Battery drain while In storge
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: Non-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Mods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Same as podmods, just... not for pods
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8147
Printed Date: 28 Apr 2024 at 3:33pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Battery drain while In storge
Posted By: ron/roscoe
Subject: Battery drain while In storge
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 1:38pm
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after about a week in storage, my battery indictor was about to 3/4 charged. I bought a battery disconnwit switch from Amazon, sure fixed the drain issue. Now I just turn the key on top the battery box to get power when I want it. Cost less than $10. ------------- Ron Rowland |
Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 1:48pm
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Battery disco switch is a good thing for storage. However, the battery will still eventually self discharge if left long enough. Check it every 3-4 months. And note the top light on the battery "indicator" only means the battery is being charged. The third light is still fully charged, just not being charged. From there down it's a crap shoot. The bottom light means you probably left the battery at home.
------------- 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: ron/roscoe
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 6:32pm
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What is a battery disco switch? My switch simply breaks the negative wires to the battery. ------------- Ron Rowland |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 6:50pm
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Disconnect switch.
------------- 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: techntrek
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 8:51pm
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Lead acid batteries self-discharge 1-3% per day when they are warm, so you should recharge them overnight every 30 days. During the winter months you can get away with 3 months. ------------- 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: osage
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 9:37am
| which switch is everyone using ? |
Posted By: ron/roscoe
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 12:37pm
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Check out the switches on Amazon, just ask for battery disconnect switches. I also a 12 inch wire to complete the circuit. I drilled three holes in the top lid of the battery, took about 30 minutes. Don't forget to drill several holes in the bottom of e battery box to let rain water out. ------------- Ron Rowland |
Posted By: AZ Hiker
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 2:49pm
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Is it best to disconnect the battery and take it out while the Pod is in storage? I was thinking that it may be best to bring it home and connect to a trickle charger. Thoughts? ------------- R Pod 177 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 1 Awesome Therapy Dog |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 3:56pm
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We take our battery out each winter and recharge it a few times during the winter.
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 6:46pm
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Our deep cycle group 24's are into their 6th year. They are either left in the pod, unhooked, or taken out and left in our unheated garage in northern Michigan. I will give them a charge in November with a trickle charger (2 amps) for 1 -2 days each and then copy this process again in April. The first year I kept them in the basement of our house but Furpod told me that they would only discharge faster being in a heated environment, that the batteries would be better off in a colder area, so that is the advice I have followed and the batteries are still working well for us.
------------- 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." |
Posted By: GlibGuy
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2016 at 7:19am
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I remove my battery and put it on a trickle charger in my garage. Is this OK or would it be better to hook up every 30 days overnight? ------------- MICK |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2016 at 3:38pm
If you do not disconnect the battery it will be discharged by the propane detector in two weeks so your options are:
Your choice. Some are more convenient than others. ------------- 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: techntrek
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2016 at 5:19pm
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I wouldn't recommend option 2, it will discharge too deeply between recharges.
If you do option 3 you need to be sure the trickle charge has enough output to cover what the LP detector and fridge will use each day. Easy way around that is to disconnect the battery from the pod but use the trickle charger. For options 4 and 6, recharge every 30 days in the warmer months, or every 60 days in the middle of winter - if you leave the batter outside in the cold (which will extend its life). We've had discussions here in the past and the consensus is you save little $ by using a trickle charger vs. the converter (and none at all if you use the converter to charge 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: CharlieM
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2016 at 6:06pm
What Doug said. Refined by the master battery batterer. 
------------- 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: GlibGuy
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2016 at 9:19pm
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I certainly "hang" on everything that Doug says and have learned much from this forum since I acquired my 178 last year. My situation on using the trickle charger is that I keep my Pod in a storage warehouse (with no electric service) and it's more trouble for me to pull it home every 30 days as opposed to just bringing the battery, etc. I'm glad to find out that I won't have to unhook and tot the battery if my next excursion is within 30 days (which is the case April through October). ------------- MICK |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2016 at 5:34pm
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Glad to be the better battery batterer! Thanks Mick, here to help. ------------- 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: AZ Hiker
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2016 at 10:47pm
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Thanks a ton for all of the insight! It really helps! ------------- R Pod 177 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 1 Awesome Therapy Dog |