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OHIOJJ View Drop Down
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Joined: 20 May 2012
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Posts: 43 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: newbie questions
    Posted: 17 Jun 2012 at 12:08am
When I'm towing what should power the fridge, propane or battery?
Is plugging the rpod in 2 days before pulling out enough to charge the batterY
My battery has an on/off switch.  Does it need to be "on" to be charged?
 
Thanks Much
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2Peas-n-Rpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 05 Jun 2011
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Posts: 96 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2012 at 12:50am
Check out this same topic on the other forum:

http://www.rpodnation.com/dometic-fridge-and-propane_topic3280.html

Hope this is what you're looking for Smile
2011 R-Pod 182G Hood River Edition
"Ribbitt" Pod (now sold)
2000 Ford F150 5.4L V8 TV
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2012 at 4:57am
Originally posted by OHIOJJ

When I'm towing what should power the fridge, propane or battery?
Is plugging the rpod in 2 days before pulling out enough to charge the batterY
My battery has an on/off switch.  Does it need to be "on" to be charged?
 
Thanks Much
 
When I'm towing what should power the fridge, propane or battery?
When I tow, I use propane.  It seems to do a better job of keeping things cool and the fridge uses a lot of power when runing on 12vdc.  I can't prove it but, I think my camper battery actually discharged somewhat when towing and running the fridge on 12vdc.  The only concern might be at fuel stops.  With your battery cutoff switch, if you turn it off, it will turn off the fridge when refueling.  You'll also want to disconnect the Bargman 7 pin connector.  Once you leave the pump, reconnect the Bargman. turn the disconnect switch back on and,  you'll want to go inside and make sure the fridge is back on and in propane mode.  There is a (I think, remote) chance that fuel vapors could ignite, if the fridge would happen to turn on when fueling.
 
Is plugging the rpod in 2 days before pulling out enough to charge the batterY
It should be - provided your battery is in good shape.  That is my standard operating proceedure.
 
My battery has an on/off switch. Does it need to be "on" to be charged?
Yes.  The switch disconnects the battery from the Pod.  The battery can't supply 12vdc to the Pod, nor can the Pod provide charging power to the battery.  The switch "opens" the circuit.
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Alex&Marie View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Feb 2012
Location: Virginia
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Posts: 63 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2012 at 9:35am
I believe our 2012 rpod 177 does not have a switch to disconnect the battery. Do some models / years really have one?

I whined in another posting about the rediculousness of FR not supplying use all with schematics for these units. We need them for electrical (both AC and DC) and for water. It would help so much in troubleshooting.
Alex and Marie
2012 R-pod 177
2006 Toyota Tundra
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Joined: 04 Jan 2012
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Posts: 21 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2012 at 9:48am
My r-Pod is always plugged in on my driveway and that fridge is always running. Last time we went on a trip, I raised the jacks, drew in the slide and changed the fridge to battery. I hooked up the 4Runner and got to our campsite in about 4 hours. Fridge was great. I plugged the r-Pod in to AC and changed the fridge back to AC power. 

I was under the impression that once you hook it up to your truck/car, the vehicle regulator helped with battery load and recharging?
'12 r-pod 177
2008 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 V6
Father of 3 Boy Scouts and yes, we cram 5 family members in our 177!
When is the next camping trip? Because I'm ready for a vacation!
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OHIOJJ View Drop Down
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Joined: 20 May 2012
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Posts: 43 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2012 at 10:12am
I added the disconnect switch to the battery based om someone else's modification.  Now, I just need to figure out what to do when for it tgo stay charged:)  I'd like to not keep it plugged in all the time.
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2012 at 12:38pm
You should disconnect the battery between trips if you won't leave it plugged in.  The LP detector and the control board in the fridge will kill your battery in a week or two if you don't.
 
However, it will still loose its charge due to internal losses.  Once a month in warm weather, reconnect the battery and plug it into your house overnight.  Then unplug and disconnect again.  In cold weather you can go 2-3 months between charges - the cold slows down the internal discharge process.  In addition, plug it in overnight before and then after a trip.
 
Lead acid batteries last longest when kept near a full charge, and will die quickly if you let it drain all the way.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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