Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > iRV2.com General Discussion
Click Here to Login
Register FilesVendors Registry Blogs FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search Log in
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-05-2020, 11:20 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
RV Vagabond's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Texas Boomers Club
Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Fulltime Traveler
Posts: 1,041
Inverter & battery question

I thought shorepower was supposed to power everything in my motorhome so that the batteries would not be used at all. However, my inverter/converter control panel always shows 2 to 5 amps being drawn from the batteries. Anyone know why this would be?
RV Vagabond is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 09-05-2020, 11:29 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
paul65k's Avatar


 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Posts: 3,015
Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Vagabond View Post
I thought shorepower was supposed to power everything in my motorhome so that the batteries would not be used at all. However, my inverter/converter control panel always shows 2 to 5 amps being drawn from the batteries. Anyone know why this would be?
Which inverter do you have?

Some will have a small draw to keep the batteries topped off if there is a 12V draw.

Tell us more
__________________
Paul & Jean
2001 Alpine 36FDDS (74291)-3900W Solar, 13,440Wh (525Ah @24V) LiFePO4
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Hemi)
2006 Alpenlite 32RL - Sold
paul65k is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2020, 11:42 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
RV Vagabond's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Texas Boomers Club
Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Fulltime Traveler
Posts: 1,041
Quote:
Originally Posted by paul65k View Post
Which inverter do you have?
Some will have a small draw to keep the batteries topped off if there is a 12V draw.
Tell us more
Magnum Energy MS2000 - I know the inverter uses power itself just to keep it turned on. But does it get that power from the batteries rather than from the shorepower?
RV Vagabond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 05:20 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,442
It should be charging the batteries while on shore power.

Could you be seeing charging amps out to the batteries, rather then amps drawn from them ?
twinboat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 09:49 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
JJH3rd's Avatar
 
National RV Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Covington, GA
Posts: 785
Send a message via Skype™ to JJH3rd
One of the shortcuts that RV manufacturers do is to use the 12V circuits in place of having to convert 120v to 12v for the controlling hardware (ex microwave & Norcold refrigerator, TV/MM switch, etc). Plus there are the wall-warts that you may have plugged in to operate various electronics. There ever-where!
__________________
J.J. Hayden (KN4SH)
Covington, GA
2005 National Dolphin 5342
JJH3rd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 10:36 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
RV Vagabond's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Texas Boomers Club
Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Fulltime Traveler
Posts: 1,041
Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat View Post
It should be charging the batteries while on shore power.
Could you be seeing charging amps out to the batteries, rather then amps drawn from them ?
It is actually net amps - in this case, more amps going out than going in
RV Vagabond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 10:37 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,442
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJH3rd View Post
One of the shortcuts that RV manufacturers do is to use the 12V circuits in place of having to convert 120v to 12v for the controlling hardware (ex microwave & Norcold refrigerator, TV/MM switch, etc). Plus there are the wall-warts that you may have plugged in to operate various electronics. There ever-where!
That's not a shortcut, its so you can use them while not on shore power.
twinboat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 10:46 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,442
Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Vagabond View Post
It is actually net amps - in this case, more amps going out than going in
So its charging your batteries, but not enough to cover the 12 volt draw ?

Check " Shore Max " and " Charge Rate " settings.

Shore Max should match what your plugged into, up to 30 amps.

Charge Rate should be set to depending on your battery AH capacity. Most are set at 80%
twinboat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2020, 11:38 AM   #9
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,704
Quote:
So its charging your batteries, but not enough to cover the 12 volt draw ?
No, it's covering the draw with 2-5 amps additional that is re-charging the batteries. When shore power is present the MS2000 is in Charger mode and it shows the NET amps flowing INTO the batteries. When in Inverter mode, it displays the net amps flowing OUT as a negative number.


I suspect Vagabond is looking at his ME-RC remote. The meaning of the display is fully described in the ME-RC manual.


Quote:
While inverting, the DC: A (Amps) displays a negative number to show the battery current used by the inverter. If you are charging, the DC A (amps) displays a positive number to show the amount of current delivered to the batteries.



https://www.magnum-dimensions.com/si...ev-D-ME-RC.pdf
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
battery, inverter



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Dumb & Lazy Question #2: Chassis battery charging during storage cment Truck Conversions 1 12-16-2018 03:08 PM
February "Celebrity Classic" Meal Signups Madame Boomer Texas Boomers 29 02-06-2018 06:55 PM
Another battery question - chassis battery and inverter cvbdsl Class A Motorhome Discussions 12 04-06-2015 04:30 PM
Simple Inverter Hook Up? Plug my 50 amp to the inverter? E Z Livin MH-General Discussions & Problems 7 12-19-2005 02:59 AM
"Fresh" water question, & Inverter/Battery question Dagwood_73 Boondocking 7 07-29-2005 01:15 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:16 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.