Any thoughts on battery isolator
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5492
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Topic: Any thoughts on battery isolator
Posted By: Trinityfly
Subject: Any thoughts on battery isolator
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2014 at 1:52pm
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This has been cross posted with the FR Users Group ------------- Joe and Diane, pups Jenny and Tyke. RPod named Lilly. Alive and well deep in the toolies of Norther Calif |
Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2014 at 4:28pm
Most relatively new trucks and SUVs have battery isolation built in. Assuming your truck has the standard 7-way round RV connector you can test this function with a voltmeter. Here's the wiring of the plug: With the trailer disconnected and the engine running you should see around 13V between pin 4 and the truck frame. This should go to zero volts when you shut the engine off. If this checks out the truck will charge the camper battery while running, but the camper will not discharge the truck battery when the engine is off. There is no isolator in the trailer. BTW, most folks prefer to run the fridge on propane while traveling. Contrary to old info, there is no safety issue. New gas bottles have limiting valves to prevent fire in case of accident. Using propane helps to maintain the trailer battery charge and the smaller fridges perform better on gas. ------------- 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: 29 Oct 2014 at 7:28pm
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Newer GM vehicles don't kill the Bargeman when the vehicle is off. If you are using 12 volt mode on the fridge and will be stopped more than 60 minutes I would flip the fridge to LP mode. That said, I'm with Charlie and preferred LP mode most of the time anyway. Larger camper fridges only have LP mode when on the road, no 12 volt mode. ------------- 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: CharlieM
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2014 at 8:10pm
Are you sure about this, Doug? Is this yet another step backwards? What can be the thinking here? ------------- 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: 30 Oct 2014 at 8:19am
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Learned it the hard way with my 2010 Suburban during a dry camp. Since I had my genset I got a quick charge and was on the road within 15 minutes, but I'm more cautious now. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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