battery maintenance questions
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=3969
Printed Date: 15 May 2024 at 7:21pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: battery maintenance questions
Posted By: On Golden Pod
Subject: battery maintenance questions
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 5:20am
| So I have been reading a lot about battery maintenance and just how long can the battery set on the pod, connected and not be drained. I have had it in storage now for a week but I made sure everything was turn off including the LP gas. I am going to get it this weekend were it will stay with us at home for about a week before we go on our trip. Should the battery be disconnected every time the pod is not in use no matter how many days it will sit till the next camping trip. I know if i was going to let it set for months it should be disconnnected but a few days here and there before recharging it when I get it back home would not drain the battery it would it? Also I read were people say they recharge there battery when the connect the electrical to the TV. How do you know if you are doing that? |
Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 8:06am
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I got about three days on mine the first time I parked it and didn't disconnect the battery. The gas detector is a fairly high drain device.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: podrunner
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 8:11am
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I am sure you will get a lot of opinions and answers to your question. I will start with mine. The main issue is that even with turning off all electrical in the trailer, there is still a power draw, primarily from the LP gas detector. Even though you have turned the gas off, this electric device will continue to draw power and will eventually completely drain the battery. This would probably take a few weeks. Completely draining a battery a few times will dramatically shorten the life of the battery. So letting it sit for a week or so is not a problem. I usually just leave my pod plugged in if it is sitting at home. Your pod should charge from the TV while driving. If your vehicle has a factory installed towing package, it should have the wire connected to the round bargman connector from your TV. Best way to check is probably to get a multi meter and check the voltage with the trailer plugged in to the TV and the motor running on your TV. Voltage should be 13+. There should be a voltage difference with the TV running. You can get a very basic multi meter at Harbor freight for less than $5. This is handy to have to monitor your battery voltage while dry camping to make sure you do not over discharge the battery. ------------- 2010 R Pod 151 2017 4runner 2006 Honda Metropolitan |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 9:40am
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I always disconnect my battery anytime I will not be using it for several days. Obviously, it will preserve the battery charge so I don't have to worry about that. I have an electric tongue jack, and I would hate to try to hitch up my pod without it working. And, finally, I keep my pod in a commercial outdoor storage facility. With the battery disconnected, the jack won't function which would be a major deterrent to anyone that might have the urge to "borrow" my pod. I don't want to derail this thread, but here are two more comments. First, be sure to periodically check the water level in your battery cells. It does evaporate, and here in Florida is one of the main reasons so many deep cycle batteries end up with a short life. Second, lock your coupler in the closed position if you are leaving your pod stored off-site. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 9:50am
If you are parking where you can't plug in, may I suggest: ------------- |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 1:44pm
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I'll add a few cents worth. On my 2013 RP172 I measured 85 milliamps fixed drain on my battery with "everything off". That includes 70 milliamps for the propane detector and a few more for fridge electronics and furnace thermostat. 85 milliamps will add up to 2 Amp-Hours per day. Assuming the standard single Group 24 battery at about 80 AH rating, the battery will discharge by half in 20 days. That's about as far as you want to go to avoid damage to the battery. That said, I'd plan on recharging every two weeks. Don't count on a significant recharge from the tow vehicle. Batteries take a long time to recharge while driving, even assuming the fridge is running on propane. Best to recharge at home or on some shore power overnight before you leave. ------------- 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: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 2:42pm
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My additional 2 cents. Disconnect the battery from the pod every time. Lead acid batteries need to be kept full or near full to prevent damage. If you leave it connected and then plug the whole pod in every 1-2 weeks to recharge you will shorten the life of the battery. Best to completely disconnect, then reconnect once a month and plug in the pod overnight. As Charlie said, also charge overnight before a trip. ------------- 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: On Golden Pod
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 7:09pm
| So I made a rookie mistake after reading all the posts about batteries on this site. I when out to disconnect the battery cables half expecting it to be dead and sure enough it was almost completely drained. So my plan is to remove the battery tomorrow when I bring the whole trailer home and charge the battery. So I know now to disconnect it when I am done camping for awhile. My next question is since it is a new battery did I do a lot of damage to it? I would like to add a second battery to the system but did I ruin this battery to the point of matching it with the same kind of new battery will cause some problems? I also am a little confused on the diagrams on how to connect the two batteries together. I have seen one post with it connected one way and another connected another way. Can some one show me the correct way please! Thanks everyone for all the help! I would be so lost without you guys! |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 7:19pm
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There should be little, if any, damage to your battery. My deep cycle batteries I use for my shrimp lights are often drained very low after a night of shrimping. They will still last me 4 or 5 years with the care I give them. If you install a second battery, parallel connect them. That is, positive to positive, negative to negative. Bob |
Posted By: On Golden Pod
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 7:26pm
| So positive to positive, negative to negative and then the positive cable from pod to positive pole on one battery and the negative from the pod to the negative pole on the other battery is that correct? |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 7:43pm
That is correct. Connecting the pod wires to the different batteries is a fine but important point. Might as well do it right. ------------- 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: TrinityTurret
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 8:45pm
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So if I read you correctly---to properly charge and maintain the Rpod's 171 battery, I simply disconnect it from the pod after I'm done camping for awhile.....then connect it back up once a month and run power to the pod (110 volts via extension cord from my house) overnight? I assume the Pod's inverter will charge the battery? I thought the concensus I've read was to keep the Pod connected 24-7 to power so that the inverter trickle-charges the battery, minding it, keeping it 'just right'?  ------------- There's only one way... |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 9:21pm
We leave ours plugged in. Works just fine that way. Plenty of people plug their pod in once or so a month to keep a full charge on their batter. Others will use a disconnect switch in between trips to keep anything from draining the battery at all during that time. So it's really just a preference. Leave it plugged in Use a disconnect switch Or plug it in at least once a month and let it charge I think all 3 options are equally used amongst Podders depending on their situation and camping schedules. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 9:25pm
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Yes the converter will charge the battery. You can leave it connected, too, but I've measured mine at about 32 watts at rest, or about 23 kw per month. ------------- 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: TrinityTurret
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 9:25pm
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Keeping the 'inverter/converter thing' running doesn't cause any problems with heat buildup in that unit, or wear out the built-in fan in it? Wish I could disconnect the hard-wired Jenson blue-tooth stereo system; it will also be powered up (at least the LED screen) if I keep the Rpod connected. Remember, I'm a new-newbie, LOL. I can tell you how to create a website, and can produce TV commercials...but it's difficult to change the oil in my lawnmower :) ------------- There's only one way... |
Posted By: TrinityTurret
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 9:57pm
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Thank you all for your kind patience with me as I continue this new adventure!
------------- There's only one way... |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 8:36pm
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No problems leaving the converter plugged in, the fan is designed for long-term use.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
|
Posted By: TrinityTurret
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 8:55pm
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Thanks again, y'all...I'm gonna pick up a plug and extension cord tomorrow.
------------- There's only one way... |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2013 at 8:27am
You can pull the fuse or trip the breaker, whichever is needed. ------------- |