Battery Charging Questiong
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=7943
Printed Date: 07 Jul 2025 at 11:31pm
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Topic: Battery Charging Questiong
Posted By: Captiankd
Subject: Battery Charging Questiong
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 11:31am
 Does the TV charge the Pod battery as you travel or does the battery only charge when hooked up to 120 power?Thanks
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Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:07pm
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Depending on your TV wiring the answer is maybe. If you run your fridge on propane the TV will probably charge the battery, but minimally. If the fridge is running on 12V, the TT battery may actually discharge. Plugging in the TT will always charge the battery.
------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:22pm
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The pod can be charged by the tow vehicle, if it is properly equipped and wired.
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Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:43pm
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The alternator that comes on your vehicle is the smallest that the vehicle needs to power them items that came on your car or truck. Where I work we started ordering optional higher current output alternators to power all the extra DC stuff we have to install. I only tried the refrigerator on DC once and the 130 amp output alternator on my Honda Ridgeline could hardly keep up, also the wire going to the trailer socket on the truck is only 12 gauge. Engine compartment temperature will also lower the current from the alternator. Here are some average current draws on vehicles
Air Conditioner 20-21 Electric Cooling Fans 6-15 Head Lamp (Low Beam) 8-10 Heater Defroster 6-15 Pumps, Electric Fuel 3-8  ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:49pm
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Depends on how your Bargeman plug is wired. Normally, your TV will charge the Pod's battery and run the fridge. A multimeter or 12V tester can check this for you. We have traveled well over 10,000 miles and always run with the fridge on battery/ |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 10:17pm
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To follow up on what Charlie said, most TVs come from the factory with 12 gauge wiring from the battery to Bargeman. Same for most aftermarket installations. However, you really need a minimum of 10, and much better 8 gauge wiring for the task. I've posted all the calculations before, but bottom line follow what Charlie said and just don't run the fridge using 12 volt mode. If you want to upgrade that wire it is easy to run another in parallel w/o ripping out the old one. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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