Dead batteries |
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Nellie
Groupie Joined: 29 Nov 2009 Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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Posted: 13 Jul 2010 at 9:57pm |
I put my pod in a storage lot about two weeks ago, I went to see it today and make sure everything was still there. My batteries are both dead, is this normal, is there something using power. I read somewhere about a cut off switch and should consider it huh. Am I doing any damage by letting the batteries drain (I have two). Before a trip should I bring it home and plug it in for a day or two or will the TV charge enough, although if i use the fridge I will need them charged and I am hoping by plugging into electric they will charge, thanks in advance
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Jinhe&Me
Groupie Joined: 22 Feb 2010 Location: Calgary, AB Status: Offline Points: 59 |
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Sherry,
I keep my pod on a storage lot as well. I don't have the shut off switch yet but the dealer advised just to unscrew one of the leads on the battery if it sits for more than a week or two. They advised that there are things that draw on the battery so doing that stops it from being drained.
Kathy
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R-Pod 176
2010 Nissan Pathfinder LE |
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gmandual
Senior Member Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Status: Offline Points: 470 |
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The propane detector in the trailer uses quite a bit of power and will drain the trailer batteries over time if you don't disconnect them. Two weeks sounds like a really quick draw down though as I have had mine parked longer then that without battery being drained to dead. The other culprit is to make sure you have the fridge turned off when you park it. Hold the power mode select button on the fridge untill all lights go out. Deep cycle batteries don't like being drawn down more then 50%. If you do it quite often it shortens the lifetime of the battery.
If you plug your trailer into AC it should charge up over a couple of days without much problem. The power converter in the trailer actually has a fairly good battery charger in it.
If you are going to leave your trailer in storage though I would try to get the batteries charged up. Leaving them dead while in storage also shortens the life of the battery.
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Outbound
Senior Member Joined: 25 Jul 2009 Location: Oshawa, ON Status: Offline Points: 750 |
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Check out the podmod: battery disconnect switch thread to see how I installed a battery disconnect switch.
Batteries should be stored fully charged and disconnected from your r-pod - I use a switch, but many people simply remove one of the leads from their battery. A deep cycle battery has about four full discharges in it before its useless. The longer a battery is stored discharged, the worse the damage done.
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Craig :: 2008 Mazda Tribute :: 2009 r-pod 171, The Johnnie Ray
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PodPatrol
Moderator Group Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Status: Offline Points: 22287 |
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When we stored last winter I brought the battery home and hooked it up to our BatteryMinder and it kept it in top condition. The r-Pod charger (as mentioned) also keeps the battery in tip-top shape, if your plugged into AC.
Disconnecting Battery before any length of storage is recommended highly.
If not in top condition before storage (short) then the parasitic devices can drain it.
The length of storage is the issue, and the condition of the battery when stored.
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HuronSailor
Senior Member Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: Owosso MI Status: Offline Points: 860 |
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Are you sure you didn't accidentally leave the fridge turned on in battery mode? That would definitely draw down 2 DC batteries inside of 2 weeks. I don't think there's anything else on the pod that would drain them that quickly, provided they were fully charged when you went into storage.
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.: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: "arrrr"Pod 172 :: My Albums :: OurPod Blog ::
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Sandpiper
Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Location: IL Status: Offline Points: 763 |
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We found out that the fridge will drain the battery in about 3 1/2 hours when we returned from the ERU and left the Pod in the drive way while we unwound from the drive. Approx 3 1/2 hours later I backed it into it's spot , we unhooked and Mrs Piper began unloading the fridge and discovered the battery dead (light flashing on the fridge) . Probably not dead-dead but voltage too low for fridge to work. Plugged the Pod into the house and the battery came back up in approx 1 hour.
Before we had experienced the battery being run down by parasitic loads in the pod like the propane detector and what ever else is on there sucking the battery down so I installed the disconnect switch and turn off the battery any time we disconnect from the house current. About a week was enough to put the battery down to 1/2 on the push button gauge. Your mileage may vary. |
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Sandpiper
Mrs.'Piper Ford 150-[Mini Lite 2104S] |
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Nellie
Groupie Joined: 29 Nov 2009 Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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Thank you everyone for the responses. My fridge was off but the pod sat in the driveway since I got home from the ERU and then made the short drive to storage so it was sitting for some time. I will pull it home tomorrow and charge it up. Geez, if the fridge drains the bettery in 3 1/2 hours what do you do when parked in a campground without electricity, is it better to run the fridge on propane...maybe I should have gotten two propane tanks instead of two batteries? Just when I thought I had most everything figured out this happens, hope I havent' damaged the batteries too much.
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Sandpiper
Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Location: IL Status: Offline Points: 763 |
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Nellie
You definitely want to run the fridge on propane if you don't have 120 V hookup. The fridge really doesn't use much propane and with normal use a tank will last a long time. Someone posted the estimated time you can expect out of a tank but I don't know where it is. Just remember to switch back to battery when you leave the campground. |
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Sandpiper
Mrs.'Piper Ford 150-[Mini Lite 2104S] |
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PodPatrol
Moderator Group Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Status: Offline Points: 22287 |
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You might still be able to add a second LP tank without tongue weight issues.
That would depend on your particular model and setup. We went with a 2nd tank instead of 2nd battery. With 2 of each, and conservation, you are boondock ready ! |
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