Battery disconnect, and when to recharge
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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=849
Printed Date: 08 May 2024 at 4:28pm
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Topic: Battery disconnect, and when to recharge
Posted By: techntrek
Subject: Battery disconnect, and when to recharge
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2009 at 9:37pm
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A common problem for many new RV owners is often they don't know they should disconnect the battery between trips. Or how often to charge the battery. Several things inside the modern RV use electricity even when they are "off". The fridge electronics are still active, the propane detector is always on. A week or two with the battery connected and it will be dead. Some people install a disconnect switch on the battery box, others use plugs or fuses, so that it can be easily disconnected (and later reconnected) between trips. Hopefully some of those podmods can be reposted here. By themselves lead acid batteries discharge internally - fairly quickly when its hot out, and less so when its cold. During the summer months, even if the battery has been left disconnected it will require a full night's recharge at least once per month. During the winter it can be left in a cold garage or cool basement (or even left on the 'pods tongue) without a recharge - but if you can get to it once or twice its not a bad idea. If you don't have a good 3-stage charger in your garage just plug the 'pod in overnight, it has a good built-in 3-stage charger. Just don't forget to reconnect the battery first! ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Replies:
Posted By: Rollerpod
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2009 at 10:01pm
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Good advice, as I'll be going out and buying a new battery soon. Ours is dead. I'll be disconnecting it from now on between trips.
------------- R-Pod 172 2004 Toyota Sienna XLE San Antonio, TX |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2009 at 11:51pm
Welcome to the R-Pod Owners Forum Rollerpod! I have my Pod in a storage area in the 55+ community I live in. The storage area is a fenced in area with a locked gate. Nobody can take the Pod but it would be easy to take the battery and get out of there. So I take the battery out and put it inside of the Pod. With the wing nuts on the battery that is real easy and simple to do.So far I have been taking the camper out once a month so no problem with the battery going dead. Because of where I live I can continue doing that all winter!! Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: Phil H
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2009 at 6:40pm
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In the few weeks we had ours this fall, I left the trailer plugged into the house figuring the built in charger would keep the battery charged up - is there anything wrong with doing this?
Now that the trailer is in the back yard under its cover, I've taken the battery out, put it in the basement on a piece of wood and hooked up a "Battery Tender Jr" smart charger.
I was thinking that maybe next season, when the trailer is in the driveway between trips, instead of plugging in the whole trailer, I'd just plug in the battery tender - any thoughts?
Phil
whoo hoo my first post on the new site! ------------- 2010 R-pod 171 2007 Ford Escape |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2009 at 10:25pm
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The 'pods have good 3-stage chargers, so there shouldn't be any problem leaving the pod plugged in all the time. However, with so many things always drawing some power (the converter, the fridge controls, TV, microwave) all the time, you would save a lot of power if you just used your battery tender. Or plugged the 'pod in overnight once a month.
------------- 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: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 4:48pm
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I really need to pay more attention to these kind of posts!! Lol. I didnt know, wasn't told, to disconnect the battery. Should have been common sense, but it happened. It definitely drained down over the week and a half.
We want to add a disconnect, but don't know a lot about them. We are having the storage place add a dul propane set and a dual deep charge battery so we can go anywhere. This will be done next spring so my question is this...can you reccomend a good disconnect as well as battery type for us? We want to be able to travel out west. This will place a greater need on battery usuage as well as lp consumption obviously. As always, your advice is welcome and appreciated!! Thanks! ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 6:30pm
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If you are doing two new batteries from scratch, go with 2 EGC-2 six volts. More bang for the buck, amp hours wise. We use a keyed marine disconnect. BTW, we leave our pod plugged in at home, we have full hook-ups. In 3 years, we have never had a battery problem, nor have I needed to add water. I check every couple of months. ------------- |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 9:02pm
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Thanks for the info! We will be starting fron scratch and I will go that route! ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 9:29pm
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I went with a waterproof 12 volt fuse for a disconnect.
------------- 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: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 7:38am
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We probably err on the more aggressive side. I had a group 27 GSM battery installed when we took delivery. They are sealed and do not require additional water. Since our Pod is next to the house I also had a 30 amp connector added to the side of the garage. When we return from a trip and over the winter months, the Pod is connected and the internal charger does what it needs to do. I do winterize and cover the pod for the winter, but I also keep a ceramic heater to maintain an internal temp of 50 degrees. I agree that this is overkill, but it allows me some comfort during the winter months. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: retiredtraveler
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 4:26pm
Just be sure you can handle the weight. Those batteries must each be around 70 pounds. Two six volts will give you great power, but you just need to be aware of how heavy they are for you personally to handle and to put on the tongue of your pod. ------------- Looking hard at a pod 2006 Jayco 1206 (pup) with slideout, shower,solar 2005 Nissan Xterra (probably going to new Nissan Frontier) Into hard-core hiking and biking |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 4:37pm
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The difference between two 12v's and two 6v's isn't that much. But for the slight weight difference, the AH gain is substantial.We will go two sixes once I kill these 12's in another 3-4 years.. ------------- |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 4:38pm
We do the same.. and keeping the Pod/Refuge warm is a nice thing in case I need to hide for a while...  ------------- |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 8:29pm
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retired...we did take into account the extra weight. We don't take a lot of extra gear with us. The kids are our only variable and they just keep growing and growing and growing....lol. The Expedidtion can handle most of the extra heavy gear if needed. ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2013 at 7:35am
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Furpod-Robin read your post and told me not to get any ideas. The rpod is not allowed to become the man-pod! Lol ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2013 at 12:30pm
Not usually. Weight = amps with lead-acid batteries. Where a 12 volt battery with 6 cells may be rated for 110 amps, the same weight 6 volt battery will have 3 cells that are just twice as large, giving you a 220 amp rating. The 12 volts batts in parallel gives you 12 volts @ 220 amps. The 6 volt batteries are still better, though, because they eliminate problems you can encounter with paralleled batteries (charging and discharging imbalances). ------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2013 at 1:17pm
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Around here, every pod I have looked at has group 24's, and in fact mine are Interstate brand group 24's (from the dealership) at a claimed 75 ah each. I can put two on the tongue as designed. So 150 ah at 12v. In the same space.. (my "for the buck" includes space, weight, etc, not just $$) I can place two 6v EGC-2's, from Sam's no less, with 230 ah rating. To me 150 ah vs 230 ah for about $30 more and 15 pounds.. is a well worth it. Also every pound you put on the tongue does not go directly to tongue weight. It would if you mounted it all right above the ball.. but we don't. It does add weight, and I do have the skills to figure the percentage, but don't aim to ever bother. Plus I get the added bene of better charging etc. ------------- |