Looking for the best battery charger
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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=7780
Printed Date: 16 May 2024 at 9:07am
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Topic: Looking for the best battery charger
Posted By: Hunter74
Subject: Looking for the best battery charger
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 9:56am
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I am running dual 6V Interstate Deep Cycle Extreme Batteries in my 183G. GC2-XHD-UTL 122mins @ 75 amps and 232 ah <--I have no idea what any of this means. I originally was going to use a NOCO G3500 charger on each battery. But the AH on that only says for batteries up to 120AH. So then I was going to keep them connected in series to the NOCO G7200 but it is listed at only 230 AH. Does the extra 2 AH on the battery makes a difference. I was also looking into the Deltran Battery Tender Junior 6V 1.25 amp high efficiency charger. NBut it doesn't list an AH rating for the charger. I keep the trailer in a storage place so plugging in is not an option, I have to bring the batteries home to charge. I have no idea about amps or AH or anything like that, I have tried to google and understand but it seems to go straight over my head. So I am asking for help in what is a good charger or one that i can leave plugged in so the batteries are already to go everytime I need them thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: Hunter74
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 10:24am
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Or is it good for the batteries if I just plug them in before I go camping to top them off, or charge them up once a month or so during winter season while in storage. Then could I use this charger from Costco The Schumacher 15A speed charger http://www.costco.ca/Schumacher-15-A-SpeedCharge-Marine-Battery-Charger.product.100041455.html |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 10:50am
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No issue directly with that charger. I would hook them up every 45-60 days, leave them on for a day or so. Understand, if you are using 6v's, you will need to have them wired in series, in the garage, when you use this charger. It is a 12v charger. It needs to be hooked up to a "12v battery".. Also, if your batteries are "dead", your 6v deep cycle batteries are going to need +200aH of charge. At 15A max charge, and knowing that once they reach 80% SOC they are going to slow their charging rate dramatically, it will take 36-48 hours or so to reach 100% SOC. ------------- |
Posted By: Hunter74
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 10:57am
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You are refering to the Schumacher charger? Charging with this one every 60 days or so (when in storage?) and what about if I go camping for a weekend and when I get home they are at say 60% charge, it doesn't do harm to the battery to charge them up to go camping again the next weekend? And yes that is one thing I actually understand is the need to charge in series cause they are two 6 volts. lol And also to clairify your estimate of 36 to 48 hours is when/if the batteries are completely dead? Thanks for your help |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:12am
Sorry, yes the Schumacher. If the batteries are in storage, not under any load, then charging every 60 days or so will be fine. Charging from a partially discharged state won't hurt a thing. and yes, when completely dead, they will take a long time. BTW, dragging a pair of GC-2's in and out of the truck and hooking unhooking is going to get old fast. ------------- |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:19am
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Some of the trickle chargers can be left hooked up for extended periods of time. You need to get a digital volt meter and check your batteries yourself. A fully charged 6v batt will be around 6.3 v. and a 12 v - 12.6v. I have a couple of trickle careers that can be set for 6v or 12v and some of my old cars have 6v systems. Been using them for years. Beware of the battery that reads 12.0v or 6.0v - it is almost toast. And keep the water topped up.
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Posted By: Hunter74
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:20am
It will get old fast, but as I live in a townhouse complex I do not have storage at my place, so my only option is a storage lot. I guess its a sacrifice I have to make to camp in style lol Thanks again for your help. |
Posted By: Hunter74
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:36am
Thanks for the help. I will keep the water topped up. I was also looking at the Deltran Battery tender as they have a 6volt one. http://www.batterytender.com/Chargers/Battery-Tender-Junior-6V-1-25A-High-Efficiency.html But I assume being 1.25 amps this is only good if they battery is almost fully charged? As according to my math (which isn't the best lol) if would take 186 hours charge my battery? (232 AH at 1.25amps) So basically for camping season I should have a charger with about 15amp charge to charge them to go camping, and then in the winter storage season have this Battery Tender to keep them charged and ready to go? thanks Just read up on the Battery Tender, it says even though its 1.25 amps it charges at a rate of a 3 amp charger (so then more math 232ah / 3 amps) it should take this charger around 77 hours to charge? |
Posted By: Hunter74
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:54am
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I do have another question if it isn't much trouble explaining to this "rookie" But why do some chargers list AH and a lot from what i can see do not. for instance the Noco G3500 I was going to use cause it does 6V. But it says for batteries only up to 120 AH so I returned it. then was going to charge them in series with the Noco G7200 but it has a rating of up to 230 AH batteries. Where my batteries says they are 232 AH (Does this make a difference) Wondering why NOCO lists AH on their chargers while others do not. Thanks again |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 1:54pm
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No clue what they're saying. With reason any charger will charge any size battery. A too small charger will take a longer time; a too large charger will take more careful monitoring. The 7.2A charger should work for the dual 6V golfers, but it will take a while if seriously discharged.
------------- 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: Hunter74
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 2:03pm
Thanks for your reply. I will probably go with the G7200 as from the math I get online, a 232AH battery / 7.2 amps = 32, so I figure 40 hours or so for a fully charge is discharged a lot, so if I plug the batteries in on Sunday night/Monday morning when I get home from camping, they should be good to go by the next Thursday night/Friday morning if/when I go camping again. Or maybe I'll get a regular 15A charger for the summer so they are ready to go in a day or so, then invest in the G7200 to keep them charged and ready to go over the winter/storage months when I wouldn't go out as much |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 3:21pm
the charge cycle is not linear. the rate of charge slows down.. way down, the closer you get to 100% SOC. Just so you know. You can't just divide the amps needed by the charging amps.. you can break it down for the first 80%, and then the 20 in 4, 10% increments.. ie: from 80 to 85 % the battery charges at a 10% slower rate, from 85 to 90, 10% slower again.. etc. That last 5% can take as long as the first 80%.. ------------- |
Posted By: Hunter74
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 3:28pm
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Awesome thanks for all your answers. And now doing more research, I am almost certain my batteries release Hydrogen gas when they are being charged. Should I be worried about this with charging them in an enclosed garage? Should I take the batteries outside and charge them on the deck so they are ventilated properly? This is starting to stress me out lol Again I know next to nothing about batteries, but am trying to figure it out. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 3:37pm
They will be fine. If you get worried.. crack the bottom of the garage door a couple inches.. But millions of car batteries have been charged in garages.. Not that many have exploded.. 
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Posted By: Hunter74
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 3:42pm
| Thanks. When I bought the trailer, because I do a lot of dry camping, the dealer said that two 6V were the best for my needs, the only thing they didn't say was that the batteries were not maintenance free. Almost considering to go back, and tell them to install dual 12V maintenance free batteries. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 4:20pm
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Even 12v batteries need maintenance. Especially when used the way boondockers use them. The only maint. you will need to do is check the water once in a while. I do it about twice a year. ------------- |
Posted By: Hunter74
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 4:28pm
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I guess charging in a garage is a little more "ventilated" then if I charged them in the enclosed batter box they sit in, on the trailer. lol |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 6:56pm
| Buy a jug of distilled water and a 50cc syringe. topping off batteries is way better than maintenance free |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 7:23pm
For dry camping a pair of readily available 12V batteries would be a big step DOWN from the two GC2s. The only known true deep cycle 12V batteries are the GC12s from Batteries and Bulbs and several from Trojan, particularly the the T-1275. Both are intended for the golf cart market so they're more readily available, but not at Wally World or auto shops. ------------- 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: jato
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:42pm
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Purchased our 2 12V batteries in March and June of 2011. Both are still holding up real well and are NOT maintenance free. As furpod stated, and we follow that protocol, check the water level a couple times per year. I purchased a Sears battery charger at a yard sale about 10 years ago for 15 bucks. It has all sorts of bells and whistles and charges both 6V and 12 V but I have mainly used the 2amp trickle charger option for my batteries. Takes about 2 days(per battery) to bring them up to charge after sitting in the garage from October thru most of April. In the fall before putting them in hibernation mode, it takes about 8 to 10 hours in the 2 amp trickle mode.
------------- 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: Hunter74
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2016 at 10:42am
Awesome, thanks for all the answers and information guys. Lots of help. Even more happy that I bought the pod with this kind of community 
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2016 at 9:17pm
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Only thing I would recommend differently is to charge every 30 days. With a self-discharge rate of 1-3% per day when it is warm out, 30 days is the max. You can get away with 60 days during the winter since the self-discharge rate drops when it is cold. ------------- 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: mtdave
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 11:31am
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A few rookie battery questions: When we get home from camping should I charge the battery right away or can I leave it run down for a while? Should charging the battery by plugging in the camper be adequate? How do you put a battery into hibernation mode? I'd like to know more about getting a solar panel setup for charging the battery. Any good info on that? Thanks ------------- 2011 R-Pod 176 2009 Chevy Suburban 1500 |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 2:25pm
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It is not good to leave a battery in a partially discharged condition. Plugging in is the best way to charge the battery. Solar is good, too but not always the best. There is a wealth of solar info on this facebook group's page. We have solar and love it. |
Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 2:39pm
There is no 'hibernation mode' for lead acid batteries. Once they are filled with acid by the manufacturer, the clock on their lifespan starts ticking. Every day that a battery is not kept 100% charged results in some amount of irreversible damage that is done to it. For very down-to-earth information on lead acid batteries, I would strongly recommend that you listen to at least the first podcast shown at www.battery1234.com. It will save you money and troubles. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |