Inverter. |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Topic: Inverter. Posted: 29 Jan 2018 at 12:36pm |
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They use 24 or 48v native systems to reduce the amp draw. And they now use LiFePO4 batteries that can not only discharge to very near zero SOC without damage, can safely discharge at rates that would destroy a FLA battery in seconds, and recharge way faster then FLA batteries. |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2629 |
Posted: 29 Jan 2018 at 2:29pm | |
However, converting an R-pod to 48V is not something that I would want to take on. Even with a DC-DC converter it would be too many moving parts for my comfort level. |
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 29 Jan 2018 at 3:21pm | |
Nah.. thanks to off grid people and golfers, such transformers are easy to come by.. It's literally 4 wires you can't mess up unless you try.. LOL 48v to 12v transformer. |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2629 |
Posted: 29 Jan 2018 at 4:25pm | |
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 29 Jan 2018 at 6:13pm | |
No I am not using a 24v or 48v system in the camper. I am saying it can be done, and on large rigs IS done. In the future, I probably will use a version of it, depending on what battery tech does in the next 5 years, and if we go full time, etc. In the systems we are talking about, a alternator or generator is used that provides the proper voltage, when solar isn't being used to charge the system. But in general, the 12v tow vehicle system does nothing for the TT, it's usually isolated from the camper. If it helps to assure you I may know what I am talking about.. Here are a couple pics of a system I am quite familiar with.. LOL Main Battery bank.. Transfer switch and breakers/isolation systems. This bank can be charged by solar, grid, and generator. It provides the home with 12v lighting and a small bit of 12v infrastructure, and 120v when the grid is down, which is often. |
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Our pod
Groupie Joined: 03 Oct 2016 Location: Olympia WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 62 |
Posted: 30 Jan 2018 at 1:25pm | |
Figure out what is needed, including motor start-up and other surge needs, plus a safety margin, and size accordingly. On the road I can keep our single 12V deep cycle charged, and that meets our needs for road trips. We have done a week off-grid with our free Zamp solar panel (45W?). We don't use 110V unless at a full site. My Tacoma has 400W 110V available in the bed (factory installed) if I need that. So far that has worked for our needs. Only once have we felt the need to use the air conditioner, though.
I like the technical discussion, but why buy more than you need? |
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Life is good.
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ToolmanJohn
Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 451 |
Posted: 31 Jan 2018 at 5:36am | |
Most automotive batteries will be VERY limited in what they can provide for wattage.
Simplified: Volts X Amps = Watts (power) Battery 12VDC @ 100 AMP discharge rate would provide 1200 watts. Inverter 120VAC @ 10 amps = 1200 watts. Ignoring inverter efficiency and some losses. If you have (2) 6 VDC golf cart batteries, you can get more current, and run a bigger inverter BUT, not for very long. You could perhaps run a microwave (1500 watts) for a while. Or hair dryer, or electric toaster, or etc.. I know a guy (A/C technician) who installed 8 (EIGHT!!!) Marine/Starter batteries on the rear bumper of his camper. Custom fabricated the holders and had the bumper welded and reinforced. He discovered it really made handling bad. He also discovered that he could only run his A/C for about an hour before the inverter shut down. Battery levels dropped too low to run the inverter at that output. But the good news is he can run the LCD TV practically forever if he doesn't use AC. I didn't even ask how he charges them all. Probably individually. |
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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
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XDigger15
Newbie Joined: 23 Mar 2018 Location: South Carolina Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Posted: 25 Mar 2018 at 10:14am | |
Hi all. I am a NEWBIE. I am also a 50 year old Grandma, who just bought her first camper - a 2010 R Pod 173 . It's beautiful, and I love it. However, It did not come with ANY TYPE OF INSTRUCTION MANUAL. I have been living on the internet, trying to learn about it... and learning a lot by "hard luck trial and error", too.
I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP, IN GRANDMA TERMS: My current issue (pun intended) is that all my power (battery) died last week. I had just been camping, and plugged in at a campground March 5-7. I turned off the Fridge and Stereo... but after a few days, I heard some beeping. It was a detector (on the wall between the couch and fridge). I figured it was run on AA batteries, so I ignored it. Question 1: Why did my battery die so fast? It appeared FULL while I was at the camp ground. Question 2: It is not responding to being plugged up to my house. (30v that came with R Pod, to heavy guage extension cord, to house) ****PROBABLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I LIVE IN A HOUSE BUILT IN THE 1940'S, AND MY BREAKERS ARE MOSTLY 20V, WITH 2 30'S JOINED (I THINK) TO RUN A FEW THINGS, AND 2 50'S TO RUN MY WORKSHOP. Question 3: Should I go to a camp ground, and plug up today, just to see if my converter is still good? Sad Grandma today.
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XDigger
2010 RPod 173 2000 Chevy 1500 V8 |
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
Posted: 25 Mar 2018 at 10:31am | |
Sounds like battery is NOT charging. As long as you have a 120 VAC source, with plug and extension cord, the Converter charge circuit should have a source. One thing, very simple, when the charge circuit is active and the battery is low, the Converter fan should be operating. Because the converter gets warm. When plugged in do you hear the fan? The beeping detector is most likely caused by low battery voltage. Do you have a way to check battery voltage? Like a voltmeter. Once you have determined the charge circuit is not working, I would next check all the fuses in the converter, make sure you haven't popped one. I would start with these steps.
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Mike Carter
2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2629 |
Posted: 25 Mar 2018 at 10:36am | |
+1 to what mcarter just said. Buy, beg, borrow, or steal a DVM so you can check voltages. Most likely your converter (AKA battery charger) is inop. It could be a fuse or something simple, or the converter may have died. As a workaround, you can charge the battery back up with an ordinary battery charger. In a pinch, you could also use jumper cables from your tow vehicle to boost the battery back up to operating voltage.
If you have a friend that knows how to use a meter, buy him or her a cup of coffee for a little help. good luck |
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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