Measurements of TM electrical loads

Your Phantom load of 0.12 amps is close to mine but when i plug into shore power it more than doubles. Is there a reason for this? Was your 0.12 amps on batt. or elec.?

[ShrimpBurrito]

That was Ray's phantom load, but presumably his TM was running on battery only when he made the measurement. You shouldn't have any phantom load when you are plugged in, as the converter should be supplying power to any DC loads. That is what happens in my TM as well.

How are you making your measurement?

Dave

I'm reading the meter when clamped to the hot battery wire. And it does about double when I plug in elec.

[ShrimpBurrito]

You are using a clamp-on ammeter?

I don't know why that could be happening. You could argue that the change is within the accuracy of the meter perhaps, but you probably can't argue that it is certainly increasing some amount, and that should not happen.

Is the fridge by chance on AC power while you are doing this?

Then again, I probably wouldn't worry about a 0.25A phantom draw when you are connected to AC power. When the battery voltage drops enough, the charger should kick in and replace the lost energy.

Dave

Originally Posted by jcjim4

I'm reading the meter when clamped to the hot battery wire. And it does about double when I plug in elec.

I would think that the current would change sign. IOW current should be flowing into the battery (charging) when external AC is plugged in, and should be leaving the battery when AC is removed.

So measured current might go from +0.12A to -0.24A when plugged in to AC? (or the +, - might be reversed?)

Suppose I should try this on my trailer ...
EDIT: just did. Get +45mA when charging with External AC and -165mA when discharging after pulling the AC plug. But then I blew the 200mA fuse on my ammeter when the converter's fan came on.

[ShrimpBurrito]

Jim - You are sure you are not changing the orientation of the clamp with respect to the direction of the current when you plug in the AC, right? That will change the current for sure.

Dave

For those that have to use one, a CPAP machine for sleep apnea pulls 3.0 amps

Why does the propane water heater draw electrical power? Does it even have a wire going to it? I've never looked closely at mine. I always thought they were themo-mechanical.

You can turn it off with the switch at the trailer's console, so there is some sort of electrical control. My guess is the thermostat is electrical as well.

Oh OK that makes sense - my 1997 2518 doesn't have that switch you just light it outside.