Is this OK on the battery and charging system?
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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Topic: Is this OK on the battery and charging system?
Posted By: JET
Subject: Is this OK on the battery and charging system?
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 8:29pm
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Hi All I recently posted about a problem I was having where I just got back from a trip and my batteries were extremely low (11.9 to 12.0 volts). Long story short the component that charges the system failed and the shop replaced it. I have the Pod home now and the charging system seems to be working fine. However this problem has me questioning how I have stored my Pod the last couple of months I have had it since buying it new. I have kept the P-Pod plugged into my house outlet using a 15a adapter for the R-Pods main electrical cord. It is my understanding that leaving the R-Pod plugged in full time keeps the batteries charged and in good shape and is a good way to keep it stored. 1) Is storing the R-Pod with the power constantly connected to the home current the best way to keep the batteries in good shape? 2) Does keeping the R-Pod connected to the house electrical while stored wear out or tax the charging system? 3) If not what should I be doing to store my R-Pod in the ideal way for the batteries well being? Thanks, John
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Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 8:33pm
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Mine stays plugged in when it is in our driveway. The only time it has been disconnected is when it has been at the dealer's service department. I have the two six-volt batteries removed and a very small (as in yard tractor sized) 12V battery in there while I am getting it ready to go for repairs. The battery smooths out the 12V power. That way, my 12V appliances have a stable source of power, even if it won't last long. It will carry though short power outages, and would provide for the R-Pod's brakes if needed. I wouldn't want to camp with it though. When we go to pick up our escaPOD, we will take the two six-volt batteries to install.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Rainrider22
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 8:52pm
| Never, and I mean never leave your batteries in over the winter. Simply take them out and hook a battery tender over the winter. Your battery, s will last for years. I do this with my two campers, my three motorcycles, and I have never had a battery problem. P.S I live in Canada where it can get God Aweful cold, still, All my batteries get well beyond regular service life.... Let all the naysayers go... |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 9:00pm
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Hi JET. Ever since we purchased our 2 12v deep cycle batteries for our 2011 177 we take them out of the pod for winter (we reside in northern Michigan, maybe not quite as cold as in Kitchener, but it does get cold. They come out of the pod in late October where I store them in our unheated garage. They receive a 2 amp trickle charge (takes about 24 hours/battery) in October and then sit on the cement floor during the winter. Next month, in April I will repeat the process and give them another 2 amp trickle charge until they are 100% charged. This will take 24-36 hours/battery. The batteries get used a lot and are now just over 6 years old and in great condition for yet another year of service.
------------- 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: ron_whitt
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 9:07pm
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I do exactly the same as jato, with my 2012 177 pod. The only difference is I set the battery on my work bench. So far so good. OH and I live where its even colder than Kitchener or Michigan.... Just south of Ottawa Ont.
------------- Ron & Shirley 2020 Tacoma 2012 177 rpod |
Posted By: JET
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 9:30pm
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 9:35pm
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We live in North Carolina. It does not get as bitterly cold as it does in Michigan or Ontario. It only rarely hits the teens here. We have had several days in the 20s this winter. If the battery is charged, it would not be bad to leave it in if the R-Pod is plugged in. Otherwise, removing it and using a good float charger to keep it topped off would not be bad. Periodic charging will accomplish the same thing. Either way, if you have a flooded cell battery, make sure you check the electrolyte level and add distilled water as needed. http://trojanbattery.com/pdf/WP_DeepCycleBatteryStorage_0512.pdf - Trojan has a white paper on batteries. According to this white paper, if my battery is charged, I have no worry about it freezing if I leave it in my R-Pod. It would only be a concern if the battery were to be discharged to around 20% and we were to get a really cold (for this area) snap. At 85%, Trojan states the temperature at which the battery will freeze is -62 degrees F. I don't have to worry about that here. I don't know what Oregon's temperatures are like. It makes sense to remove the battery or batteries if one lives where extremely low temperatures can be expected. But for where we live, it isn't so critical. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: JET
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 9:43pm
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Thanks everyone for the answers. I think I am still somewhat confused as to the best overall protocol for my batteries and still have questions. I just got back from a 10 day trip in my R-Pod. I have another trip planned in a couple of weeks that will be 4 days at a campground with full hookups. I will most likely be doing trips every month to 2 or 3 month intervals. So I guess I need guidelines that make sense where I probably won't have the R-Pod sitting unused for the entire winter, although I don't really know how often I will use it once the newness wears off. It might sit for 2 or 3 months unused. I have two 6v GC batteries installed when I bought it. So my follow up questions to the above advice is as follows... 1) How do I determine time wise when it is best to remove the two 6v batteries and store them when the R-Pod won't necessarily be put away for the entire winter, but might be inactive a month...or 2 or 3 months 2) How do I charge the 6v GC batteries with a trickle charger? Do I charge them hooked up in line and charge as if it is a single 12v battery?...or do I charge them individually as 6v batteries? 3) What should I look for in a trickle charger? What features...brand....specs??? 4) Obviously I don't want to simply leave the batteries mounted on the R-Pod with the battery disconnect key removed thus effectively disconnecting the batteries that way....why not (just want to understand the science) ?? John
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Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 10:53pm
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I charged my batteries in late fall when I took them out and put them in my heated garage. I checked them last week, going into season seven. https://postimg.org/image/92fb48n6n/">  https://postimage.org/ - gif hosting
------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2017 at 7:48am
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Unless it gets below -40F, there is NO danger to a properly charged battery from the cold. NONE. If your pod is plugged in and charging the batteries, you will be fine to leave them in the pod, unless, again, it's going to be below -40F. Then I recommend a pad warmer. I may or may not have been stationed in or near the arctic circle, with equipment, tracked and wheeled, that was mission critical, for a couple years. We only see down to -5F or so in the worst of our winter here at home, but our Pod batteries tested 100% after 5 seasons. Plugged in at home always. ------------- |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2017 at 8:11am
Minus 40F ? How 'bout -40C ?   . I may or may not live in Florida and have no problems with cold batteries...............------------- 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: StephenH
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2017 at 10:55am
+1 According to Trojan, it would need to get below -62F or -52C with a battery charge of 85% for it to freeze. Trojan lists the freezing temperature for a fully charged battery as -92F or -68.9C. I was stationed in Germany. We did not have a problem with the batteries for the vehicles in the motor pool freezing although they would get cold enough that they were not able to crank the Diesel engines. We had to run them to keep them charged enough so that they would be able to start if we had to roll out on short notice. We did have a voltage regulator in our https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7297/16351753889_cc46b79bab_b.jpg - M577A2 Command Tracked Vehicle go bad. It was boiling our batteries. We had to stop and get out away from the fumes. Then we spent a very cold overnight until the motor pool could get a mechanic out to fix it. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2017 at 7:40pm
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Back in 1978 my wife and I took a Lake Superior circle loop. In January of that year we stopped at Thunder Bay, Ontario where the temp dipped to -43 C. I think we were the only ones at the motel who didn't plug our car in - we had a 1976 AMC Gremlin, no plug available. Anyway we managed to start the car, although it shook quite a bit, the worst part were the tires, we had Goodyear Polyglas and it took about 20 minutes of driving before we didn't feel like Fred Flintstone driving down the road. Was surprised the tires didn't come apart.
------------- 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: rawest50
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2017 at 6:21pm
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I am not a good electrical system person but I think my 2017.5 trickle charges. Anybody know for sure? ------------- 2017.5 RPod 179 2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab 2 Weiner dogs Great wife puts up with my BS ❤️ Thoroughbred Racing. 
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2017 at 7:39pm
All pods have a fair decent 3-stage charger from the factory. That's why we say, if you can plug in at home or storage that is the best option. ------------- |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2017 at 7:53pm
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Mark, did the older ones like what you had, come with that charger as well? This I wasn't aware of. Also do they trickle charge or what amp do they charge at when plugged into shore power? Thanks in advance. ------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2017 at 11:24pm
All Pods ever built came with a 3 way charger. (WFCO 8955) Even the 15x series. I have only piddled with a couple of those, but they had the same, so I feel safe in saying that.. The WF-8900 Series has revolutionized RV power centers with its lighter weight, decorative doors and superior features. The WF-8955 model provides 55 Amps and a clean, constant 13.6 VDC nominal output, for reliable operation of electronics and appliances. Automatic three-stage charging extends the life of your battery with output voltage modes of 13.2 VDC range “float” mode, 13.6 VDC range “absorption” mode, and a 14.4 VDC range “bulk” charge mode. The 8900 Series also maintains peace and quiet, as the cooling fan runs only when needed. ------------- |
Posted By: podrunner
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2017 at 10:30am
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Concerning trickle chargers, try the battery minder. It has a pulse cycle which claims to help prevent sulfation as well as remove it. The Amazon description mentions it is not for deep cycle batteries, if you visit the manufacturers website they indicate it is fine for deep cycle. BatteryMINDer model 12117. $24 on amazon
------------- 2010 R Pod 151 2017 4runner 2006 Honda Metropolitan |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2017 at 12:05pm
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One of several methods is fine. All of these have been discussed at some point, I'm just confirming. 1. Leaving it plugged in at home. Good 3 stage charger, low amperage draw so it won't affect your electric bill. 2. Trickle charger at home. Only advantage is if you use this while the battery is removed from the pod, otherwise just use the built-in charger. 3. Disconnect the battery from the pod and leave it on the tongue. Reconnect it and plug the pod in overnight every 30 days in warm weather and 60-90 days over a cold winter (if you live where 40 F is the coldest it gets a few times a year, stick with 30 days). Cold extends the life of the battery so it is best to leave it on the tongue and let it cold-soak. Inversely heat shortens the life so you'll get some benefit bringing it inside in the heat of the summer (I don't). http://www.solar-electric.com/deep-cycle-battery-faq.html - https://www.solar-electric.com/deep-cycle-battery-faq.html ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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