Impetuous
USA
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Joined: 12/18/2002
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My coach has a 2000watt inverter with a 100amp charger. When I am camping for an extended time and paying electric I have always kept it on. Does everyone do this or do you turn it off to save on electric since it does use electricity? I do use some 12volt lights so there is a battery drain. Would it save to just hook up a small 10amp automatic charger?
Jim
2003 Beaver Monterey 40
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JFG
TN
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If your Beaver is like other Monaco products, you need to leave the inverter on even though you are connected to shore power. Most of the outlets in the front living section still go thru the inverter even though you are plugged in. Try it and see .. turn inverter off and see if 120 v items in front of coach still work. You can turn your charger off at the control panel if you wish... but for what it cost to run it... I would leave on. How much a day are you paying for elec? Is it per KW or just a set daily charge?
Fred
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Impetuous
USA
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I am paying by the kw and I am parked at a Mobil home park in NC. I just found out that if you are in a RV the rates are a lot higher than if you are in a house or Mobil home. I have been complaining to the power company, but they just say because I can drive away I have to pay more. It makes no sense to me since I have never defaulted on a bill.
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squeakkos
parker az
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Joined: 03/06/2005
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I have a trailer park and I charge as much as I can for power .20 per. kW I am supplying the power and you can't believe how many people leave without paying.
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DUTCHSTARWEST
GREECE NY USA
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Joined: 05/31/2003
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squeakkos wrote:I have a trailer park and I charge as much as I can for power .20 per. kW I am supplying the power and you can't believe how many people leave without paying.
So it sounds like you the owner are chargeing the ones who do pay,. you don't have a means in place to collect from the folks as they exit the gate.... I guess it is easier to do that then include the cost at a fair rate in the charges per day or week. One of the reasons campers skip coming is the high cost of juice..
thanks for your post..
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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You will need to keep the inverter/charger on to keep the batteries up. You could get a small 35/45 amp converter if you want to turn the inverter off. I am not sure the 10 amp charger would be enough, but if you have it you can certainly give it a go. As long as it is automatic and turns off when charged and back on when battery gets low.
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
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thunderstruckhd
Ft.lauderdale,Florida
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Your charger in your coach should be a "floating" charger, meaning it only puts out what and when needed. In the long run it is probably cheaper on elect and better than some add on charger. In order to use your 12volt lights and accessories the batteries need to maintain a charge. Seems to me your just going to make more work for yourself and realize no savings, especially if you factor in the cost of a "good" additional charger...
2006 Allegro Bus, 42QDP, Tag axle, 400ISL.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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In idle it uses very little power,, I keep mine on "Standby" (Means turned on and ready to invert) since it contains the needed switching devices it does not actually come full on unless there is a loss of shore power..
When that happens there is a BEEP and the TV does not even loose a frame. I check the display, notice it shows negative DC amps and set about figuring out what went south on shore power... I've lost power twice in campgrounds last year.. Plus a couple of times here at home.. Once for hours.. During that (news year eve IIRC) blackout I used the Onan to power my stick house. But the stuff in the Motor home that needs ac, never lost power
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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RayChez
Barstow, Ca. USA
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Joined: 09/13/2003
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I only use my invertor when dry camping. I always have it turned off. I don't like to leave it on because if we disconnect from shore power, everything that was on AC power will switch over to the inverter to continue with AC power and it will put a big drain on your house batteries.
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Edouard
Hudson, Quebec, Canada
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Joined: 09/14/2002
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Don't have an invertor so cannot comment on the initial subject.
However, don't see why RV Parks have people skipping out without paying for the electrical used, if it's part of the stayover agreement
Most RV Park stays are paid up front with a credit card, the Signin Agreement must/should indicate that the electrical is extra and will be charged at a stated kilowatt rate, and the RV Park has the right to bill against the credit card, should the visitor not pay upon departure. It's a business transaction. JMHO.
Eugene & Stella Theriault,
1999 Endeavour 34CG/V-10 (No Slides)
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