setting up with shore power only
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10297
Printed Date: 07 May 2024 at 3:40pm
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Topic: setting up with shore power only
Posted By: esprrssoguy
Subject: setting up with shore power only
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2017 at 8:46pm
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Hi everyone. I am going out for my second trip and I could really use some help. I am camping using shore power so i need the steps after i fill my water tank and level and stabslize pod. For example.
1. plug in surge protector and power cord to pod. Now i want to heat water electricity, use electricity for fridge, and propane for stove. Please tell me in which order? Thsnkyou so much for the help. |
Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2017 at 10:25pm
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Well, I'm not sure I understand what you're asking, but one thing: make sure the water heater is full of water before you turn on the heat, especially the electric heat or you'll burn out the element really quickly. As for the rest, there's no order to it. I guess the first thing you ought to do is flip the fridge over to electricity if it's on battery. I think most people travel with the fridge on propane. If it is on 12v you will run the battery down fast. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: ron_whitt
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2017 at 10:32pm
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Step 1 is good. Turn on your water pump. BEFORE you turn on your toggle switch to heat water in your hwt. Open a hot water Fawcett and wait for the air to be pushed out of the line. Once water is flowing smoothly out of the Fawcett(usually at the sink), shut off the Fawcett and go and turn on your toggle switch to start heating water in the tank. It will take a bit but by the time your finished setting up you will have hot water. For the fridge, just push the mode button until you have the electric plug symbol on, then push the temp button for coldness.. 1 is less cold 5 is most cold. For the stove, just make sure you open the propane tank and start the stove. I would do the fridge first, then the hot water, then the stove. Good luck ------------- Ron & Shirley 2020 Tacoma 2012 177 rpod |
Posted By: esprrssoguy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 12:44am
| Thanks Ron. This is what i needed. |
Posted By: ron_whitt
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 5:50am
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If your tv is wired correctly, you can run your fridge on battery while your driving. We do all the time. The only thing you have to watch for is if you stop and shut off your tv, that will drain your battery fairly quickly. We drive with the fridge on battery all the time, most stops are no more than say a 15-20 minute stop, if longer I'd shut off the fridge then restart on battery mode when ready to travel, takes only seconds to do. Good Luck. ------------- Ron & Shirley 2020 Tacoma 2012 177 rpod |
Posted By: esprrssoguy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 5:58am
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Thank you for your helo.
P 
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Posted By: backin15
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 12:01pm
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My dealer told me not to use the refrigerator on 12 volts. He said the refrigerator is much more efficient on propane, and the burner is small and doesn't use much propane. He also said the 12 volt heater uses a lot of power, and will make your charging system work hard and lower your gas mileage. Not sure how true this is, but I run propane on the road, and switch to 120 volts when we plug in to shore power.
------------- 2015 179 2013 Xterra Pro 4X |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 12:21pm
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Running the fridge on 12v is okay if you are sure you have the wiring and amps to handle it, but it will suck down a battery pretty quickly, the one on the Pod and/or the one in your TV, if your alternator isn't big enough or you forget and leave the fridge on 12v overnight. The fridge uses so little propane there is really no downside to running on propane when you don't have shore power. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 1:18pm
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+ 1 on propane vs battery while traveling. From my experience using the battery will maintain what you set the fridge at only for a short time and then you are mostly just wasting power. It will drain the pod battery fairly quickly and if you leave it attached, while drain your car battery too. We will usually plug the pod in while prepping for a trip a couple days early to cool it off and then use propane. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 1:28pm
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 3:59pm
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+1 - not a fan of propane and traveling. You should never refuel with a propane appliance running. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Hayduke
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 1:49pm
Your tow vehicle might have plenty of alternator, but have you looked at what gauge wire is running from there to your 7-pin trailer plug? I can almost guarantee you it's insufficient to power the fridge and charge the battery (most aren't enough to even run the fridge, so battery is drawn down while towing). I'm not sure which vehicle in your sig you tow with, but I know the Tacoma doesn't have the wiring to handle this (I had a 2nd gen and looked into it). I have no personal knowledge of the Ford ------------- 2012 177 HRE 2017 Tacoma Double Cab |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 3:07pm
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We've never actually towed the R-pod with the Tacoma. Pretty sure it could handle it, but we just don't. In spite of the larger size, the F-150 is actually more fuel efficient and comfortable. Charging the battery and running the fridge has not been an issue. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 4:07pm
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Not a TACOMA owner, but agree that you need to check the wiring and ensure your TV has capability to run a trailer with AUX battery. Both my GM products do, I do know not all vehicles come capable. I just explained to a 2013 Ford owner he needed a relay and a fuse, and in my case my 2006 Silverado needed a fuse. Interestingly the Ford fuse was a 30A and the GM fuse was a 40A. Do I see effects of using the 7 pin to feed trailer battery - YES- Is it negative - NO. Actually was designed and installed to do that. To me it is part of a real tow package. 2 cents. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: voisj
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 4:34pm
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Most trailer refers I've seen are "2 way", meaning propane or 110v . I thought it was neat that the Rpod came with the 3 way fridge until i killed the battery when I accidentally left it on 12v all night. and then I found out that even though i have a F150 with tow package and a 165 amp alternator it wouldn't charge the battery while driving with the fridge on, It would only keep it even. Running on propane each tank would last months, It's very efficient, Now I never use the 12v option for the fridge. And only would if I ran out of propane while dry camping while I go get them filled (or the whole border/tunnel thing). And I do always shut the valve while filling with gas and then just turn it back on again. But with 2 tanks I always have a full tank just sitting there. ------------- http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=slopod-180-mods-johnsue - SLOPODMODS John&Sue,SLO,CA 2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost 
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 5:09pm
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Right back to each their own. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 5:53pm
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Wish I knew how much power the fridge uses on 12V. I know the converter/charger can pull as much as 55 amps. However, the converter/charger won't be running while towing. So the issue is what the fridge needs, plus whatever the batteries suck from the TV. I'm pretty sure ours can't go above 30 amps or so, but that should be plenty. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 8:17pm
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The idea of being able to run the fridge on 12v power is great, but it's too often too theoretical. If it works for you that's great. I wish it worked on a more practical level, but the fact is it can run a battery down quickly unless one knows what they are doing or is lucky. It's interesting how divisive this issue is. I certainly believe we all ought to do what we feel safe and comfortable with. Personally, it seems to me that running the fridge on propane while traveling is probably safer than traveling. There have been infinitely more stories on this forum about wrecked trailers than about propane explosions, by my recollection anyway. I don't recall any posts about explosions or fires caused by running a fridge on 12v either though. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |