Magnum normal float amp draw

Repair by guesswork. I guess this isn't my thread :)

magicrider wrote:
Nothing is on in the RV except the fridge. It might very well be a defective battery.

Is it a 3 way fridge with 12v mode? 4 amps AC / 40 amps DC would be about right for a fridge. If the fridge was in AC mode you would not see the draw through the inverter but would if you had a separate shore meter.

You still didn't make it clear if it was AC or DC reading. If 4 amps AC that's 40 amps DC and pretty significant. If its the DC reading, it may be inaccurate on the Magnum below 10 amps as its using the AC current internally, from the manual:

"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. The accuracy of this display below 1 amp AC (~10 amps DC @
12VDC) is not detected. When the current into or out of the batteries is
greater than 1 amp AC, the display accuracy is ±20%."

The BMK shunt meter has a tenth amp accuracy to and from the batteries but wont tell you what house load are drawing direct from the charger.

Thanks to all for the replies. The batteries were new Interstates last year. The previous owner drained them down all the way at least once I know of. Nothing is on in the RV except the fridge. It might very well be a defective battery. I am learning slowly how these systems work. I was just thinking there might be a defective controller board. I think the first thing will be check batt connections and maybe have those tested for issues. Individual battery problems can cause weird, intermittent issues. I will post what I find to be the problem.

3 stages of charging
Bulk A/C max upto 13amps - depending on your model DC upto 90 Amps
Absorption A/C upto 8 amps - depending on your model DC upto 60 Amps and decreasing
Float A/C around 1 to 3 amps - depending on your model DC upto 10 amps

It all depends on which stage. If you read your manual it would explain this.

Are you reading the MAGNUM remote panel? Or are you reading the Intellitec or PCS 120 EMS system remote. I will bet you are reading the EMS (energy Management system) remote and if so, that jump would indicate the Water Heater 120 element engaging (4 amps plus the 11 to 12 amps the Element pulls) ---16 amps. Once the 120 element heats the water, the element turns off and your voltage drops to that 4 amps. If this is NOT the case, I would look at loose cables on the coach batteries. Doug

magicrider wrote:
Noticed the Magnum charger in my class A shows 4 amps plugged into to 50 amp shore power and then will go up to 16 amps and stay there. That seems excessive. My son's parked next to mine shows 4amp draw...? Is the likely problem a battery (open,shorted) or a controller issue? Thanks

Which Magnum?
What are you measuring: AC or DC Draw ?
If DC, are you using the BMK module?

Could it be equalizing? What is the battery voltage during the 16 amps?
Or is this just pass through amps such as running your water heater while your Son is just running the fridge?

Number One
Read the factory manual. What is the QUIESCENT amp draw?

Number Two
It can't help itself it tries to replace watts being drawn off your batteries by dozens of 12 volt essential R.V. thingees.

Number Three
With the inverter disconnected except for AC is it's true quiescent state of AC power draw. Disconnected means bare + and - battery connection studs.

Number Four
Books published for cruising sailboat enthusiasts contain practical easy to understand explanations for common questions. Available at Amazon.com one I particularly enjoyed was titled The 12 Volt Doctor.

Trying to miracle comprehend the electrical conplexities of a modern RV without benefit of multiple amp gauges is an exercise of futility.

"My car gets 15 mpg sometimes while my neighbor gets 20 sometimes" would be a similar paradox. Proper gauges eliminate guesswork with just one glance.

Hi,

I have the 3012 Hybrid Magnum. If the bank is charged, it draws about 27 watts (2 amps) on 556 amp-hours of AGM 12 volt battery bank. I do not have the BMK--those numbers were gathered from a Kill-a-Watt tied into the shore power cord.

If you are concerned, magicrider, put a KAW in the circuit (but don't exceed 1800 watts).