Battery life off-grid
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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=5878
Printed Date: 16 Jun 2025 at 10:19pm
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Topic: Battery life off-grid
Posted By: 1tulip
Subject: Battery life off-grid
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2015 at 4:48pm
| I JUST got an rpod and it's my first TT. This April I need to camp off-grid for approximately 5 days/4 nights. I can expect warm days and cool to cold nights (We're talking high-desert NV.) I'll only be in the unit at night. So, some LED light use, a shower, probably set the thermostat as low as I can tolerate (maybe 30-35 degrees more than outside night temperatures)... otherwise I'll be out and about. Mainly I'm concerned that I will need to recharge my tablet and cell phone from time to time. Can the batteries on my new 171 handle handle this or do I need to invest in solar panels and solar external batteries for my devices? |
Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2015 at 5:28pm
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First question is what type/quantity batteries do have? You mention batteries plural so I assume you have two. The best solution is two 6 volt galf cart batteries in series. That will give you about 220+ Amp hours storage. If the dealer gave you the standard Gp 24 12 volt battery(ies?) you should replace them with the two golfers. Trojan T105s are the gold standard, but Interstate makes a heavy duty GC2 almost as good. Recharging cell phones and tablets are very low power; no problem recharging but the chargers should be unplugged when not in use. The biggest power user will be the furnace fan and that's a function of outside and inside temps. Will you have the tow vehicle nearby? The easiest recharge in the field is a good heavy set of jumper cables from your TV battery. Don't skimp on these. All copper, no aluminum, and #2 or #4. I would think one charge of 2 hours midway in your trip should be adequate. If the TV is not available and you switch to the golf cart batteries you should still be OK, but just a bit closer. ------------- 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: J&Jcf
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2015 at 6:27pm
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If you don't have a car charger get one and charge them off the tow vehicle battery. The small batteries of a phone or pad will not drain the big battery in tow vehicle. If your concerned about it discharge the TV battery then start it and vehicle alternator will recharge TV battery. Ina pinch, you can also plug trailer into TV trailer hookup and charge pod battery ,but TV will have to idle for a couple of to get a full charge. That is if trailer connector properly setup to charge as you tow. I would take some good covers or sleeping bags , because the furnace in a battery hog and will drain battery in one night probably. ------------- J. - 2011 rpod 171 |
Posted By: Mountainrev
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2015 at 6:28pm
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I can't speak for R-pod battery life, per se, since we haven't dry camped in ours for more than one night so far. But we dry camped exclusively for about 20 years with our former popups. One group 27 battery usually was good for at least 3 or 4 nights of occasional furnace use and minimal lights (non-LEDs). The R-pod has a few more "parasites" to draw on the battery than our popups did, but if you have two batteries, even if they are group 24s, I would expect they would be adequate for the four nights you describe, provided you are very frugal on running the furnace and making sure you don't accidentally have the fridge set for DC, etc. Our Pod came with a group 24, to my dismay, but I'm planning to add a second group 24, and assume we'll be good for a night or two more dry camping than we were with the single group 27 on our previous popup. ------------- 2014 177 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Turbodiesel "I lift my eyes to the hills." 
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2015 at 7:26pm
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Welcome and congrats. If you will rarely be dry camping I 3rd the TV-as-generator option. It takes a lot of dry camping to make a dual-battery setup make sense financially. Due to the way lead-acid batteries charge plan on idling the TV for 30-60 minutes every other day to get the most bang for the gas you are burning. ------------- 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: 1tulip
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 12:10pm
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My TV is a tacoma and it has an electrical outlet in the bed that offers "400 W while idling". Can I hook an extension cord to my truck's electrical outlet and connect that to the pod's outlet, as I would at home when charging the batteries? We're going to experiment at Camp Driveway to see how low we need to set the thermostat. This weekend we're expecting some seasonally cold nights, so it will be a good test run.
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Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 1:15pm
You can probobly run a battery charger off of the inverter in the bed of your truck but I would not run the Pod. 400 watts is only 3 amps at 120 volts. It would be a lot more efficient to charge the Pod Battery direct off of the charging system in the TV. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: lamarkeiko
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 1:30pm
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I also have a couple questions on battery charging, since I will be dry camping in Yosemite this spring. I have a Honda 1000 watt generator I plan on taking with me since it is allowed to operate one a few hours each day. How much time does it take to recharge a depleted battery with the power cord plugged into the generator? The next question I have is maintaining the Pod battery with a solor panel. My RP-179 came pre wired solar ready. Has anyone maintained their pod battery with a solar panel, and what size would be recommended? ------------- Lamar |
Posted By: 1tulip
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 5:55pm
OK... I'm really ill-informed about these things. (Ask me anything about ion flux across an excitable cell membrane and I can tell you... but once you're outside a living system, I'm clueless.) So, I can "load" a battery charger from the electrical socket (inverter?) in the bed of my truck, then what? Using alligator clips, connect it to my r-pod batteries to recharge them???? You have to draw a picture for me. The notion of using my tacoma to recharge my r-pod batteries is very appealing, I just cannot visualize how it works.
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Posted By: 1tulip
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 6:10pm
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Wait... maybe I'm making this way too hard. I can just hook up the 7 pin connection between the truck and trailer and let it idle while I cook dinner and putz around, yes? If quarters are cramped and I can't finnagle my truck into close enough proximity (there will be a gaggle of motor homes, pop-ups, and trailers at the campground once everyone arrives) would another system be needed (as in a charger that I can charge off my truck and then connect to my batteries?)
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 6:30pm
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IF you are going to charge the pod battery(ies) using your tow vehicle... Turn it around and use a set of jumper cables. They are much higher gauge and can move way more electrons faster.
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 6:34pm
Same thing applies that I said above. Only run it 30-60 minutes every other day. When on a generator the point isn't to fully charge the battery each day, it is to just put the most amps in that you can for the amount of gas you are burning. However, every 7 days you do need to fully charge the battery. You can use solar, if you'll be camping where there is no shade. Even a little shading on a PV panel will cut its output most of the way. I recommend 200 watts. ------------- 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: techntrek
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 6:35pm
+1. And make sure they are a good set, not a lightweight cheap set of jumper cables. Do not use the Bargeman 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: techntrek
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 6:42pm
400 watts definitely won't run the converter in the pod, it has a large inrush current when it is plugged in for starters. The inverter in your truck may not run any charger, actually, since it is most likely modified sine wave and many chargers don't like MSW. The conversion from DC to AC back to DC won't be nearly as efficient as connecting directly to the TV battery. ------------- 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: lamarkeiko
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2015 at 12:21pm
+1. And make sure they are a good set, not a lightweight cheap set of jumper cables. Do not use the Bargeman connection. I would still like further information that is still related to my previous questions. 1. In regards to using my generator, I know that if I want AC to my trailer, I will need to connect the pod power cable to the generator. If I just want to maintain the charge to the pod battery, I'm assuming it would be more efficient to connect from the +/- battery charge terminals of the generator straight to the pod battery. As mentioned on my previous post, my pod is solar ready by ZAMP. Near my battery connections, are two unconnected and insulated leads marked with ZAMP pos & neg. Is this for solar panel connections, and/or generator connections? 2 Now in regards to solar power, with my pod being wired solar ready. Is the jack marked with the Solar Ready & ZAMP where a solar panel with charge controller is to be plugged in, and do I have to use a ZAMP system there? I believe I could purchase a much less expensive system elsewhere. ------------- Lamar |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2015 at 1:29pm
1) Charging with a generator, using it's 12v cable, will output less than 10A to the charging battery (ies), the Honda 2000i sends a max of 8 amps. If you plug the pod shore cable in, and charge through the built in converter/charger it will charge at (up to, as needed) 55amps. So much faster and more efficient to use the shore cable connection. 2) You can hook up any solar system, or assemble components as you want or need, within reason. The ZAMP connector is "SAE", an yes, if you want to use their plug.. that is where you plug in.. beyond that it's just wires run to the battery. Good things have been said about the Renogy 100w foldable system on Amazon, about $275. A SAE connector has to be sourced and installed, about $5. If you want to use the pre-wired ZAMP plug. Just as a note.. the alternator on my tow vehicle is rated at 200A, and my truck is as quiet or quieter than just about any generator out there. The trucks on-board electronics will charge my Pod batteries at as safe, and fast, a rate as they can handle, with jumper cables. ------------- |
Posted By: lamarkeiko
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2015 at 6:46pm
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Thanks for the reply back. The 100w foldable Renogy solar panel I actually put on my Amazon wish list yesterday. I also read the reviews, which sounded very good. I'm guessing that those two unconnected pos & neg cables in the battery cable harness marked ZAMP, are to be connected if a solar panal is plugged into the ZAMP solar panel Jack. Is that correct? ------------- Lamar |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2015 at 7:17pm
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On that I just have to say.. "I guess." I actually understood them to be hooked up on delivery, but no doubt you will need to do it if it isn't done. I added a zamp connector to one of my battery box tops. The other has a cut off switch. ------------- |
Posted By: 1tulip
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 10:37am
| Night #1 in the winterized r-pod, using only the furnace, (outside temp ~28 degrees, keeping inside temp ~65) no appreciable drain on batteries. |
Posted By: lamarkeiko
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 12:27pm
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Furpod, I hope I'm not pestering you with too many questions, but I'm just trying to get myself setup the most convient and effecient way to maintain my pod batteries before I go dry camping off the grid. Just to be clear, are you saying that if I'm using my Honda generator to maintain my pod batteries, I can charge them faster if I connect the pod power cable to the generator 120 vac receptical than if I connected the generator pos/neg batt charging output connectors straight to the pod battery with about 10' of about 4 ga cables? I know that higher voltage has less power loss through cables, but going through the pod power cord and back to the batteries must be 50' long, vs 10' and heavier cables. ------------- Lamar |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 1:08pm
Cable loss is minimal over the distances and gauges we are concerned with. The limiting factor is that the 12v charge side of the Honda inverter generators will only charge at 8A. period. Your built in converter will charge at 55A. It is also a smart charger so it will give the battery as much as it can take, within it's limitations. ------------- |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 2:05pm
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A few comments on battery charging methods off grid. I also have a Tacoma with built in 400W inverter. First, read my previous post at http://rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5651&KW=charge&PID=55245&title=comparison-of-battery-charging-methods#55245 - http://rpoA d-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5651&KW=charge&PID=55245&title=comparison-of-battery-charging-methods#55245 It details a set of tests I ran using the Tacoma with direct battery-to-battery connection vs using the Pod converter with the built in Tacoma inverter. The first conclusion is that direct connection using heavy copper jumper cables provides the highest charge current. The second highest current is from the built-in Pod converter running from "clean" shore power, but this is not available when dry camping. The third highest current is provided from the RPod converter plugged into the truck inverter. Apparently the Pod converter does not like the Tacoma's inverter waveform. When dry camping this hookup may appear more convenient, but it's not as effective as battery to battery jumper cables. If you're carrying a generator another method would be to plug the Pod power cable directly into the 120V socket on the generator with the appropriate adapters. The generator's 12V charger is essentially useless for this application. Since a 1000W gen is not adequate for AC or microwave I don't know why you'd carry one. Summary: use high quality jumper cables from the truck to the Pod batteries. "High quality" means #4 copper for 10 feet max, or #2 copper for 20 feet. An added note on batteries: If you start with a single Gp 24 12V battery, as is the usual case from a dealer, I would replace it with two 6V GC 2 golf cart batteries in series, even if your OEM battery is brand new. The two GC 2s are are about 40% better than adding a second Gp 24 in parallel. ------------- 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: lamarkeiko
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 2:06pm
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Thanks furpod. Sounds like pod power cable to generator is best way to go. My only problem now is, I tried that a couple days ago, and the adapter I was supplied with from pod power plug to standard 120 receptacle won't fit in my generators 120 receptacle. It's too big and won't clear. I purchased 12" of 12 ga cord that I'm putting a female plug to match pod plug on one end, and standard 120 ac male plug on other end. ------------- Lamar |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 2:14pm
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Yep. Been there, tried that too. When using the truck inverter I plug a short heavy extension cord into the truck and join the Pod cable to it using a "hockey puck" adapter. About the same place you're going.
------------- 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: 28 Feb 2015 at 2:19pm
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The pod has a 30 amp 120 volt plug, you can buy a "dogbone" or "hockey puck" adapter cheaply. The "dogbone" type is safer to some degree. ------------- 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: lamarkeiko
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 2:41pm
I don't know what a dogbone or hockey puck type adaptors look like, but attached is a picture of my generator re ceptacle, and the adaptor that was supplied with my pod.------------- Lamar |
Posted By: lamarkeiko
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 2:57pm
I need a smaller image file. Hope this is better. ------------- Lamar |
Posted By: 1tulip
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 3:03pm
| If I used the high quality cables between the Tacoma's battery to my pod batteries, what are the risks to over-doing it and damaging my batteries? What precautions should I employ? Is it appropriate to monitor the panel inside the pod and discontinue charging when all four lights are on? |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 3:32pm
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Lamar, The item you're holding in the picture is what we refer to as a hockey puck adapter. It looks like it will not fit due to the recessed socket on the generator, but the idea is good. Another option is http://www.amazon.com/Voltec-16-00502-15-30-Adapter-E-ZEE/dp/B004ZMUKH2/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1425154302&sr=8-8&keywords=15+amp+30+amp+adapter - http://www.amazon.com/Voltec-16-00502-15-30-Adapter-E-ZEE/dp/B004ZMUKH2/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1425154302&sr=8-8&keywords=15+amp+30+amp+adapter This is called a dog bone adapter and is a available from many vendors. You could use the puck you have with a standard short extension cord. Short cords rated at 15A are easily obtained and you would plug it into the generator; then use your hockey puck adapter between the extension cord and and the RPod power cord. With your 1000W gen your not going to draw more than 8 Amps so a 15 Amp rated extension will be fine. If you're going to spend money I'd go with the dog bone. ------------- 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: CharlieM
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 3:43pm
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1tulip, The only caution with the jumpers is making sure you have + to + and - to - and you're careful when handling the cables during connection/disconnection. The Tacoma's charging system will protect against any over-charging. The OEM monitor in the Pod is totally useless for determining battery charge level. A better way is to check the battery voltage under no charge/discharge or very minimal discharge. Inexpensive digital voltmeters for this purpose are available. After a short resting period you compare the reading against published charts to determine State Of Charts. Lots of threads around here help you figure it out. ------------- 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: lamarkeiko
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2015 at 4:56pm
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Thanks Charli. The dog bone looks like exactly what I need. ------------- Lamar |
Posted By: Andy and Lisa D
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2015 at 2:01pm
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Is connecting 2, 6V batteries in series as easy as just connecting battery 1 '+' to battery 2 '-'?
What about recharging them from the TV via jumper cables - just connect to the "outer" set of terminals? ------------- Andy & Lisa 4-legged family: Gunner (RIP), Autumn, Dewey 2015 RP179 2003 Nissan xTerra Oregon |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2015 at 2:35pm
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The short answer(s): Yes and Yes Be aware that 6 volters are considerably heavier than 12 volt. They are taller also, which means they will not fit in "normal" 12 volt battery box. Click the link in my sig to see how I did it. -fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |