Battery maintenance |
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Will-yum
Newbie Joined: 27 Nov 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2 |
Topic: Battery maintenance Posted: 04 Dec 2015 at 5:05pm |
i have heard differing opinions on how to deal with the 12v battery on the r-Pod when not in use. One dealer said to remove it and charge it manually about once a month. Another said to just keep the 30Amp cord with the 115V adapter on the end and keep it plugged up. This way, the onboard inverter would keep it at a full charge without overcharging. Anybody have any good advice?
Thanks
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William
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johnmaci
Senior Member Joined: 17 Jun 2014 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 202 |
Posted: 04 Dec 2015 at 5:12pm |
Take it home and connect it to a trickle charger until you need it next season. Just check the water level every three months or so......
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CITK8S?keywords=trickle%20charger&qid=1449267123&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2 |
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Podster
Senior Member Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: San Antonio Online Status: Offline Posts: 1108 |
Posted: 04 Dec 2015 at 5:47pm |
Several owners that can keep it plugged in do just that. I cannot so I remove the battery and keep it on a trickle charge that has a desulfinate maintenance function.
Whatever you do, keep your battery charged, but not over charged. Some may disagree, but I believe the POD charger does a good job without over charging. Just make sure the water levels don't drop. Float chargers are specifically designed to do just that. Keep a good battery that has been charged, charged...in float if you will. The float charger keeps the batter from self discharging. This is important because batteries that suffer from a long term deep discharge, die.
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Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
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Outbound
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767 |
Posted: 04 Dec 2015 at 8:52pm |
Depends what you mean by "not in use"...
If the r-pod is sitting 2-3 weeks between camping trips, then just plug in the trailer and let the converter keep the battery topped-up. If the r-pod is sitting 3-4 months under a couple feet of snow, it'd probably be better to bring the battery into the basement and either leave it on a trickle charger, or charge it once a month.
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Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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Robwid
Groupie Joined: 31 Oct 2011 Location: Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 67 |
Posted: 05 Dec 2015 at 12:44am |
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Rob
2012 HRE 177 2010 Toyota Tacoma |
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Robwid
Groupie Joined: 31 Oct 2011 Location: Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 67 |
Posted: 05 Dec 2015 at 1:13am |
The last four years I've simply plugged my pod in for an afternoon a couple of times a winter. The two 6 v batteries are still going strong.
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Rob
2012 HRE 177 2010 Toyota Tacoma |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 07 Dec 2015 at 8:44pm |
If you leave it unplugged, make sure you disconnect the battery from the pod. Then reconnect it before charging overnight every 30 days. But, if you can leave it plugged in, that is easier.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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bigcat
Groupie Joined: 25 Aug 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 51 |
Posted: 28 Nov 2016 at 6:24pm |
Hello! doing some research on pod battery maintenance and came across this thread... my pod is in temp controlled indoor storage for the winter. From what I gather I can just leave it plugged in all the time and it won't damage the batteries. Is that correct?
As you probably guessed, I'm total NewB to the RV game, and I appreciate any and all tips. Thanks! |
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Big Cat
2017 179 |
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3257 |
Posted: 28 Nov 2016 at 7:31pm |
+1 on Teckntrek's advice. Our batteries were purchased March 2011 and are still going strong. We dry camp a lot and take them down to 33-40% SOC before switching to the other battery. They are group size 24 12v deep cycle. I store our pod in our old horse barn and take both batteries out and keep them in our unheated garage. I check the water level at least 2x/year while the pod is hibernating during the winter will trickle charge the batteries 2x during the winter. Once in November, after our last campout and then again in April. It usually takes 1 day/battery on 2 amp trickle charge to bring it to full.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4517 |
Posted: 28 Nov 2016 at 7:42pm |
+2
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
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