R-pod Owners Forum : Battery charging http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Battery charging Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sat, 02 May 2026 11:26:45 +0000 Fri, 13 Oct 2017 16:45:24 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=10785 R-pod Owners Forum http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ Battery charging : Both my GM products have battery... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100860#100860 Author: mcarter
Subject: 10785
Posted: 13 Oct 2017 at 4:45pm

Both my GM products have battery voltage supplied to the Bargman connector. Both have fused lines. Neither will charge the TT battery without running, the alternator is the charge source. Determining if the TV is charging the TT battery is as simple as measuring the voltage at the TT battery with the TV running. I added a digital volt gauge to TT and a digital volt gauge to the TV to better monitor what the charge circuit is doing. ]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2017 16:45:24 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100860#100860 Battery charging : Depending on the TV, it can be... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100846#100846 Author: GlueGuy
Subject: 10785
Posted: 13 Oct 2017 at 10:26am

Depending on the TV, it can be slightly difficult to determine if your TV is, in fact, charging the battery on your R-pod.

For example, the Bargman (AKA "7-pin") connector on our F-150 is a "smart connector". The F-150 does not provide power when the truck is off. It also does not provide power if there is no trailer connected. As a result, you can't just check for voltage by probing the 7-pin connector, regardless of whether the truck is running or not.

The way that I check it is to look at the voltage on the R-pod batteries. First, the trailer must be connected, and second, the truck must be running. When the truck is off, the batteries on the R-pod will be at their static voltage, which would be in the very high 12V range, or "around" 13 volts, depending on their state of charge (this is presuming they are pretty full). When the truck is started and the trailer is connected, the voltage at the R-pod batteries should jump up about a volt or so (~~ 14 volts).
]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:26:15 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100846#100846 Battery charging : Originally posted by sailor323If... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100842#100842 Author: pgoelz
Subject: 10785
Posted: 13 Oct 2017 at 7:24am

Originally posted by sailor323

If the battery is completely discharged and if the TV is set up to send a charge via the Bargman connector, and depending on the output of your alternator, it could take hours.  You can speed that up a bit by using a good set of jumper cables from the TV to the battery.  I charged a completely discharged battery (225 amp hour capacity) via the Bargman, 65 amp alternator--took over 2 hours
Just a head's up..... depending on the state of charge, connecting a discharged trailer battery to a charged TV battery can potentially draw considerable current until the discharged battery charges a bit.  This could possibly blow the fuse or breaker protecting the TV 12V feed to the trailer.  If the TV fuse blows, replace it and then switch to jumper cables until the trailer battery charges up a bit.  

I ran a 10 gauge wire from TV battery to the trailer connector and protected it with a 30A fuse (the max for 10 gauge wire) at the TV battery.  It has never blown but I have also never connected to the trailer with a discharged battery.  I keep a couple spare fuses just in case.  

Paul
]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2017 07:24:33 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100842#100842 Battery charging : Pretty sure it's enabled http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100800#100800 Author: Uncle Hamish
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 6:38pm

Pretty sure it's enabled]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 18:38:34 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100800#100800 Battery charging : I'm pretty sure it is enabled.... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100799#100799 Author: Uncle Hamish
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 6:37pm

I'm pretty sure it is enabled. ]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 18:37:49 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100799#100799 Battery charging : Think it is a the 1:00 position... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100794#100794 Author: mcarter
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:59pm

Think it is a the 1:00 position on TV connector. You should check to ensure you have battery voltage there. If you don't it is either not hooked up or not enabled. The other cheap thing I did was buy a relatively cheap digital LED ammeter gauge, that plugs into 12V accessory outlet. That tells me the status of battery charging as I tow. I wanted more accurate info than the standard ammeter gauge in dash.]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 17:59:21 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100794#100794 Battery charging : Thanks again folks! http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100793#100793 Author: Uncle Hamish
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:48pm

Thanks again folks!]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 17:48:34 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100793#100793 Battery charging : Originally posted by Uncle... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100792#100792 Author: furpod
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:43pm

Originally posted by Uncle Hamish

PS. Safe to assume this bargman is the big round 8-9 pin connector on my TV???


7-pin, but, yes.  Smile
]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 17:43:42 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100792#100792 Battery charging : PS. Safe to assume this bargman... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100791#100791 Author: Uncle Hamish
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:26pm

PS. Safe to assume this bargman is the big round 8-9 pin connector on my TV???]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 17:26:32 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100791#100791 Battery charging : All good info! Thanks a ton y'all!!!... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100790#100790 Author: Uncle Hamish
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:25pm

All good info! Thanks a ton y'all!!!]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 17:25:26 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100790#100790 Battery charging : If the battery is completely discharged... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100789#100789 Author: sailor323
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:06pm

If the battery is completely discharged and if the TV is set up to send a charge via the Bargman connector, and depending on the output of your alternator, it could take hours.  You can speed that up a bit by using a good set of jumper cables from the TV to the battery.  I charged a completely discharged battery (225 amp hour capacity) via the Bargman, 65 amp alternator--took over 2 hours]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 17:06:45 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100789#100789 Battery charging : Thanks! http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100781#100781 Author: Uncle Hamish
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 1:29pm

Thanks! ]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 13:29:06 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100781#100781 Battery charging : Depends on:State of charge (or... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100778#100778 Author: GlueGuy
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 1:04pm

Depends on:
  1. State of charge (or discharge) of the battery
  2. Size of the battery (or batteries)
  3. Tow vehicle capability
]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 13:04:09 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100778#100778 Battery charging : It may, or may not charge that... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100776#100776 Author: furpod
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 1:01pm

It may, or may not charge that way. Depends on how your truck is set up.
BUT even if it does, it will charge fairly slowly.
Use jumper cables, and hook straight to the battery from the trucks battery and start your truck, it will charge pretty fast like that.
]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 13:01:46 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100776#100776 Battery charging : I don't have a generator.... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100769#100769 Author: Uncle Hamish
Subject: 10785
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 10:51am

I don't have a generator. If I leave it plugged into my tow vehicle with it running, will it charge the battery and if so, how long for a full charge? It's an r-pod 180. Thanks!]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2017 10:51:36 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10785&PID=100769#100769