Another battery/charging sytstem question.
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9560
Printed Date: 30 Jun 2025 at 10:56pm
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Topic: Another battery/charging sytstem question.
Posted By: JET
Subject: Another battery/charging sytstem question.
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2017 at 6:20pm
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Hi everyone A couple of days ago I had a few posts that pertained to my new 178 batteries (I had two GC deep cycle batteries installed when I bought it new acouple of months ago) going to 11.90 on the volt meter reading while plugged into outside power. I took the trailer to the selling dealer where they quickly verified the charging system was not working and ordered the faulty part (the inverter/charger?). They told me that was the problem and all was working fine. I took the trailer home and have left it plugged into my home's AC outlet. The last couple of days I have been checking the battery's voltage. They read 13.5 until yesterday where they read 13.0. Today they are still reading 13.0 volts. I assume that means all is OK, but it got me to thinking how do I really know that the charging system at anytime is actually working? So that is my question to the group. How do I determine definitively that my charging system working? What test can I do that proves the system is working? If the batteries stay at 13.0 or so volts does that prove they are being charged? Or is there a certain procedure I can do at anytime that will prove the charging system is working and will kick in when needed? What voltage would the batteries have to read (while sitting plugged into the house current) that I would know I have a problem (12.9..12.5...??)? Thanks, John
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Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2017 at 9:37pm
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I think you have about got it figured out. The WFCO converter/charger has three stages: Bulk at 14.4V, absorption at 13.6V and float at 13.2V. These three levels are subject to some variation depending on temperature, point of measurement, and accuracy of the voltmeter. Your 13V measurement indicates the battery is fully charged and the charger has dropped back to the float or trickle/maintenance stage. A fully charged battery, not being drained or charged, should read around 12.6-12.7V. Anything around 13V or better indicates the charger is working. If the battery shows less than 12.6 when plugged in the charger is not working.
------------- 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: 28 Mar 2017 at 7:50am
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If you want to verify the charger/converter is working, disconnect the battery. Installing a battery disconnect makes this simple.. but if you disconnect, while hooked up to shore power, and still have 12v.. it's working.
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Posted By: JET
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2017 at 8:23am
I'm sorry but this doesn't quite make sense to me what exactly you are saying. I do have a disconnect as it came with the R-Pod (red key mounted near battiers). I can easily remove the red key, which disconnects the batteries while still hooked up to shore power...but what do you mean " if still have 12v its working"? Are you referring to a voltmeter reading?...which still doesn't make sense to me...or are you referring to something else? |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2017 at 11:14am
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If you have a red key style cutoff, turn it to the off position, this isolates the batteries from the pod. If anything, lights water pump, etc in the pod still works, the 12v is coming from the charger/converter. So it's working. The 12v items/system in your pod get 12v from one of two sources, the batteries, or the converter/charger. So, if the batteries are disconnected, the power HAS to be coming from the converter/charger. ------------- |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2017 at 9:30pm
Thank you. Mine has started working intermittently. It was not charging while we were at my sister's house. Later, I checked and it was charging. Today, it is exhibiting the same symptoms. The voltage is reading 12.4 while we are plugged in to shore power. I used the battery cut-off switch, and everything 12V quit. I think I am going to order a replacement converter and have it shipped to where we will be next week. In the meantime, I will try to figure out a way to keep the batteries charged up until we get to where the replacement will be waiting. ------------- 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: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2017 at 10:05pm
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If you are NOT plugged into shore power (AC power outlet) then 2 golf cart batteries in series and fully charged at 100% state of charge at about a temperature of 77°F will be about 12.74 volts. If you ARE plugged into AC shore power, the batteries may charge, depending on whether or not they need some juice. The maintenance charge is around 13-13.5 volts. This low voltage low current charge is to keep them topped off without heating them up and boiling off the water (wet cell batteries). If you are plugged into shore power and the voltage reads lower than 13 volts at any time, you have a converter charger issue. It shouldn't get below that. This doesn't mean your batteries are good or bad. Batteries should only be checked when they are NOT being charged. And only after they have been rested an hour or more after fully charging. Then check voltage and water levels. ------------- 2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler 2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2017 at 7:34am
many a camping trip has been saved with wal mart 6/2 amp charger and an extension cord.. ------------- |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2017 at 7:53am
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+1 Gotta love Wal mart
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2017 at 9:37am
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2017 at 2:25pm
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I agree with the loose connections idea; at least to the point that it should be the first thing to check. A little bit of corrosion at one connection is all it takes to cause the symptoms you're seeing Stephen. Which is not to say it couldn't be a bad converter, but check the cheap, easy things first. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 7:04am
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It seems to have gone from intermittent to full failure. I bought a Schumacher SC4 15A charger / 3A maintainer from Walmart and have it connected. The charge state now is about 75% according to the charger. ------------- 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: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 10:53am
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After all the work you had done, I am still inclined to believe that something came loose, or similar. If you have a DVM, I would check continuity between the converter output and the battery. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 12:12pm
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I've spent hundreds of dollars on batteries and starters in the past only to find out that a ground wire need to be taken off, wire brushed, and put back on. Expensive lessons, hard learned, although it almost happened to me again recently. My tractor wouldn't start. I'd checked the ends of about 7 wires and was pretty sure I needed a new solenoid. I was putting away my tools to go to the parts store when I realized there was one more terminal I needed to clean. The devil on my shoulder was telling me, "what are the odds? 1 out of 8... just go get the new solenoid." I listened to the angel on my other shoulder and Bingo!, that was it. You need to check both ends of all wires. You're going to have to disconnect at least one end of them anyway to replace the converter/charger. Familiarize yourself with the job by doing a dry run, cleaning connections as you go. I don't know what it is, but there must be a way to check the converter/charger with a volt ohm meter at the unit itself. As far as testing for continuity, a corroded connection may let enough current through to indicate a closed circuit but not enough to do anything else. I think you'd need to check for proper voltage at the output of the unit. How much does a new converter/charger cost anyway? It seems like someone (Furpod?) said he'd replaced his with something better. Whoever that was, if you read this, what was it, why was it better, and what did it cost? TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 4:37pm
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I did.. it was a better one because among other things, it was a four stage charger and conditioner. They are a couple hundred bucks. I used one I had bought for another project TT. There is a pretty simple test of the charger converter, plugged in to shore power, just go in the 12v side of the panel and check voltage right there on the board, +13v means the converter is working. WFCO did have a run of bad converter/chargers, many 2015-16 owners have had to have a replacement, a few have needed a second..  and at least one owner I know of is on a 3RD..  If replacing on your dime, I highly suggest the 55A version of this.. Amazon is showing $216 today.. http://www.progressivedyn.com/pd4600_converter_replacement.html - Best one out there IMHO.. ------------- |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 9:10pm
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Agreed. If you have to replace the converter go Progressive Dynamics.
------------- 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: 10 Jul 2017 at 7:18am
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I had installed a volt meter. That is how I knew it was not working. I confirmed it when I turned my battery cut-off switch and everything cut off. No 12V power was being supplied. All the connections were tight. I have a WFCO 55A replacement on order. It will be delivered to our pastor and he will bring it with him when the rest of the mission trip team leaves home. We will meet him in Vermont and I will install it there. The PD models I saw when I looked on Amazon were deck mount, not drop-in replacement to fit the WFCO panel. Is there one that fits in place of the WFCO converter? ------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 8:31am
The one I linked above... Inteli-Power 55 Amp Converter/Charger Model #PD4655V replaces these converter sections: Parallax/Magnatek #6355, Parallax #7355, Parallax #7155, Parallax #8355, WFCO™ #8955 http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Dynamics-PD4655V-Converter-Charger/dp/B002OR4242 - On Amazon But deck mount isn't a big issue, I used a deck mount in furpod.. it mounted to the slide out tray, had to drill one hole, and I cut the back off the power center with a dremel, no big deal. ------------- |
Posted By: voisj
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 4:40pm
When my converter stopped working i just bought a small battery charger and plugged it in when i had shore power, Did this for three weeks, we were traveling every other day so my TV kept it charged the rest of the time. John ------------- http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=slopod-180-mods-johnsue - SLOPODMODS John&Sue,SLO,CA 2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost 
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 8:07am
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The charger I bought brought the battery up to 100%. We are dry camping now at Emerald Lake State Park in Vermont. If need be, I will hook up the generator's 12V connection and charge the battery that way since there is no 110V power here. We will see if we can go until Friday without needing to charge. Lights, vent fan, and my CPAP will be the main power draws unless it gets chilly and I want to run the heater to take the chill off. I don't think it will be cold enough to bring out the Mr. Heater Portable.
------------- 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: StephenH
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2017 at 11:45am
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Update: I ordered a replacement WF8955MBA converter from Amazon and had it delivered to a friend who was going to be coming to Vermont with the rest of the team. It was delivered to him, and he brought it with him. We received it and I installed it. It started operating as soon as I made the connections and turned my battery cut-off switch back on and then flipped the 120V breaker back on. It had some work to do as the batteries were somewhat low even though the panel lights still indicated "Good" for the level. The voltmeter told the real story. Now that we are home, I have contacted WFCO and submitted the form to get an RGA number so this defective unit can be shipped back for evaluation and replacement. Once that is done, the defective unit should be replaced as it is still under warranty. That replacement will become a spare in case this happens again. ------------- 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 |