Amp Draw

[Bob_Vaughn]

How many amps should a motor home draw when plugged in with nothing turned on?

[wa8yxm]

IF you take enough extension cord and plug it into a Kill-a-watt. WITHOUT ANY THING PLUGGED INTO THE OTHER END. I twill display an amp draw (Fraction of an amp) Now least you wonder this is 100% normal and if I wished I could tell you how many feet of say 12/3 to draw one amp.. It is that normal. So there will be draw.

The Converter is never off (unless you trip the breaker)
TV's. Microwaves and such all draw a small load (Anything relying on a REMOTE to turn it on or with a clock).

[BFL13]

Each GFCI receptacle has a small draw when on 120v supply even with nothing plugged into it. Not an issue, but off-grid on inverter whole house, it adds a little bit to your inverter's draw (with inverter on) from the battery. I saw 0.1 amp DC on Trimetric for each GFCI receptacle as a 120v inverter load.

[DrewE]

I just checked on my motorhome.

AC power: 25W, about 0.3A (power factor isn't great, I guess).

DC house load: 0.2A (mostly for the propane detector)

My DC ammeter measures battery current, so I had to turn off the AC power to measure the house load. With AC and the converter on, the average battery current once the battery is fully charged is very close to zero; the house load is just being supplied by the converter, and the battery is sitting at the float voltage. Naturally, if the battery is not fully charged, the converter charging the battery imposes a noticeable additional AC load (and, of course, makes for a non-negligible battery current as well).

[dougrainer]

OK, DC amps. Your questions has too many possible variables. Kind of like asking how many miles per gallon a 2019 Toyota Camry will get.
1. Just YOU driving?
2. 2 or more people?
3. Luggage also?
4. Hiway or Stop and go City driving?
Plugged into 120 and nothing on. That never happens. Either the Power Converter or the Inverter/Charger will be drawing DC amps or RESTORING amps as they charge the Coach batteries. When plugged in, the thought of DC amp draw is not a concern because you ARE plugged in. I would think you would ask, when NOT plugged in and Batteries and everything turned OFF what would possible DC amp draw be? Now, MOST LP and CO detectors are hardwired and will draw miniamps when they are on. Very few RV's today have a LP/CO On/OFF switch. A usual 12 volt draw is the TV antenna Power Booster left ON. They are usually out of sight and mind when they are on. Doug

[GordonThree]

DC amps. I don't have any gauges on my AC side yet.

[2oldman]

GordonThree wrote:
About 130 watts. That's with lights, tv, radio, pump, etc off.

Ok then, 1 amp.

[GordonThree]

2oldman wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Mine is about 10 amps without me purposefully turning anything on..

1200 watts with nothing on? Not at 120v

About 130 watts. That's with lights, tv, radio, pump, etc off.

[2oldman]

GordonThree wrote:
Mine is about 10 amps without me purposefully turning anything on..

1200 watts with nothing on? Not at 120v

[dougrainer]

120 AMPS OR 12 VOLT DC AMPS? DOUG

[GordonThree]

Mine is about 10 amps without me purposefully turning anything on. There's a lot of things in standby, and then my telematics and automation system is always running. I don't worry about power usage having plenty of battery and at least one generator wherever I go.

[Gjac]

Bob Vaughn wrote:

Gjac wrote:
If nothing is turned on mine will draw .4 amps. Newer MH's will probably draw more. If you see more than 2 amps something is probably on. How much is your amp draw?

I am wondering about parasitic draw.....

That is what I am referring to. With nothing turned on and MH not plugged in .4 amps is my parasitic draw. Being plugged in should not affect the draw.

[Bob_Vaughn]

Gjac wrote:
If nothing is turned on mine will draw .4 amps. Newer MH's will probably draw more. If you see more than 2 amps something is probably on. How much is your amp draw?

I am wondering about parasitic draw.....

[Boomerweps]

The converter will run to keep your batteries charged. 14 watts or .1177 amps in my case with a charged battery. Did you turn off the fridge? Mine draws 328 watts or 2.7333 amps. Measured using a kil-a-watt.

[Gjac]

If nothing is turned on mine will draw .4 amps. Newer MH's will probably draw more. If you see more than 2 amps something is probably on. How much is your amp draw?