BAC Forum

General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: Carol Bentley on March 14, 2013, 10:19:35 PM

Title: Inverter question
Post by: Carol Bentley on March 14, 2013, 10:19:35 PM
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?
Title: Re: Inverter question
Post by: Edward Buker on March 15, 2013, 12:44:11 AM
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
Title: Re: Inverter question
Post by: Joel Ashley on March 15, 2013, 07:01:39 AM
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
Title: Re: Inverter question
Post by: Dick Simonis on March 15, 2013, 01:52:35 PM
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.
Title: Re: Inverter question
Post by: Carol Bentley on March 15, 2013, 06:15:55 PM
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
Title: Re: Inverter question
Post by: David T. Richelderfer on March 15, 2013, 07:30:40 PM
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
Title: Re: Inverter question
Post by: Don Hircock on March 16, 2013, 01:03:30 AM
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.
Title: Re: Inverter question
Post by: Keith Oliver on March 16, 2013, 04:02:12 AM
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.