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Old 10-26-2016, 09:15 PM   #1
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An Electrical Thought for Boondockers

So, I'm camping last weekend, everything is turned off (lights, etc.) and my 12v current monitor that I installed a few months back is showing roughly .5 amps.
Hmmmm.
OK, I know the Refrigerator control circuit is drawing some. And I know the LP/CO2 monitor is drawing a little. And I know the Radio draws just a little even when turned off. Still, that seemed like a lot of current.
Then I remembered that back when I rewired my cutoff switch to really cutoff EVERYTHING (Described in this post) I discovered some other parasitic draws.

Of course, as mentioned above there is:
1) The Refrigerator control circuit - even if you're running on gas.
2) The "entertainment center" which draws a small amount even when off.
3) The LP/CO2 monitor.

But also there are some other circuits:
4) The Schwinteck slide controllers on my BR slide. Not all Slideouts have an intelligent controller (my LR slide doesn't). But the Schwinteck DO - and those controllers are always on.
5) The Lippert Levelup II system. That controller is also always on, even when the "off" button is pressed on the control panel.
6) I have a TPMS radio relay that is always on.

So - I went and temporarily "unwired" 4-6. Guess what - my draw dropped to .03 amps. This assumes the Refrigerator burner wasn't currently on - when the Refrig is "active" the draw is a bit more.

BUT - the point is, there was almost a half an amp being taken from my batteries for stuff I didn't need when parked. Over 24 hours that's 12 ah out of the battery or about 5% of a typical group 24 battery.

Now there is a downside to cutting power to the Lipper Levelup System - it forgets the "hitch position" so the auto hitch level function won't work after the power is restored. And of course you can't move the Schwinteck slide while it's power is off. But cutting power to that system didn't seem to confuse it - it worked fine after restoring power. I'm not sure I would want to cut power if the unit isn't in full out or full in position but other than that it's fine.

SO - now I've decided I'm going to put another cutoff switch in my battery compartment. And on the downhill side of that switch (which I'll label a "boondocking switch" will be items 4-6 above.

If I'm on AC power - no problem, leave the switch alone.
But if I'm boondocking - after everything is setup - I cut the boondocking switch and save that juice.

Anybody else thought about doing this?
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Old 10-27-2016, 05:41 AM   #2
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Nice catch and a GREAT idea!!

Don
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Old 10-27-2016, 06:02 AM   #3
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Posts like this are exactly why I love this group. I always like outside the box thinkers...
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Old 10-27-2016, 07:12 AM   #4
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Good piece of investigative work.


And giving yourself the option of disabling the optional systems only when needed. Neat!
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Old 10-27-2016, 07:24 AM   #5
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This is another example of the designers of RV's are NOT users. A design engineer worth his salt would have already provided the ability to drop all unnecessary loads through one switch. However, the bean counters would likely object to the additional $1.50 added to the cost of manufacturing on a $20,000+ unit.

Good research, BuddyRay.

BTW, it's not a CO2 detector.....it's a CO detector.
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Old 10-27-2016, 08:01 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tnchuck100 View Post
This is another example of the designers of RV's are NOT users. A design engineer worth his salt would have already provided the ability to drop all unnecessary loads through one switch. However, the bean counters would likely object to the additional $1.50 added to the cost of manufacturing on a $20,000+ unit.

Good research, BuddyRay.

BTW, it's not a CO2 detector.....it's a CO detector.
But, as far as the engineers are concerned, those ARE essential systems!

And it's a CO/propane detector.
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Old 10-27-2016, 08:20 AM   #7
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Good info and follow-up on what most suspected but did not go the extra mile to document.

I don't think the engineers are ever going to provide a way to bypass these parasitic loads. It creates to many problems in the legal department.
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Old 04-30-2017, 11:29 AM   #8
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I am adding a roof solar panel. Hopefully that will take care of problem as long as I park in sun.
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