Wet Batteries
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=4559
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2025 at 5:41am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Wet Batteries
Posted By: rimshot
Subject: Wet Batteries
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2014 at 10:37pm
| Well I learned a couple things today. First, I'll have to disconnect more than the one negative battery cable I did to cut the power. Didn't really think that if the other battery is still hooked up I still have power. I discovered this by just happening to go in the rig after work today and seeing the radio backlight still on. That brings me to the second thing I learned today. I'm sure you've all heard we're in a drought here in California. Well it rained like heck last week and evidently the water runs right off the body of the trailer on to the batteries. Both boxes were completely full of water when I hooked the cable back up to charge the batteries. Anybody else have to deal with this? I guess I'll keep boxes vent holes covered in the winter. Also, do any of you use one of those disconnects for your batteries, or is it okay to just plug it in every couple of weeks? Thanks....Bill |
Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2014 at 11:56pm
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I think most pods come with a single battery. Two batteries makes for a nice mod, especially if you do a lot of boondocking. There are several ways to hook up 2 batteries. One of the first considerations is battery voltage. Two six volt batteries would normally be hooked up in series and two 12v batteries would be hooked up in parallel. I can't think why you would need to disconnect more than one negative cable, the one going to the chassis, in any case though. If they are 12v batteries wired in parallel, you could disconnect the wrong negative cable, leaving one battery hooked up. I'm not the brightest bulb on the circuit though, so I'm probably missing something. As for the boxes filling with water, a 1/4 in hole in the bottom does wonders for avoiding that. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: OhTallMan
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 12:28am
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Battery Charging Question: I tried a historical search and only saw one mention and want to clarify the answer - Will the TV charge the pod battery via the trailer connector?
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 7:01am
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We keep our camper plugged in all the time their is no problem with the r-pods in doing so. As has been said you will need to drill holes in the bottom of the battery case to let water drain. I think I am right in saying all TV's with a 7 pin connector will charge your camper battery while TV engine is running.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 8:53am
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The Pod is wired for that to happen, and if the vehicle is wired properly and appropriate fuses are in place it willl charge from your TV.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 10:45am
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Like David said, drill a couple of small holes in the bottom of the battery case for water to drain. I use a battery disconnect now, just put it on towards the end of last summer. It does work well. Before that I would plug the POD into the barn or the yard pole every couple of weeks to keep the battery charged up. I put the battery on a small charger/minder in the garage all winter to keep it in good shape, it's still the original battery and at the end of last summer did OK. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 1:07pm
That is normally true, but not always. Most newer GMC and Chevy tow vehicles have the wiring in place but the wires (brake controller and 12 volt to the TT) have to be connected at the large fuse panel under the hood on the driver's side. My Chevrolet Avalanche already had the necessary fuses in place, but some do not. All I needed to do was connect the 2 wires to the threaded studs. ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 1:33pm
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Drilled holes in the bottom of my battery box the first day I brought the Pod home. ------------- 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: OhTallMan
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 5:16pm
| Thanks folks for all the responses. I am, obviously, very new to the R-Pod and appreciate the advice. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 10:09pm
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Agree with adding holes to the battery boxes, you aren't the first one to discover that their batteries were taking a bath. As for the batteries staying connected, if two batteries are in parallel (12 volt batts) then you must remove the positive from each battery to completely disconnect them. I added a weatherproof fuse holder just outside of my battery for that. If your batteries are in series you only have to remove one connection.
------------- 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: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 10:29pm
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So with 12v batteries in parallel, both negative posts go to the chassis? (Rather than one negative connected to the other negative and then to the chassis?) But wouldn't the positive terminals be connected to each other with one cable to the fuse box? So why disconnect them both? TT TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2014 at 11:09pm
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So I know this may sound like a dumb question, but....why is it necessary to have distilled vs tap water? I guess the water keeps it cool. If not, why the water? Conductivity? I hate electricity unless it persuades answers... ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2014 at 11:37am
the extra minerals and things in your regular house water can build up on the plates. plenty of folks use regular tap water with little noticeable harm if any at all. i suppose depending on how hard the water is where you are could change that a lot. that being said, i have distilled water in the garage to check mine and only use that. ------------- 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: rimshot
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2014 at 11:44am
| I will be drilling the holes in both boxes. Easy fix. I'm also going to investigate the possibility of using a perko switch for the batteries. Might just work. In the mean time I'll just plug it in every weekend since it's in the driveway. Thanks for all the help....Bill |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2014 at 1:54pm
Generally the two negatives would be strapped together and only one battery connected to the chassis. Likewise the two positives would be strapped together and only one battery connected to the trailer power panel. The two trailer connections should be to opposite batteries to perfectly balance the circuit impedance. The reason for disconnecting both positives or both negatives is to prevent discharging one battery through the other one. However, this is really a minor effect. Probably way less than the self discharge rate of each battery separately. Jump in Doug if I'm of base on this. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |