while dry camping over the coming holiday weekend. I understand that it's better to use jumper cables from the tv rather than the Bargman cable when topping up batteries. My trailer has two 6 volts batteries connected in series. Do I need to jump these batteries separately or simply connect the neg jumper to one trailer battery and the positive jumper to the second trailer battery?

Thanks!

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Rob
2012 HRE 177
2010 Toyota Tacoma

Replies:

Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 23 May 2017 at 3:28pm

There's no reasonable way to charge them from a 12V electrical system other than together in series.

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 23 May 2017 at 4:47pm

You have to connect the jumper cables to both batteries, they are in series. There should be a POS connection (12V) and a NEG connection (GRD), and a connection from POS to NEG, that puts them is series. Put the jumper cables on the lone POS and NEG terminals, not on the interconnected ones. Make sense?

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: Robwid
Date Posted: 23 May 2017 at 6:02pm

Gotcha! Thanks for the advice. I figured the way to do it is as you described but never hurts to ask, right?

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Rob
2012 HRE 177
2010 Toyota Tacoma

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 May 2017 at 6:59pm

Robwid. Let's have a contest. Our batteries (2 12v deep cycle group size 24) turned 6 years old in March and are now going on year 7. They get used a fair amount and when they expire, and I expect them to maybe this year? I plan on going the route you took by getting 2 6 volt golf cart batteries. Now it is a waiting game to see how long they will last.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: Robwid
Date Posted: 24 May 2017 at 9:27am

Jato, you 're on. Ready, set...go!

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Rob
2012 HRE 177
2010 Toyota Tacoma

Posted By: Robwid
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2017 at 9:45pm

Hi Jato,

We'll, my wife and I are just wrapping up our 6th season. After 6 days of dry camping our batteries were at 12.15 volts! I guess they could fail at any time but they seem like they'll have more years ahead! However, I'll never know. We sold the Pod today and now have a Winnebago View!

Happy camping!

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Rob
2012 HRE 177
2010 Toyota Tacoma

Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2017 at 3:07pm

For those considering 2 6v GC batteries as replacement for 12v batteries or replacement for existing 6v GC batteries--consider using the equivalent of 2 Trojan 145s instead of the standard equivalent of Trojan 105s. The 145s fit the same footprint as the 105s use the same battery box. Lots more storage capacity, 265 aH compared to 225 aH.

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2017 at 9:54pm

Thanks for that info sailor, I wasn't aware of that. How much do those batteries weigh? Robwid, as far as I am concerned, the competition is still on, hopefully you are still planning on using those current batteries in your Winnebago. We just returned from 2 weeks in Colorado, our main stays were at Black Canyon of the Gunnison (stunning) and our favorite RMNP near Estes Park. Even with night temps between 36-39 we still got a good 3+ days out of each battery before switching to the other. After 3 days the S.O.C. showed 33%. Still not bad for batteries that are closing in on 7 years of faithful service.

-------------
God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2017 at 10:00pm

Rob, just checked out that Winnebago View, that is quite the unit !!! Hopefully will give you many years of fine service as you adventure around this great country. Hmmm, maybe you won't be needing those 6 year old batteries after all.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."