Mods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: How does charging work?

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How does charging work?

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: Non-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Mods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15059
Printed Date: 23 May 2025 at 6:44pm
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Topic: How does charging work?

Posted By: Elie
Subject: How does charging work?
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2021 at 10:06pm

Hi,

I need to understand the following:
1. When my car is running, does it charge the RV batteries?
2. When the car is shut off (ignition key is turned off) does the RV drop power from the car's battery?

Thanks for your help!

-Elie

Replies:

Posted By: RoverPod
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2021 at 6:44am

1. It depends on how your car is wired. You will need to confirm that it is wired to provide power through the 7 pin connector to the trailer.

2. Again, it depends on how your car is wired. But typically, if the trailer is connected to the tow vehicle via the 7 pin connector, it is possible for the trailer to draw power from the tow vehicle's battery and draw that battery down. If you are going to be stopped for an extended period while connected, it's often advisable to disconnect the 7 pin connector between the tow vehicle and the trailer.

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2017 F150 XLT SuperCab
2020 rPod 180

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2021 at 6:48am

Through your 7 pin Bargman plug, yes the batteries should be charging as you travel. Some like to travel with their fridge on battery instead of propane and if that is your desire it would be a advisable to take your vehicle to a shop where they can test alternator output at the seven pin plug to see if it has cables stout enough to handle the load to power the fridge.

2. Yes, as long as you are hooked up to your tow vehicle, your RV will 'borrow' power from your car battery. That is why it is a good idea to unhook the connecting plug when camping. For instance if you forget to switch power from battery to propane on the fridge or your emergency brake cable on the RV is activated it will take only a matter of hours before the car battery will be dead.

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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: Elie
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2021 at 9:00am

Great information. Thank you very much

Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2021 at 1:47pm

I'm going to disagree here. IF your vehicle is wired to output a charge, then yes, it will trickle charge the camper battery. you can determine if yours puts out a charge by using a volt meter. When looking at the plug on the tow vehicle, put one lead into the opening at 1 o'clock, and the other lead goes into the opening at 7 o'clock. With the key turned off, If you read something like 13.1 to 14.8, then you output a charge, and it will run down your battery if you park and leave the plug plugged in. If you read "no volts" try turning on the key, if it reads 13.1 to 14.8 then you output a charge, but, it will NOT run down your battery. Your vehicle only outputs a charge when the key is on.

If you do not read any volts with the key on or off, your vehicle does not output a charge

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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2021 at 5:31pm

There are caveats to the above. Our F150has a switched 12V output to the Bargman plug. First it detects the presence of a trailer, and if it's connected, it will supply power (and charging) to the trailer when the engine is running. A short delay after the engine is turned off, the 12v is disconnected.

So the answer is YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). It's good to know what kind of system you have in your tow vehicle.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 9:37am

The 7 way connector simply connects the trailer battery and the tow vehicle battery in parallel (in some vehicles the ignition also had to be on). Since the two batteries are in parallel the one with higher voltage will supply current to the other one until they equalize in voltage. So if you are connected to shore power your trailer will charge the tow vehicle, if you aren't and have been using the trailer battery to run house loads then the TV battery will feed energy to the trailer. The latter is undesirable as you could wind up discharging both batteries and not being able to start the TV when you want to leave. The former is fine as long as you remember to disconnect before heading off in the TV without the trailer.

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