Battery charging?
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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=6458
Printed Date: 26 Apr 2024 at 5:03pm
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Topic: Battery charging?
Posted By: JohnBG
Subject: Battery charging?
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 1:45pm
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When the camper is plugged into 120VAC should it be charging the battery? Or do I need to charge it with a separate charger? My battery is about completely dead as previous owner left it connected and it drained. Or is it time for a new battery? ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 2:37pm
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I would say it is time for a new battery. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: jstrenn
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 8:56pm
| When you're connected to 120VAC it charges the battery through the converter. However if your battery was left for a long time in a low state of charge it is probably bad. Try giving it a full charge and see what happens. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 9:02pm
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I agree you probably just need to get a new battery. You need to disconnect it from the pod if you don't leave the pod plugged in all the time (or leave the battery on a battery tender), but then charge it overnight every 30 days. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 10:08pm
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I checked the water level in the battery (it was fine) and leaving the trailer plugged into a house circuit overnight and will check it tomorrow. From then on I will disconnect the positive lead when in storage until I can install a shut off switch. Or maybe just pull the battery out and put it in the garage on a piece of plywood The existing battery is an interstate but they didn't punch the date codes on it so I have no idea how old it is. Florida heat is murder on batteries. I am lucky to get 3 years on my truck, motorcycle and lawn mower and they aren't sitting in a black box baking in the sun. Could be muerto... Any suggestions on a replacement?
------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
Posted By: Luv2Q
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 1:23am
Dual 6-volts wired in series. Gives you 12 volts with lots of capacity. ------------- John & Teri Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180 E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3 |
Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 11:01am
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Why not 2 12V batteries wired in parallel? That would give double the amp-hours. ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 12:20pm
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Simple math, and then some. The typical Group 24 12 volt "marine" battery supplied by dealers is rated at 70+ AH so two would provide ~150 AH. Some of the better batteries go to 86 AH for one. The common GC2 golf cart battery is rated at 220+ AH at 6 V. Two in series gives 12 V at 220+ AH, or 46% more than the dual twelves. They fit the same footprint, but weigh slightly more. The energy storage capacity of a flooded lead acid battery is roughly proportional to its weight so more lead is better. A secondary reason for two sixes vs two twelves is that parallel battery paths are technically inferior to a single series path. It has to do with current sharing (engineer speak).
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 1:02pm
I don't plan on doing any "boondock" camping, and will probably stay at places with electric and water hookups, so I will probably stick with one battery at least for the meanwhile. My wallet is starting to get a little empty.  Two golf cart batteries will put a lot of load on the tongue I don't want. I rebuilt an old electric golf cart two years ago and put 6 new batteries in it, those suckers are heavy! I'm leaving the camper plugged in for a day or two and see if the battery will hold at least a partial charge. If not then I guess I need to make a trip to Wally World for another one. ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 4:25pm
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I have two Interstate Sportsman batteries 12V (85ah if I remember correctly), in Parallel. no problems with 4 nights camping, as long as it doesn't involve a lot of furnace activity. Otherwise, no problems. Always check water levels a couple times a year, and electrolyte levels, and don't discharge below 50% if possible, or it will shorten the life cycle. ------------- 2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler 2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 5:57pm
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Don't worry about the plywood, that is an old myth. True back in the day but not with modern battery cases.
You can get 12 volt batteries that are around 100 amp hour, too. The two biggest advantages are the series wiring (as mentioned) and usually you can get much better - and true - deep cycle batteries that are 6 volts. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 9:12pm
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Dang... I've been putting batteries on plywood all this time for nothing? Or am I showing my age again? ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 10:08pm
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Old style rubber cases would leak a little fluid and so ground themselves if they were right on the floor. No need with the plastic cases. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 9:47am
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what is best recommended brand/style etc for 6v batteries; seems to be alot out there. hogone
------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 10:18am
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Although http://www.trojanbattery.com/markets/mr/6v/ - Trojan are very popular, I chose to go this route and have been very happy: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4626&KW=duracell&PID=45000&title=batteries-somebody-stop-me - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4626&KW=duracell&PID=45000&title=batteries-somebody-stop-me fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 10:55am
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The Trojan T-105 is the gold standard. However, the Interstate GC2-XHD is also very good and may be more available. Sam's Club sells a couple of batteries at lower cost, but I'm skeptical. You get what you pay for.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 12:29pm
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lets keep the debate going..................im going to buy this week!!!! sorry, just want to get the biggest bang for the buck and quality!! hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 1:25pm
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As you know biggest bang and quality don't always coincide. Ref. China Bombs.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 6:30pm
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Back to my original question. I left the pod plugged in on a 120vac 15amp circuit for two days and then disconnected external power. Interior LED battery/tank meter showed 4 LEDs (full), not sure how reliable that is. Then I pulled the positive lead from the battery and tucked the cable in the back of the box. Will let it sit for a few days, reconnect the cable, and check to see if the charge holds. ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2015 at 8:23pm
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I'd go for the cheapest deep cycle battery, you just won't get your money out of the more expensive stuff unless you boondock all the time. John, don't rely on the LED meter for anything other than the fresh water tank and the gray tank. You need to take the resting voltage (3 hours disconnected) of the battery to figure out its true SOC. Look up the Wind Sun Battery FAQ for a voltage chart and lots of other good info. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2015 at 6:52pm
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Yeah I didn't think the interior meter was accurate, it was one light before and now it's 4. I can take a meter out and check the voltage but the best way is to test the battery under load. I'll probably end up in the battery section at the local Wally World soon... ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2015 at 9:57pm
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The load test is good to find out how well it will hold up, but you won't do that test often. The test at rest you'll do often to find the SOC. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2015 at 4:13pm
If a lead acid battery is completely or nearly drained and left that way for a few months, it is dead beyond any hope of reviving. After 'charging' such a battery, it might seem like it's okay because the voltage of the battery might be good, but it's capacity is almost completely gone. Rather than plug up the unit periodically, I simply remove my batteries when we aren't using the Pod and place them on a Battery Minder #1500 all the time. It's temperature sensitive, so it doesn't matter that I leave them in my uninsulated garage. This way, I never have to worry whether my batteries are alright. The other key to battery maintenance is checking the water level periodically, at the beginning and end of the camping season is good. The cells must be topped off with distilled water and nothing else. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2015 at 11:23am
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Ended up going to Wally World and picking up a new one for ~$80. I'll make sure to disconnect it when storing the pod. ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |