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Replacement Battery

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13702
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 1:11pm
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Topic: Replacement Battery
Posted By: tony rpod 180
Subject: Replacement Battery
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 1:47pm
I need a new battery for my 2018 R-pod 180, confused on what type I should get. The good ones I look at say marine solar, stores solar power etc...
Will this type take a charge while on shore power?
Should I use gel type, lithium ion, trying to stay away from lead acid.
Any advise would be appreciated.

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GMC Canyon/RPoder



Replies:
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 2:48pm
The factory supplied converter is set up for lead acid batteries. To upgrade to more exotic batteries that don't use lead acid, you will need to replace the converter to get full use of the new battery chemistry.

Like most other upgrades, how much are you willing to spend to make this upgrade happen? And why do you prefer to get away from lead acid? (other than better performance) Unless you boondock (off-grid) alot, the standard lead acid batteries are normally adequate for most campers, most of the time.

And yes, they will work on shore power converters even is there is some blurb on the label that says it will work with (or was designed for) solar power.




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r・pod 171 gone but not forgotten!


Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 3:01pm
Trying to stay away from LA's, aye... Sorry dude, they've been my friend for years! Used to be you bought a set, you had them for your lifetime. Not so much anymore... My friend is going away..

A Lot to be said for Gel and AGM's, yet not experience with either (remember my friend?). Reasons for going that way (which I never did) and many have (it's new and improved). 

I left my LA's behind (goodbye old friend) and have gone Lithium Iron Phosphate as the replacement (LiFePo4). 

LA's have been the standard for years and service well if you treat them well. I'm not a fan of 12v batteries for our usage and do like 6v's paired up. Dollar for dollar, I've yet you see any other surpass the life expectancy of a good pair of LA 6v's. 
And here I am changing to Lithium... 

I don't expect this Lithiums to outlast my old La's.. I hope they can come close.. I went this way mainly for weight and having them in a better location. Well, and they go into standby so nicely, usage in the house in winter as a UPS, or reasons go on and hopefully prove out.

Your choice of battery comes from, cost (how much you wish to spend), use (what you expect to get back), what effort you wish to put into this and finally how you re-charge (amount of time required/allowed/system). 

Keep your options open. Don't be swayed by marketing. 

I love my La's (my old friend) and switching to Lithium. Take my statement as just MHO and what I'm doing. 


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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander


Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 3:31pm
Tony,

Why do you need a new battery for a 2-y.o. camper? 

Lead-Acid (Pb-SO4) batteries are still with us for very good reasons, one being cost.  A flooded cell Pb-SO4 battery will *generally* provide greater surge capacity, good for starting engines.  But they require water additions periodically and lose life if ever discharged below 50%.  An A_bsorbed G_lass M_at Pb-SO4 battery *generally* has a longer life, no/low maintenance and higher A-Hr capacity for a given size; they are considered spill-proof.  AGM batteries make good solar battery banks because they don't need to produce huge surge currents and are no maintenance.  AGMs cost a little more.  Gel based Pb-SO4 batteries are also spill proof, low/no maintenance and can be mounted in any orientation.  Because the gel can't circulate, they are not good candidates for starting duty and they are expensive. 

What you want is a deep cycle battery, sometimes called solar or trolling motor battery.  Their chemistry is a little different and allows discharge to 70% without undue damage.  If you buy an AGM Pb-SO4 battery, it will last longer and not need water.  I recommend the largest AGM(s) that will fit in the battery rack.  https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=deep%20cycle%20battery

My R-pod came with a 75 A-Hr Group 24 deep cycle 12V battery.  More A-Hrs won't hurt. 

ALL batteries need maintenance charging.  If left sitting a Pb-SO4 battery will self discharge at the rate of 5% to 16% a month (depending on temp).  I have a battery disconnect for my battery to keep the little bit of stuff that runs in the trailer from killing it.  Plus I added a 25 watt solar panel and a Battery Tender charge controller to keep it hot when not in use. 


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John
'16 R-Pod 180


Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 3:54pm
Just to be clear, AGM and GEL are both, lead acid batteries. The OP want to get away from those, so that pretty much leaves LiFePo4, cobalt, di-lithium crystals, flux capacitors, cold fusion in a mason jar, zero-point modules, or, a hamster in a wheel. 

(there's my dry humor again, lets see if I'm gonna get in trouble this time also)

Wink




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r・pod 171 gone but not forgotten!


Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 4:01pm
You can get a gopher snake to chase the hamster on the wheel and substantially increase output.  

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost


Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 4:36pm
Originally posted by podwerkz

Just to be clear, AGM and GEL are both, lead acid batteries. The OP want to get away from those, so that pretty much leaves LiFePo4, cobalt, di-lithium crystals, flux capacitors, cold fusion in a mason jar, zero-point modules, or, a hamster in a wheel. 

(there's my dry humor again, lets see if I'm gonna get in trouble this time also)

Wink



Did you just mention 'Capacitors'? Flux or not.. I'm a fan of. Silliness aside.. Find a slow draw capacitor and you a have product that beats all else out there... Guess we're still awaiting that 'flux' part...


-------------
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander


Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 4:41pm
I planned on replacing my lead acid batteries a long time ago but here is where I am.  Currently have 2  12v Interstate deep cycle group size 24 batteries that are 9.5 years old.  We use them most of the time as we usually boondock so they are used extensively.  We use 1 until it drops to 12.3 v and then swap out for the other.  Our worst case scenario's are camping when night temps are mid 40's or less - furnace runs mucho - each lasts 3 to 3.5 days giving us a total of 6 to 7 days boondocking (no solar or generator).  Summer time  1 battery lasts over a week, more than we need as we do not stay in one place during the summer for more than 3 or 4 days. 


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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: tony rpod 180
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 5:39pm
The battery lasted 2 years.
Will a gel type work?


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GMC Canyon/RPoder


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 5:50am
Yes, a gel battery would work but depending on why your original battery only lasted 2 years you might find the gel one to have even a shorter life. Any the last thing I assume you would want is to spend lots of $$ on a high tech battery only to have it die in another two years. 

The point is that 2 years is unusually short for any battery, so before replacing it you should try to understand why that happened. Did you leave it at a low state of charge for a long time? Forget to fill it with distilled water and allow the battery plates to be exposed? Let if freeze? Or just boondock a lot and go through hundreds of battery cycles? 

I really like Li batteries too, but wouldn't recommend them for the typical rPod owner who is only occasionally booddocking. Its not so much the cost of the battery itself as it is that there are just so many changes to make in the electrical system. New converter, new dc/dc charger if you want to be able to charge it from the tow vehicle alternator, relocation of the battery to the interior of the traiiler so it won't freeze, battery monitoring systems, etc. 


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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 7:41am
Read my write up in my mods on what went into the conversion from PB-Acid to LiFePO4 battery if you want to get an idea of what goes into conversion. I agree that it might not make sense for everyone to switch. However, if it does, there is certainly more involved than just buying a battery.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS


Posted By: tony rpod 180
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 9:56am
Thanks for the info, the battery has never been down all the way. One of our boondocks stops, the battery just kept losing caharge with very little load as opposed to before it would last all night with electric cooler, exhaust fan running, and furnace blower all night and the battery would on 2/3 charge in the morning, now it goes to almost empty in 2 hours.

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GMC Canyon/RPoder


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 10:13am
All that stuff overnight seems like a lot. Electric coolers are energy hogs.  If you boondock a lot you might need a dual battery system if you can stand the tongue weight increease on the 4Runner. You can't go by the little lights, they're pretty much useless in determining what your battery state of charge is, other than fully charged or completely discharged. 

Get a digital voltmeter if you don't already have one. Is the battery flooded? If so, be sure that the plates are covered, using distilled water only. Leave the battery on the charger and the trailer plugged in for a few days. Disconnect the battery (-) terminal. Wait an hour, then measure the voltage. It should be around 12.6-12.8 volts. If its low , then next would be a discharge test. If its lower than that voltage then it probably has a bad cell and needs to be replaced.

For the discharge test you will need to put a load with a known current in amps on the battery for a known length of time so yo're taking out about 50 amphours (about 50% of the battery capacity rating). Let's come back to that once we get through the first step. 


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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: tony rpod 180
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 10:57am
It has held a charge overnight many times in the past,with same load and only one bar down by morning, it just now started not holding a charge.

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GMC Canyon/RPoder


Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 11:03am
Sounds like you need a new battery.  Unless you want to invest in all the stuff you need to change for an LiFePO4 battery, you might be better off staying low tech and picking up a couple 6v golf cart batteries.  They will last for years and will give you adequate power for boondocking (if that's how you like to travel).  You may also want to consider a solar panel.  Check with OG on what to buy as he is very knowledgeable on that topic.

-------------
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost


Posted By: tony rpod 180
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 1:04pm
It has held a charge overnight many times in the past with same load and only one bar down by morning, it just now started not holding a charge.

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GMC Canyon/RPoder


Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 1:12pm
Look for causes that might be an excess load. Check things like the pin in the safety disconnect switch. Check that there is nothing turned on, to include the refrigerator on DC power instead of propane. Check the antenna booster (although that would not explain an overnight drop that bad). Are you running an inverter for anything?

Just to note, even if a battery is not that old, it can develop a fault. I've had car batteries last only a year or two. If you can get the battery tested, do so. If that is the original battery, it is a dual-purpose battery, not a true deep cycle battery. It sounds to me like you need a setup with one 12V deep cycle battery or two 6V GC2 batteries in series,  or as in my case, a LiFePO4 battery (but that requires a lot more changes to get it going).


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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS


Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 1:13pm
In spite of your indications, you probably over discharged it a few times. 

Here is a very good manual for AGM Pb-SO4 batteries.  Other types are similar, but the voltages change a few tenths.
http://lifelinebatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/6-0101-Rev-E-Lifeline-Technical-Manual.pdf
Pick up a decent digital volt meter.  The State of Charge and Load vs Voltage charts are near the end. 



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John
'16 R-Pod 180



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