CO and LP detector battery drain. Solution?
Hi guys,
I just found out that the detectors in an RV use about 35-40 amps a day. On a "typical" 120 Ah system, charged to the normal 90%, and discharged to the normal 50%, the detectors will drain 75% of your usable portion of battery, every day.
WOW!
Figuring it will take a genset, say 2-3 hours (I could be wrong on this) to recharge the batteries, and figure 1/2 gallon per hour to run genset, and $4.00 a gallon for gas/fuel. (Just averages)
In theory, if you were dry camping, and used no electricity for anything else, you would spend about $112.85 a month in fuel, just to power the detectors.
HUH!?
So my question is, I wonder if there is a way to disconnect the detectors (and other drains?) when I am outside of the MH, but still want power.
Like say I am fishing during day light, sitting by campfire at night, etc... but still want to use radio, TV, lights, etc... that I have outside. Not to mention the fridge/freezer.
Then, when I go inside at night to sleep, I just flip the detectors back on.
Also, what else can I turn off that drains battery just sitting idle?
I know people are going to say, what if you forget. Well, it's just me, I don't usually forget things like that, and I am willing to run the risk.
I just found out that the detectors in an RV use about 35-40 amps a day. On a "typical" 120 Ah system, charged to the normal 90%, and discharged to the normal 50%, the detectors will drain 75% of your usable portion of battery, every day.
WOW!
Figuring it will take a genset, say 2-3 hours (I could be wrong on this) to recharge the batteries, and figure 1/2 gallon per hour to run genset, and $4.00 a gallon for gas/fuel. (Just averages)
In theory, if you were dry camping, and used no electricity for anything else, you would spend about $112.85 a month in fuel, just to power the detectors.
HUH!?
So my question is, I wonder if there is a way to disconnect the detectors (and other drains?) when I am outside of the MH, but still want power.
Like say I am fishing during day light, sitting by campfire at night, etc... but still want to use radio, TV, lights, etc... that I have outside. Not to mention the fridge/freezer.
Then, when I go inside at night to sleep, I just flip the detectors back on.
Also, what else can I turn off that drains battery just sitting idle?
I know people are going to say, what if you forget. Well, it's just me, I don't usually forget things like that, and I am willing to run the risk.
Me wrote:
Here is my break down if anyone wants to check my math. I know every case is different, but these seem to be the averages.
40 amps per day: 35-40 amps a day to power detectors (I have read that this is the average several places)
2.5 hours genset run time: 2-3 hour charge time is what I am seeing to be the norm for a 120 Ah system.
$4.00 per gallon of gas
1/2 gallon per hour genset fuel economy
120 AH battery bank: 120*90%*.5 = 54 usable amps.
So assuming it takes 2.5 hours to put 54 amps back in the battery(s), and genset gets 1/2 gallon per hour: 2.5*.5*4 = $5.00 to recharge batteries from 50% to 90% (or to put 54 amps back in 120 Ah battery bank).
So, detectors use 40 amps per day: 40/54 = .74 (54 is the amount of usable Ah in 120 Ah battery bank)
So, to charge batteries to 90% would cost $5.00. Detectors are only using 74% of this, so $5.00*.74 = $3.70 a day in fuel to keep detectors running.
$3.70*30.5 days = $112.85 a month just to power detectors.
No %$#@^!& way am I going to pay that.
