Quick Question solar plug
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=5713
Printed Date: 16 Jun 2025 at 5:58pm
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Topic: Quick Question solar plug
Posted By: jeffreydean
Subject: Quick Question solar plug
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2015 at 1:34am
| I need the male plug that fits into the Zamp ready socket….. |
Replies:
Posted By: bonanddoug
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2015 at 10:33am
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Search Amazon for SAE connector. You can also get battery minder cables at auto parts stores. ------------- 2015 179 HRE 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 |
Posted By: jeffreydean
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2015 at 12:14pm
| So can i leave my POD plugged into shore power day in day out and not harm the batteries? OR better to plug a tender into the Zamp socket only? I keep the pod in my garage and kind of like it plugged in with taillights and running lights ON! |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2015 at 2:01pm
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Don't know about the Zamp socket. There are at least a couple of theories on keeping the pod plugged into shore power while in storage. I opt for doing it and it seems to work fine after two years. There is a built in battery maintainer that works while on shore power. That's all you need. You should still check the water in the battery from time to time. The other theory is to disconnect the battery, maybe remove it, and put it on a charger for about 24 hours a month. That seems to me a good plan if your pod is stored remotely without access to shore power. I think the Zamp socket is mainly for solar to recharge batteries while camping, but I'm sure there are other ways to take advantage of it. You want to keep the pod in the garage with the running lights on?? That's a new one to me. (Why?) You'd have to run 12v in through the bargman connector, as far as I know. Zamp or shore power won't help directly, other than to counteract a significant drain on the battery. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2015 at 2:20pm
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You can leave the pod plugged in no problem. That would allow you to use the 120v stuff also if needed or wanted, vs using the zamp plug to input a trickle charger. To run the running lights, stick a 5amp automotive fuse into the bargman at 11 and 1 o'clock.
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Posted By: jeffreydean
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2015 at 2:59pm
Well I keep the pod in my very ample sized garage. When I bought the 179 I noticed the service guys that were doing the set up check had a small fuse inserted in two of the connections in the female trailer plug thereby testing the tail and running lights. It looks cool sitting there all lit up in my garage and wiih it being all LED bulbs I figure a small drain?
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Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2015 at 7:40pm
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I just put a meter to measure voltage at the Zamp plug and it's dead. I know for sure the wire is attached to the battery and I know for sure the meter works properly, and I know for sure I make a connection because I used a wire probe after the SAE connector failed. The reason I am testing is to establish a circuit for solar recharge while dry camping and I was thinking of using the zamp connection to connect my charge controller to, I mean after all, that's whats its for. Fuses and breakers look good so I am left with the assumption the wire is open. Am I missing something? ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2015 at 8:51pm
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The next thing would be to check the continuity of the solar plug wires back to their battery connections. I do not believe that wire is fused, but do not know for sure.
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Posted By: jeffreydean
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2015 at 11:57pm
| Yes check continuity of each wire from plug to battery. You have a break or pinch somewhere….. |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 8:32pm
Found the problem. The Forest River Employee that made the connection did not know what connector to use and the wires that are connected directly to the battery were dangling around in the back panel. Yikes! Clearly whoever used the connector that failed had no idea how to do it properly and should have never been working on the line. What's really cooking my noodle now is I wonder what else this person did on my POD. This isn't the first bad connection I have discovered, but this one is the most dangerous. The connector used was not even a wire nut, it was some kind of small wire like 16 or 18 gauge crimp on. It wasn't crimped...ridiculous to use such a thing on 2! 10! gauge wires connected directly to the battery. I striped the wires and made the connection using the proper wire nuts. I must say, this one kinda pisses me off.  ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: jeffreydean
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 10:18pm
| So what did your dealer say??? |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 10:41pm
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Dealer? I fixed it myself. Didn't contact the dealer, but will be sending an Email to Forest River.
------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 11:38pm
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Ouch, that was bad. ------------- 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: Podster
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2015 at 10:05pm
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Update: The warranty folks at FR have taken corrective action. It turns out the connector will hold 2ea #10 wires, but the tech failed to execute a proper crimp. FR also offered to cover a complete electrical inspection to ensure there are no other problems, and I am satisfied with that. ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2015 at 9:46am
Sounds like they did as right as they could.. ------------- |