Battery Charging
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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=3332
Printed Date: 17 May 2024 at 2:56pm
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Topic: Battery Charging
Posted By: renosteve
Subject: Battery Charging
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2013 at 12:54pm
| Well, we bought a Champion generator to recharge the batteries while boondocking. My question is, what is the best way to charge the batteries. Should I use my car battery charger, or should I just plug the POD directly into the generator and use the internal charger? |
Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2013 at 1:38pm
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With a single battery I would plug in the Pod. I am not sure about dual batteries. Doug?
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 17 Mar 2013 at 8:30pm
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The charger built into the converter in the pod is a good-quality 3-stage charger. I would use that. Note that some generators come with a 12 volt charger built-in, but they are usually low-amperage and not well regulated. Fine for an emergency, like a dead starting battery on the TV in the middle of nowhere, but normally use a good 3-stage charger. You'll get a faster charge (more amps) and in a way that is better for the battery (the 3-stage part). ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: EasyriderSLC
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2013 at 5:03pm
| I have a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee that has a plug in the back seat for charging electronic and such. Do you think this could be used to plug into the trailer to charge the batteries? |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2013 at 8:01pm
You didn't say whether the plug is 12 volt or 120 volt. Some newer vehicles are coming equipped with120 volt AC inverters. The 12 volt sockets are usually limited to 15 Amps or less. This would charge the trailer batteries, but not as effectively as the Bergman 7 wire trailer-to-vehicle connection which is probably 10 gauge wire and capable of 20-30 Amps. If the plug is 120 volts you could use the Pod's built in charger with cable adapters or an external battery charger. However, you will still be limited to 100-200 watts which would translate to less than 15 Amps at 12V, allowing for conversion losses. The most convenient charging method is the 7 wire (Bergman) connector plugged into the TV. The most effective method, using the vehicle, is a set of heavy jumper cables between TV and trailer battery. Of course this means you are not driving on the road. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2013 at 6:35am
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Use the generator. Just be somewhat aware of your surroundings. If you're alone, not a problem, however if you're close to others, they probably won't take real well to the idea of hearing a genny.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: renosteve
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2013 at 12:33pm
| Thanks for the info folks. If we use the built-in RPOD charger about how long does it take to charge my dual batteries if we start at 50% remaining charge? Also, I'm thinking about putting a simple four-sided folding plywood box about 3 feet high around the generator for noise reduction. Will this reduce the noise effectively? |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2013 at 1:07pm
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You will need to provide air movement in and out of the box to keep the gen set cool. That will reduce the amount that a box will reduce the sound. I plan on using my generator sparingly during the day when the campground is fairly empty. At night normally it is cool enough so that the air is not needed, and after 10 at quiet time you can't run the generator even in a box. If you don't get into quiet time no one can complain. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2013 at 6:48pm
To fully charge, 12-16 hours. But, the thing is, the charging curve is exponential and it is more 'difficult' (and time consuming) to add amps to a battery the more fully charged it is. While dry campiing, you're not looking to fully charge your batteries - only to bulk charge them, which will bring them to 80% or so. To bulk change your batteries - replacing around 70 amps - will take about two hours, maybe 2 1/2 with r-pod's WFCO converter. Personally, while dry camping, I usually run the genny every day for an hour in the mid-afternoon while most of my neighbours are out and about. In the spring/autumn, when the furnace is in use, I'll stretch that to an hour and a half.
Some 3/4" Styrofoam would likely be better. But, you should really consider adding a fan to your box to keep the air moving. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2013 at 11:38pm
The manual for my little 2400w generator says to give it a meter of space all around or it may overheat. I suspect a meter might be a bit much, but an internal combustion engine sucks a lot of air and making it breath its own exhaust isn't good. Just allowing for an exchange of air isn't enough either. A box is going to enclose and retain a lot of the radiant heat the engine produces and reflect it back in. A quiet (read probably more expensive) generator is a better idea if noise is a concern. Still, whether it's 50db or 80db, you are still going to be restricted to quiet hours, or sometimes even more restricted generator hours. All that said, if I were your neighbor in a campground I'd probably appreciate it if your generator was in a box. If you decide to go that route, watch the air flow and the heat. TT |
Posted By: Thinker
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2013 at 7:13am
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I do have the little Honda 2000i generator. It is super quiet. But we do like the National Park campgrounds where there are no gen hours. Our neice is a park ranger in the Tetons... Our rig is pretty new and as soon as I figure out how to get the right bulb we plan to change all lights for LED bulbs. We are from Louisiana (AKA, flat, hot, humid). On one camping trip to the Tetons in July we were surprised how we were pulling for covers at night. So, AC is not a problem. Just lights. Our little gen has 12v battery charging output as well as the 120v AC... Don't think one will pull the AC but have not tried. We do have the companion set too, but that is a lot to carry. These things are super quiet though. Just a purrrrrrr. ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171 
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2013 at 1:13pm
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I'm planning on doing something like that very soon where I'll be mounting my genset on the front of my truck. I've been holding off on mentioning that until I get it built, but basically it will open on both ends for ventillation, open on the top and front to gas it up and start it, but completely close up while going down the road. I have all of my parts and just need to build it. My goal isn't noise reduction but weather protection on the road and in-camp. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: renosteve
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2013 at 2:51pm
| Thanks again everyone. I now plan to run the generator in the faternoon for 1-2 hours to recharge to 70-80%. I plan to buil a 3-sided screen to shield noise from neighbors and still let the generator breath. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2013 at 8:28pm
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Lead-acid batteries accept a faster charge the more discharged they are, so in general you'll do better (as in, use less fuel) by doing 1-2 hours every other day. Keep an eye on the resting voltage (no charge or load of any kind for 3 hours) to see just how discharged they are. Look at the battery voltage chart on this page: http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm - http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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