R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Introduce Yourself
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Electric power
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedElectric power

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
kymooses View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 01 Aug 2010
Location: Louisville, Ky
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1807
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Electric power
    Posted: 23 Aug 2011 at 10:09am
Likely a difference in the model of stereo's and tv's used also then I guess.
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2011 at 10:04am
Maybe depends on model or type.. ours is all integrated, and so.. doesn't work on 12v.

I will probably either add a 12v car stereo up front, or do an inverter in the back..
Back to Top
kymooses View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 01 Aug 2010
Location: Louisville, Ky
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1807
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2011 at 10:00am
Our 181g radio works on the battery's power.  Guess it's something corrected on newer models.
Back to Top
this_is_nascar View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 24 Jan 2010
Location: NJ
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 466
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2011 at 9:25am
I was pretty disappointed to find out the R-Pod radio would not work on battery power.  I can understand the TV/DVD, etc, but the radio should be able to power on 12-volts.
"Ray & Connie"

- 2017 R-Pod RP-180
- 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road
Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9059
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 5:14pm
I will be interested in the results!
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 4:39pm
Yep, just using the built in gauge, didn't really think about it until later, and then it was back to plugged in.. maybe will conduct an experiment next weekend...Smile
Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9059
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 1:25pm
The 12 volt heating element uses about 120-150 watts when running.  Its probable that in cooler conditions (outside and inside the 'pod, since you weren't staying in there) it will cycle on infrequently and so your battery time will be stretched.  But that is a big load, and most of the time it will be on much more often, so its best to either plug in or switch to gas if you need to leave it running at home before unloading it.  Granted, you have a 2-battery setup which would probably give you 8-10 hours of battery run time at full load before reaching 50% DOD.  Most don't, which is where the 4-5 hours applies.
 
I wouldn't rely on the built-in battery gauge for more than a rough estimate, if that is where you took your reading.  A good digital voltmeter will be much more accurate (after resting the batteries for 3+ hours).
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 12:02pm
@techntrek.. question/observation.

On our last trip.. OK first and last trip so far..lol

After getting home we left the fridge in 12v mode overnight. It was a cool night, and of course the fridge was down to temperature when unhooked. Monday morning, we were still at 2/3 on the batteries, at least 16 hours since unhooking. I know the 12v fridge system is a hog (comparatively) but I wonder if once cool and only running when the thermostat calls for it, how long it would go..? I figure if running constantly, 4-5 hours would kill your battery, but if it's only running 10 minutes an hour to keep cool...
Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9059
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 10:48am
Welcome!  We are here to fill in the holes.  You can even find the beginnings of our own "manual" in the maintenance sub-forum here.  BTW, I've fixed the title.
 
An additional point about the fridge - it will drain your battery in about 4-5 hours so you should only use the 12 volt mode when your 'pod is connected to your TV (TV = tow vehicle on most camping forums, not television Smile) and you are traveling down the road.  If you stop for gas or for an hour lunch you are ok, any more than that and you should switch to gas mode.
 
However, most hitch installers do not use the correct size wire for the +12 line running from your TV's battery and the Bargeman connector (the plug next to your hitch).  It needs to be at least 10 gauge and preferrably 8 gauge wire but usually its 12 gauge like all the other wires.  Similarly the ground line either needs to be attached to the frame closeby, or it needs 10 or 8 gauge wire running all the way back to the battery.  Without this size wire you can actually drain your 'pod's battery on the way to the campground which can be a real problem if you were planning on camping w/o hookups.  If you aren't sure that you have the correct size wire, or you are sure its the wrong size and haven't "upgraded" it yet, my recommendation is to just use the gas mode.  The fridge uses very little gas, you can go about a month on one tank if you don't use any other gas appliances.
 
You could buy a small inverter and hook it up to the battery to use the television, but unless you also install 4+ batteries don't plan on buying one big enough to run the other 120 volt appliances.  They are all high-watt users.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
alpete View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 21 Aug 2011
Location: W Simsbury CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 9:57am
Thank you all...the dealer threw so much at me in a short period of time, I missed most of it!!
AdEmbroidery, Inc
Custom embroidery and Screen Printing
www.adembroidery.com
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz