Battery Charging Questiong - R-pod Owners Forum

Author

Share Topic

Topic Search

Topic Options

Captiankd

Visit Members Homepage

Add to Buddy List

Newbie

Joined: 06 Mar 2016
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 35

Topic: Battery Charging Questiong
Posted: 15 May 2016 at 11:31am

Does the TV charge the Pod battery as you travel or does the battery only charge when hooked up to 120 power?

Thanks

CharlieM

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797

Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:07pm

Depending on your TV wiring the answer is maybe. If you run your fridge on propane the TV will probably charge the battery, but minimally. If the fridge is running on 12V, the TT battery may actually discharge. Plugging in the TT will always charge the battery.

Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

furpod

Moderator Group - pHp

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128

Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:22pm

The pod can be charged by the tow vehicle, if it is properly equipped and wired.

JandL

Senior Member

Joined: 29 Mar 2014
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 364

Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:43pm

The alternator that comes on your vehicle is the smallest that the vehicle needs to power them items that came on your car or truck. Where I work we started ordering optional higher current output alternators to power all the extra DC stuff we have to install. I only tried the refrigerator on DC once and the 130 amp output alternator on my Honda Ridgeline could hardly keep up, also the wire going to the trailer socket on the truck is only 12 gauge. Engine compartment temperature will also lower the current from the alternator. Here are some average current draws on vehicles
Air Conditioner 20-21
Electric Cooling Fans 6-15
Head Lamp (Low Beam) 8-10
Heater Defroster 6-15
Pumps, Electric Fuel 3-8

JandL
2013 Honda Ridgeline
2012 177
2 Paynes in a Pod

sailor323

Members Profile

Send Private Message

Find Members Posts

Visit Members Homepage

Add to Buddy List

Senior Member

Joined: 11 Jun 2015
Location: S Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 281

Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:49pm

Depends on how your Bargeman plug is wired. Normally, your TV will charge the Pod's battery and run the fridge. A multimeter or 12V tester can check this for you.
We have traveled well over 10,000 miles and always run with the fridge on battery/

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062

Posted: 15 May 2016 at 10:17pm

To follow up on what Charlie said, most TVs come from the factory with 12 gauge wiring from the battery to Bargeman. Same for most aftermarket installations. However, you really need a minimum of 10, and much better 8 gauge wiring for the task. I've posted all the calculations before, but bottom line follow what Charlie said and just don't run the fridge using 12 volt mode. If you want to upgrade that wire it is easy to run another in parallel w/o ripping out the old one.

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
Captiankd Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 06 Mar 2016 Location: Florida Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Topic: Battery Charging Questiong Posted: 15 May 2016 at 11:31am
	Does the TV charge the Pod battery as you travel or does the battery only charge when hooked up to 120 power? Thanks

CharlieM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797	Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:07pm
	Depending on your TV wiring the answer is maybe. If you run your fridge on propane the TV will probably charge the battery, but minimally. If the fridge is running on 12V, the TT battery may actually discharge. Plugging in the TT will always charge the battery.
	Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:22pm
	The pod can be charged by the tow vehicle, if it is properly equipped and wired.

JandL Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 29 Mar 2014 Location: California Online Status: Offline Posts: 364	Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:43pm
	The alternator that comes on your vehicle is the smallest that the vehicle needs to power them items that came on your car or truck. Where I work we started ordering optional higher current output alternators to power all the extra DC stuff we have to install. I only tried the refrigerator on DC once and the 130 amp output alternator on my Honda Ridgeline could hardly keep up, also the wire going to the trailer socket on the truck is only 12 gauge. Engine compartment temperature will also lower the current from the alternator. Here are some average current draws on vehicles Air Conditioner 20-21 Electric Cooling Fans 6-15 Head Lamp (Low Beam) 8-10 Heater Defroster 6-15 Pumps, Electric Fuel 3-8
	JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod

sailor323 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281	Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:49pm
	Depends on how your Bargeman plug is wired. Normally, your TV will charge the Pod's battery and run the fridge. A multimeter or 12V tester can check this for you. We have traveled well over 10,000 miles and always run with the fridge on battery/

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 15 May 2016 at 10:17pm
	To follow up on what Charlie said, most TVs come from the factory with 12 gauge wiring from the battery to Bargeman. Same for most aftermarket installations. However, you really need a minimum of 10, and much better 8 gauge wiring for the task. I've posted all the calculations before, but bottom line follow what Charlie said and just don't run the fridge using 12 volt mode. If you want to upgrade that wire it is easy to run another in parallel w/o ripping out the old one.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual