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Topic: Is the converter suppose to stay on (Read 2 times) previous topic - next topic
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Is the converter suppose to stay on
Yahoo Message Number: 107992
I am parked in an RV camp full time for a couple of months and my electric bill was $120 bucks this month- 1991 23.5' LD - I am in Texas, so no air conditioning and very little heat needed this passed month.  I work 10 hours a day, so I rarely have a light on  -  that only leaves the refrigerator and the converter.  I am noticing, now that I am checking closer as to what is using so much juice, that the converter stay warm and seems to be on all the time.  Now, I am new to RVing so any suggestions would help.  And by the way, I asked my neighbors who have much larger rigs what their bills were and most were in the $40 buck range.  ANY help would be most appreciated.

Patricia in Austin
Re: Is the converter suppose to stay on
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107994
You might check your house batteries.  A few months ago when my house batteries were at the end of their lives the converter ran a lot, trying to charge batteries that wouldn't hold a charge.

--Al in Bremerton (currently in warm Phoenix) --2002 26.5 MB
Re: Is the converter suppose to stay on
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107996
Patricia, you can find out by switching the fridge to propane and seeing what effect that has on your electric bill. If there's an electric meter at your campsite, make a note of its reading, run the fridge on electricity (as you're doing now for a week), and record the accumulated watt-hours. Then switch to propane for a week and do the same thing.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
 
Re: Is the converter suppose to stay on
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108004
Quote
I am parked in an RV camp full time for a couple of months and my electric bill was $120 bucks this month- 1991 23.5' LD - I am in Texas, so no air conditioning and very little heat needed this passed month.  I work 10 hours a day, so I rarely have a light on  -  that only leaves the refrigerator and the converter.  I am noticing, now that I am checking closer as to what is using so much juice, that the converter stay warm and seems to be on all the time.  Now, I am new to RVing so any suggestions would help.  And by the way, I asked my neighbors who have much larger rigs what their bills were and most were in the $40 buck range.  ANY help would be most appreciated.
The converter in your rig will not use much power to recharge weak batteries, because its charge output is anemic. It CAN put out up to 400 Watts to power 12V appliances, however, which can add up if yu leave lights on all the time, etc. If you use a small electric heater, this will consume 1500 Watts, typically, while it is running. First, though, translate that $120 into claimed Watt-hours, which will allow you to calculate your daily average power consumption.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit