Inverter question

[Carol Bentley]

We are dry camping in a 40' 2003 Marquis.  I've noticed that when I turn the inverter to the ON position w/no load (everything is OFF), I am discharging 20+ amps according to my Alladin.   Any idea why?

[Edward Buker]

Seems like something is on. Try turning off each 120V breaker one at a time and see what happens to the load at the panel. That may provide some clues. The frig if it did not switch over to gas could be a possibility. There are a couple of breakers on the ceiling of the storage bay also.

Later Ed

[Joel Ashley]

Our fridge is on the 50 amp Main panel and can't be run by the inverter.  But the ice-maker inside its freezer is off the 30 amp panel, which goes through the inverter.  Presumably the ice-maker is off if the fridge is off, but it still plugs into a separate circuit, and when on the ice-maker can draw quite a few amps.

Ed's advice is your best first step in identifying the culprit;  start with the 30 amp box of breakers.

Joel

[Dick Simonis]

20+ amps on the DC side doesn't translate to a very large AC load, about 2 amps or so at 120 V.  You might look at a combination of stuff that has a "standby" mode like TV, DVD, Stereo, and etc.  Even clocks can contribute to this light load accumulation.

[Carol Bentley]

Thanks All: I forgot about the breaker in the storagebay. The TV breaker is the one, so I'm thinking there's a problem with the motor that lowers the TV. Got things working for now and will reseach when I get home. Thanks again. Jim

[David T. Richelderfer]

I think most newer TVs pull a bit of power even in the off position so they stay warm and ready for the press of your button.  The on/off button on your remote basically turns off the screen, not power to all the guts of the TV.  Just a thought... and I am not an electrician...  so most everyone else knows more about these things than me.   lol

[Don Hircock]

Just having the inverter on creates a draw on the batteries.  I don't know how many amps but it takes energy to create the 110V.

[Keith Oliver]

On  my boat I was able to measure the Inverter draw under no load, at something over 5 amps.  That was with a Xantrex MS2000.  I doubt th eRV inverters are any more efficient.