Community Forums

vmallet · 11-27-2016, 12:10 AM

For all the cordless devices that need chargers, especially the permanently mounted ones (i.e. a cordless vacuum that's sitting on its base at all time), what happens when the RV is not on shore power? Do people go around the RV disconnecting all possible chargers or is the draw from all the chargers not something to worry about?

(Note: our first RV is on order and I have been researching what to bring for a little while, and the question of "vampire power" has been on my mind -- I don't know how these things come into play when boondocking etc).

Thanks,

Vince.

Scarab0088 · 11-27-2016, 12:35 AM

The typical RV will have no juice on the 110VAC plugs unless on generator, or shore power.

However, many RV's have or can be retrofitted with an inverter or combination inverter/converter-charger.

The RV's with an inverter (uses the house batteries to power the 110V plugs) are typically not a "whole-house" system (meaning that it is not powering everything) and will only provide juice to a few select outlets like the plug for the TV, plug for DVD/SAT receiver, and maybe the microwave and a plug or 2 for charging a cell phone, laptop, or camera battery charger.

If your RV has an inverter that feeds everything, you might be inclined to unplug charging stations like for a cordless vacuum...or these "vampires" will drain your house batteries over time.

Best luck

vsheetz · 11-27-2016, 01:09 AM

All outlets in our coach are on inverter. I have all such chargers on one outlet near the dining table. Phones and such are placed there to charge. A switched power strip is used so as to be able to disconnect if wanted.

When boondocking and wanting to conserve house battery power we charge devices when solar or generator is active.

Gary RVRoamer · 11-27-2016, 05:37 AM

If those chargers (etc) are on inverter-powered outlets, yes you should unplug them. Some of them are smart enough to have essentially zero draw when idle, but the run-of-the-mill ones will all be sucking small amounts of power and that adds up quickly when inverting. Plus the inverter itself will have a "idle" power draw.

My Samsung smart phone charger goes to an actual zero amp draw when the phone is unplugged, but not all of them are that kind.

HD4Mark · 11-27-2016, 06:02 AM

I checked what outlets are on our inverter by unplugging the coach and then testing them all to see what is hot. I'm sure there is a schematic to see but that was easy. We try not to use any of them for things like the little cordless vacuum.

For short periods of time I would not worry about it but for extended time keeping that stuff off the inverter will save your batteries. Those jump start packs that have a 12v power outlet are handy to charge small stuff like your cell phone.

**pasdad1** · 11-27-2016, 06:12 AM

Also not mentioned is some of these small chargers don't like modified sine wave power! I think the older type that actually used a small transformer worked ok, but many of the new ones are not, and depending upon how it's designed and built could overheat or malfunction unless fed with pure sine wave power.

vsheetz · 11-27-2016, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasdad1

Also not mentioned is some of these small chargers don't like modified sine wave power! I think the older type that actually used a small transformer worked ok, but many of the new ones are not, and depending upon how it's designed and built could overheat or malfunction unless fed with pure sine wave power.

Maybe some, but I have not encountered such a problem with many years of camping with MSW inverters.

vmallet · 11-27-2016, 09:26 PM

Thanks for all your replies. Once we get our RV I will run around to check which plugs are live when using the inverter and think of the switchable power strip idea for the worst vampire chargers we have.

Vince.

Just For Fun · 11-27-2016, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vmallet

For all the cordless devices that need chargers, especially the permanently mounted ones (i.e. a cordless vacuum that's sitting on its base at all time), what happens when the RV is not on shore power? Do people go around the RV disconnecting all possible chargers or is the draw from all the chargers not something to worry about?

(Note: our first RV is on order and I have been researching what to bring for a little while, and the question of "vampire power" has been on my mind -- I don't know how these things come into play when boondocking etc).

Thanks,

Vince.

Our coahc doesn't have an inverter so we unplug everything we can prior to powering down from shore power or generator.

**pasdad1** · 11-28-2016, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just For Fun

Our coahc doesn't have an inverter so we unplug everything we can prior to powering down from shore power or generator.

Why? If you don't have an inverter turning off the pedestal breaker and unplugging (or shutting down the generator) leaves those outlets unpowered. There would be no vampire power draw.

CarolynanBob · 11-28-2016, 08:08 AM

I am mounting the chargers in a basement area and will stay plugged. We don't have an inverter, so it will only get power when the genny is on or when we are on shore power. To me this isn't a problem as they will hold a charge for a while.

wa8yxm · 11-28-2016, 04:56 PM

Three answers depending on why it is not on shore power.

1: Cordless chargers will not discharge the device battery.. They are protected against that.

2: If you have no power to the outlet.. It's "Unplugged" in a manner of speaking BUT if your outlets are powered by an inverter,,, You may consider.. Provided you need the inverter

3: If in storage, not occupied, disable inverter (TURN OFF)