Questions about my new 179
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6065
Printed Date: 20 Oct 2025 at 6:57pm
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Topic: Questions about my new 179
Posted By: Jay in Maryland
Subject: Questions about my new 179
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2015 at 10:04am
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I picked up a new 179 about 2 weeks ago. I've got 3 initial issues, that might be related I don't know. 1) When I got home, after an 8 hour drive, the battery was fully charged. After 5 days at home (no shore power and everything off) I discovered a dead battery. This battery was "free" from the dealership, so I suspect its about as cheap as they come. Assuming I do not discover I accidentally left something on, does a dead battery so quickly indicate an electrical issue?
2) My right rear taillight had filled with water after its first night in the rain. I drilled a tiny hole on its underside so it will drain. It has rained this week so water could had gotten in it again. (Today I will add some clear caulk on top and tightened its screws better which did not seem to have been fully tightened when I got it.) Is it possible water in this light could drain the battery? 3) My electrical panel has an intermittent and fairly loud fan noise when I am hooked up to shore power, -is this normal, and if not might this indicate an electrical issue? ------------- Jay r-pod179 05 Tacoma PreRunner |
Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2015 at 10:32am
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Unless you disconnect the battery, the propane leak sensor will stay on. And if even if the fridge is on propane, the "brain" uses 12v all the time -- unless it's on shore power (I think -- but even if it's still using 12v, the battery is being recharged by the on board battery charger/maintainer. That's what you are hearing when hooked up to shore power and everything else is off. There are different philosophies regarding the battery during off times. Either keep the pod hooked up to shore power or disconnect the battery and give it a charge about once a month. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2015 at 10:39am
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Welcome and congratulations! 1. There is a draw (gas sensor, and some other stuff) on the battery when at rest. Many of us have added a disconnect, I personally installed an Andersen Power Pole. We disconnect the battery between trips. I will say that 5 days seems rather short, usually Podders report dead batteries 2 or 3 weeks later. 2. I don't think so, there is no voltage at the taillight to short, unless the brake switch is invoked. Yes, it is highly advisable to inspect the POD (or any RV) regularly for seal issue on everything. 3. Hmm, well I think there is a 55amp power inverter back there, but I don't hear mine and when I do, it's not very loud. Certainly something to keep an eye on. It may be because your battery was dead that the inverter kicked into high gear! I, up to this point, have not had a dead battery so that may be why I have not been exposed the the loud fan. Good Luck! ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: Jay in Maryland
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2015 at 11:45am
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Thanks for fast the info. Is there any consensus on a good deep cycle battery, or preferred battery set up for the r-pods? I keep reading true deep cycle batteries are different and needed, but don't see many for sale (I'm seeing mixed use & marine batteries). My inverter may have an issue, as it made significant noise the first night on shore power after picking up a fully charged battery. The guy showing me the r-pod at the dealer even warned me I would hear this noise, but not to worry this was normal. Avoiding my subjective terms loud and significant, let me ask does everyone, in the quiet of the night, hear their power inverter coming on and off intermittently when on shore power? Mine is easy to hear. ------------- Jay r-pod179 05 Tacoma PreRunner |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2015 at 12:56pm
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Batteries are all about storage. If you don't plan to do extended camping off the grid without a generator, then any single 24 group battery will do just fine. No, I have have never heard my inverter cycling at night. I would first ensure the battery is not faulty before looking at the inverter. Good luck, let us know how it works out. ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: Jay in Maryland
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2015 at 6:17pm
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I discovered the TV antenna had a power button which was on, so perhaps this drained my battery in just 5 days (the TV was off, but maybe this uses some power anyway)? So I am hoping my own ignorant actions explains my dead battery. Thanks to all. ------------- Jay r-pod179 05 Tacoma PreRunner |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2015 at 7:44pm
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A dead battery in 5 days means the fridge was set to DC mode, or a light was left on. The draw from the LP detector and fridge "brains" should take 2 weeks to kill the battery. If you are hearing the fan on the converter it is due to a heavy DC load, possibly the fridge on DC mode (10-11 amps by itself) or a heavy recharge of the battery as mentioned already. Many TVs aren't wired with sufficiently heavy wire to the Bargeman connection (7 pin connection next to the hitch), so running the fridge on DC mode will actually discharge your pod battery while you are driving because it can't get enough power from the TV. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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