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JohnBG 
Senior Member 
Joined: 14 Apr 2015 Location: Deltona, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
 Topic: Battery charging?Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 1:45pm |
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When the camper is plugged into 120VAC should it be charging the battery? Or do I need to charge it with a separate charger?
My battery is about completely dead as previous owner left it connected and it drained. Or is it time for a new battery?
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2010 R-Pod RP-171
2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4518 |
Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 2:37pm |
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I would say it is time for a new battery.
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2025 Ford Transit Camper van 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
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jstrenn
Groupie 
Joined: 14 May 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 71 |
Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 8:56pm |
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When you're connected to 120VAC it charges the battery through the converter. However if your battery was left for a long time in a low state of charge it is probably bad. Try giving it a full charge and see what happens.
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp 
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 9:02pm |
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I agree you probably just need to get a new battery. You need to disconnect it from the pod if you don't leave the pod plugged in all the time (or leave the battery on a battery tender), but then charge it overnight every 30 days.
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JohnBG
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Apr 2015 Location: Deltona, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 10:08pm |
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I checked the water level in the battery (it was fine) and leaving the trailer plugged into a house circuit overnight and will check it tomorrow. From then on I will disconnect the positive lead when in storage until I can install a shut off switch. Or maybe just pull the battery out and put it in the garage on a piece of plywood
The existing battery is an interstate but they didn't punch the date codes on it so I have no idea how old it is. Florida heat is murder on batteries. I am lucky to get 3 years on my truck, motorcycle and lawn mower and they aren't sitting in a black box baking in the sun. Could be muerto... Any suggestions on a replacement?
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2010 R-Pod RP-171
2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
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Luv2Q
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Location: Central TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 309 |
Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 1:23am |
Dual 6-volts wired in series. Gives you 12 volts with lots of capacity.
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John & Teri
Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180 E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3 |
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JohnBG
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Apr 2015 Location: Deltona, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 11:01am |
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Why not 2 12V batteries wired in parallel? That would give double the amp-hours.
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2010 R-Pod RP-171
2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
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CharlieM
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 12:20pm |
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Simple math, and then some. The typical Group 24 12 volt "marine" battery supplied by dealers is rated at 70+ AH so two would provide ~150 AH. Some of the better batteries go to 86 AH for one. The common GC2 golf cart battery is rated at 220+ AH at 6 V. Two in series gives 12 V at 220+ AH, or 46% more than the dual twelves. They fit the same footprint, but weigh slightly more. The energy storage capacity of a flooded lead acid battery is roughly proportional to its weight so more lead is better. A secondary reason for two sixes vs two twelves is that parallel battery paths are technically inferior to a single series path. It has to do with current sharing (engineer speak).
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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JohnBG
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Apr 2015 Location: Deltona, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 1:02pm |
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I don't plan on doing any "boondock" camping, and will probably stay at places with electric and water hookups, so I will probably stick with one battery at least for the meanwhile. My wallet is starting to get a little empty.
 Two golf cart batteries will put a lot of load on the tongue I don't want. I rebuilt an old electric golf cart two years ago and put 6 new batteries in it, those suckers are heavy! I'm leaving the camper plugged in for a day or two and see if the battery will hold at least a partial charge. If not then I guess I need to make a trip to Wally World for another one.
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2010 R-Pod RP-171
2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
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ToolmanJohn
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 451 |
Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 4:25pm |
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I have two Interstate Sportsman batteries 12V (85ah if I remember correctly), in Parallel. no problems with 4 nights camping, as long as it doesn't involve a lot of furnace activity. Otherwise, no problems.
Always check water levels a couple times a year, and electrolyte levels, and don't discharge below 50% if possible, or it will shorten the life cycle. |
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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
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Battery charging?