battery maintenance?
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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=7307
Printed Date: 21 Jun 2025 at 9:18am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: battery maintenance?
Posted By: cgarb
Subject: battery maintenance?
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2015 at 8:18pm
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We have new 6-volt marine batteries, replacing 12V original equipment. Does anyone have advice on how long and how often should we charge them? And if we don't go camping for a couple of months, should we disconnect the negative terminals?
Thanks! ------------- Carol 177 HRE rpod 2014 Honda Pilot |
Replies:
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2015 at 10:27pm
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Hi Carol I have 2 deep cycle 12 volt batteries since I dry camp a lot. During the winter in northern Michigan I remove both batteries and put each one on a 2 amp slow trickle charge in October - this takes about a day each for the charge to complete. I then keep them in my basement (heated) throughout the winter. They were purchased in 2011 and are still in excellent condition. In mid-April I give them another trickle charge (usually takes about 6-8 hours for each battery) and then re-install them on my 177. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Robwid
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2015 at 10:29pm
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I also have two six volt batteries because we mainly dry camp. During the winter I disconnect the neg terminal for storage. I reconnect and plug my pod into shore power a couple times during the winter to top the batteries off. This will be our fifth season with the original batteries and they are still going strong. ------------- Rob 2012 HRE 177 2010 Toyota Tacoma |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2015 at 10:30pm
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I would remove the negative terminals since the carbon monoxide detector unit will slowly drain the battery.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 9:56pm
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Cold will preserve battery life, so I recommend leaving them outside. Just charge them every 30 days (disconnecting from the pod between charges), or leave the pod plugged in. More accurately you need to do it no longer than every 30 days when it is warm, but you can go 2-3 months in the dead of winter depending on where you live in California. ------------- 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: loampey
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2015 at 6:12am
| I leave my pod on shore power year round and it is not an issue. If that is not an option put them on a smart charger and it will keep them up and should not overcharge. Go to a web sight called batterystuff.com and you can find out any thing you would ever want to know about batteries of all kinds. |