battery issues |
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3252 |
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Topic: battery issues Posted: 08 Oct 2016 at 8:06pm |
Question for you Mark. For the past 5 plus years I have run my batteries until it shows on the wall gauge 1/3 full charge. At that point I change over to my other battery. Yet many posts claim that you shouldn't take them below 50%. How do you check your battery while camping (wished I asked you that at the ERU in Traverse City this summer)? I ask that because both my batteries will be 6 years old next March and still seem to be working well even though I have made it a habit to bring them down to 33%, at least according to that gauge on the wall. I know how inaccurate that is when it comes to showing the black and grey water levels, maybe the same for battery charge?
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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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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 08 Oct 2016 at 8:29pm |
The gauge on the wall is hokum. HOKUM!!
I installed a voltage monitor long ago.. |
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gaileee
Newbie Joined: 07 Oct 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 08 Oct 2016 at 8:41pm |
Thank you all!
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Mojave1
Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 33 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Oct 2016 at 8:58am |
When I store my Rpod, I disconnect the wires on the negative side of the battery.
With an inexpensive multi-meter (< $10 on eBay) you can check your battery's state. Volt DC (Vdc) reading of the following indicate state of charge: 12.6 vdc is about 100% charged; 12.4vdc abt 75%; 12.1 vdc abt 50%. Batteries have something known as leak voltage. Even disconnected they can lose about 10% charge a month (lead acid battery). In the disconnected state, I recharge my battery about once a month (or as needed). Battery tender (or trickle charger), another option, I believe has been discussed. Note: Volts can be thought of as pressure and amps (Amperage) as quantity. The above testing scheme only works on a healthy battery. An unhealthy (tired) battery may read charged (Volts) but not be able to deliver enough amps.
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 10 Oct 2016 at 8:12pm |
See this link: https://www.solar-electric.com/deep-cycle-battery-faq.html
Good to read the whole thing, but just to answer the question on how to check on the battery, scroll 2/3 of the way down to the colored chart.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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PilotPodder
Senior Member Joined: 04 May 2016 Location: Portage, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 305 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 29 Sep 2021 at 8:58am |
I've still have my original battery for my 2017 179 (new April 2017). I do not boon-dock and I have replaced my converter once. So I am always plugged into shore power so the battery stays charged. I likely will look at replacing it next year when it turns 5, but really haven't had a single issue with it. ~PP
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Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — My RPod YouTube Videos
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 29 Sep 2021 at 9:27am |
If the battery is performing well and if you get it tested and it is good, I don't see why you would need to replace it just because of time. It may last a few more years since you are not really stressing it.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Colt
Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 383 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 29 Sep 2021 at 6:42pm |
With 4 hours of full sun a day, this panel and charge controller will keep your battery fully charged. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IFJ73X4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q820UK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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John
'16 R-Pod 180 |
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