We recently ran a 50 amp service to our barn where or FW resides… I left the power connected over the past couple months to keep the battery topped off … I also left our fridge on (electric) for a couple guests who stayed a few nights (no a/c usage as it was cool outside)..: the fridge ran for the entire two month period…I recently reviewed our electric bill… typically we’re in the 300-400 kWh range… last two months were 1186 & 1346 kWh…Does the fridge use that much juice or should I be looking for a parasitic draw somewhere between the house and the barn?

The electric heaters in RV absorption refrigerators are typically in the 300-400 watt range, and the fridges are not always the best insulated leading to longer cycle times. The worst case would be if the refrigerator is left on with little or nothing in it to modulate the temperature. The refrigerator also uses a small amount of 12-volt battery power that could cause the converter charger to draw a bit of extra power.

For starters just unplug the RV.

I'd guess about 100kWh per month for the refer based on recycling 1/3 of the time. You could plug the refer into a Kill A Watt and see what it uses for several weeks. And with 20/50 adapters you could plug the entire RV into the Kill A Watt.

KnowNuthin wrote:We recently ran a 50 amp service to our barn where or FW resides… I left the power connected over the past couple months to keep the battery topped off … I also left our fridge on (electric) for a couple guests who stayed a few nights (no a/c usage as it was cool outside)..: the fridge ran for the entire two month period…I recently reviewed our electric bill… typically we’re in the 300-400 kWh range… last two months were 1186 & 1346 kWh…Does the fridge use that much juice or should I be looking for a parasitic draw somewhere between the house and the barn?Mine uses 5.7 KWH per 24 hour day or about 171 kwh per month.

You might look at a parasitic draw in the FW. Do you have anything plugged into the outlets?I have had both my clipper and trailer plugged in and have never had that much pull. That's with both fridges turned on.

New shore service tripled energy bill | Good Sam Community

Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Sep 30, 2021
The electric heaters in RV absorption refrigerators are typically in the 300-400 watt range, and the fridges are not always the best insulated leading to longer cycle times. The worst case would be if the refrigerator is left on with little or nothing in it to modulate the temperature. The refrigerator also uses a small amount of 12-volt battery power that could cause the converter charger to draw a bit of extra power.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 30, 2021
For starters just unplug the RV.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Sep 30, 2021
I'd guess about 100kWh per month for the refer based on recycling 1/3 of the time.

You could plug the refer into a Kill A Watt and see what it uses for several weeks. And with 20/50 adapters you could plug the entire RV into the Kill A Watt.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Sep 30, 2021
KnowNuthin wrote:
We recently ran a 50 amp service to our barn where or FW resides… I left the power connected over the past couple months to keep the battery topped off … I also left our fridge on (electric) for a couple guests who stayed a few nights (no a/c usage as it was cool outside)..: the fridge ran for the entire two month period…

I recently reviewed our electric bill… typically we’re in the 300-400 kWh range… last two months were 1186 & 1346 kWh…

Does the fridge use that much juice or should I be looking for a parasitic draw somewhere between the house and the barn?

Mine uses 5.7 KWH per 24 hour day or about 171 kwh per month.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Sep 30, 2021
You might look at a parasitic draw in the FW. Do you have anything plugged into the outlets?

I have had both my clipper and trailer plugged in and have never had that much pull. That's with both fridges turned on.
dedmiston
Moderator
Sep 30, 2021
Is the 50A RV the only variable? Are you running your air conditioning more than usual during the summer?
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Sep 30, 2021
My Biggest Electric bill here in my apartment was 686 KWH and change

A Fridge draws about 375 watts figuring a 50% duty cycle that's 4.5 KWH per day or 135KWH per month. Plus the converter draw and any other use. Yes it can get expensive.. I noticed a serious kick when I plugged in my Class A as well.
rlw999
Explorer
Sep 30, 2021
That extra 700KWh/month is about 1000W continuous draw. That seems pretty high for an idle RV, but not impossible.

Should be pretty easy to track it down with a Kilowatt meter as someone suggested -- plug the RV into a 15A->50A converter, then into the meter, then start flipping off breakers to see when the power draw stops.
dougrainer
Nomad
Oct 01, 2021
I would suspect you had a 120 volt Water Heater and it was left ON. Doug
Chum_lee
Explorer
Oct 01, 2021
KnowNuthin wrote:
We recently ran a 50 amp service to our barn where or FW resides… I left the power connected over the past couple months to keep the battery topped off … I also left our fridge on (electric) for a couple guests who stayed a few nights (no a/c usage as it was cool outside)..: the fridge ran for the entire two month period…

I recently reviewed our electric bill… typically we’re in the 300-400 kWh range… last two months were 1186 & 1346 kWh…

Does the fridge use that much juice or should I be looking for a parasitic draw somewhere between the house and the barn?

My 30' Class A (30 amp service) a with a single rooftop AC and a Dometic 2652 Fridge on electric uses about $45.00 per month in the Albuquerque summer paying $.15.5 per kwh for metered shore power. I use the AC and the fridge everyday. About 290 Kwh per month. No water heater. IMO, something (major) is left on in your RV. As Doug mentioned, my bet is your electric water heater if you have one.

Chum lee