R-pod Owners Forum : Power fridge while driving http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Power fridge while driving Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Fri, 01 May 2026 14:54:24 +0000 Sat, 27 Feb 2016 21:02:44 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=7490 R-pod Owners Forum http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ Power fridge while driving : Originally posted by furpodActually,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70451#70451 Author: techntrek
Subject: 7490
Posted: 27 Feb 2016 at 9:02pm

Originally posted by furpod

 
Actually, if properly wired, a relay is in the circuit that shuts the connection to the pod when the tow vehicle is not running. Ford includes the relay and fuse in a little bag when you buy a new one.

GM doesn't, unfortunately.
]]> Sat, 27 Feb 2016 21:02:44 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70451#70451 Power fridge while driving : Originally posted by Q7-retiredDoug,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70450#70450 Author: techntrek
Subject: 7490
Posted: 27 Feb 2016 at 9:01pm

Originally posted by Q7-retired

Doug, did you run your parallel wire from the battery to the car female plug, or all the way to the pod?  this sounds like a good idea for me to emulate.

thanks, Jim

Almost.  I ran it from the lug on the fuse block under the hood where the factory wire originates from, back to the existing wire just before it runs into the Bargeman.  No reason you couldn't run it from the battery.
]]> Sat, 27 Feb 2016 21:01:19 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70450#70450 Power fridge while driving : Actually, if properly wired,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70416#70416 Author: sailor323
Subject: 7490
Posted: 27 Feb 2016 at 8:51am


Actually, if properly wired, a relay is in the circuit that shuts the connection to the pod when the tow vehicle is not running. Ford includes the relay and fuse in a little bag when you buy a new one.


Yes, this is true for all vehicles as far as I know, but since my bargman is not factory installed it was wired for lights only and there was no hot lead run to it, I installed it myself.  It was simpler to parallel off the battery and run straight to the plug.  I also ran a negative wire since the trailer light harness is very light gauge.  Need to risk blowing signal lights fuse
]]> Sat, 27 Feb 2016 08:51:04 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70416#70416 Power fridge while driving : Doug, did you run your parallel... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70412#70412 Author: Q7-retired
Subject: 7490
Posted: 27 Feb 2016 at 7:49am

Doug, did you run your parallel wire from the battery to the car female plug, or all the way to the pod?  this sounds like a good idea for me to emulate.

thanks, Jim
]]> Sat, 27 Feb 2016 07:49:18 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70412#70412 Power fridge while driving : Originally posted by sailor323 Originally... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70410#70410 Author: furpod
Subject: 7490
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 11:00pm

Originally posted by sailor323

Originally posted by mesamie

thanks for all of the reply's so far.
But, does the car battery charge the rpod battery, or is this why I need to make sure the hitch is producing voltage ?


Properly speaking, the car battery does not charge the pod battery, the car's alternator does.  If the car is not running and the car's battery is a higher voltage than the pod's battery, then the pod will steal charge from the tow vehicle as long as it is hooked up.  There are devices on the market, battery combiners, that prevent this from happening.  As long as the car's battery is below a certain voltage, nothing flows to the auxiliary battery.  Once the car's battery exceeds that voltage, a charge is delivered to the auxiliary battery.  This keeps the car's battery from becoming discharged even if there is a load on the auxiliary battery.


Actually, if properly wired, a relay is in the circuit that shuts the connection to the pod when the tow vehicle is not running. Ford includes the relay and fuse in a little bag when you buy a new one.
]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2016 23:00:09 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70410#70410 Power fridge while driving : Originally posted by mesamiethanks... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70409#70409 Author: sailor323
Subject: 7490
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 8:09pm

Originally posted by mesamie

thanks for all of the reply's so far.
But, does the car battery charge the rpod battery, or is this why I need to make sure the hitch is producing voltage ?


Properly speaking, the car battery does not charge the pod battery, the car's alternator does.  If the car is not running and the car's battery is a higher voltage than the pod's battery, then the pod will steal charge from the tow vehicle as long as it is hooked up.  There are devices on the market, battery combiners, that prevent this from happening.  As long as the car's battery is below a certain voltage, nothing flows to the auxiliary battery.  Once the car's battery exceeds that voltage, a charge is delivered to the auxiliary battery.  This keeps the car's battery from becoming discharged even if there is a load on the auxiliary battery.
]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2016 20:09:43 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70409#70409 Power fridge while driving : In most cases the factory wiring... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70405#70405 Author: techntrek
Subject: 7490
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 5:44pm

In most cases the factory wiring (car manufacturer or places like U-haul) running to the +12 pin on the Bargeman isn't big enough to handle the load from the fridge.  It needs to be at a minimum 10 gauge and preferably 8 gauge, but usually it is 12 gauge wiring.  I've run the numbers here before.  As a result you get a voltage drop which forces the heating element to draw from the pod's battery.  Within a few hours it drops too low and the fridge begins to warm up.  We had this problem with ours until I discovered the wiring on our Suburban was 12 gauge.  I ran a parallel 10 gauge wire which gave me the equivalent of an 8-9 gauge wire.

The problem is worse if the pod's battery is already low when you get on the road, like after a weekend boondocking.  I always recommend running on LP unless you are sure you have 8 or 10 gauge wiring.

Don't worry about turning it off when you are refueling, I've run through that here, too.  Fume recapture systems, fumes heavier than air while the fridge is 2 feet off the ground, narrow flammability range, all mean you aren't going to blow up the gas station.

As for your charging question, the Bargeman's +12 line charges the pod battery - but only if there isn't a voltage drop.  Even with the fridge on LP, if your pod battery is very low and you only have 12 gauge wiring it will take a long time to get a charge into the pod battery.
]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2016 17:44:01 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70405#70405 Power fridge while driving : thanks for all of the reply's... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70403#70403 Author: mesamie
Subject: 7490
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 4:48pm

thanks for all of the reply's so far.
But, does the car battery charge the rpod battery, or is this why I need to make sure the hitch is producing voltage ?
]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2016 16:48:52 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70403#70403 Power fridge while driving : We also use both depending on... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70402#70402 Author: Leo B
Subject: 7490
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 4:26pm

We also use both depending  on the situation.]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2016 16:26:09 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70402#70402 Power fridge while driving : Also, make sure that your hitch... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70401#70401 Author: sailor323
Subject: 7490
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 4:23pm

Also, make sure that your hitch plug is actually delivering voltage to the pod.  Use a multimeter or 12 volt tester.  The Positive contact in the lug is the upper right hand contact and the negative is the lower left hand contact.]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2016 16:23:40 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70401#70401 Power fridge while driving : We have done it both ways. As... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70399#70399 Author: jato
Subject: 7490
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 2:55pm

We have done it both ways.  As Cliff wisely advised, if you use the 12v option, switch to propane if you are leaving your TV for 4 or more hours, amazing how that fridge will discharge a battery!  Because I tend to forget I usually just leave mine on propane so I don't end up with a surprise.]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2016 14:55:21 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70399#70399 Power fridge while driving : You will get mixed responses,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70397#70397 Author: Podster
Subject: 7490
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 2:34pm

You will get mixed responses, however, the overwhelming majority travel using the 12v option. Just remember during extended stops you will need to switch to propane.  ]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2016 14:34:23 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70397#70397 Power fridge while driving : I have the 2016 R-pod 177 ( I... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70395#70395 Author: mesamie
Subject: 7490
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 2:17pm

I have the 2016 R-pod 177 ( I think, still in storage). Only used 3 times end of last season. We are planning a long x-country trip this early summer. Can I keep food refrigerated in the fridge while we drive every day, and if so do I just need to turn on the propane to it and is that safe ? Or can my car battery charge the rpod battery, and therefore use it to cool fridge while driving ?]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2016 14:17:38 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7490&PID=70395#70395