Trailer Battery Usage

A much more accurate way would be an inline in series ampmeter at the refridgerator

Measuring it on battery cables you will measure the "battery" current. Not the fridge current.

1-1.5A is what it draws when cycling. Plus something little when not. Big question is how often and how long it cycles, and for that you need to measure not amps but AH.

But, if the purpose was to learn how to use clamp on meter, for future needs, go ahead, put it on either wire.

You will not get an accurate reading off the battery cable, because there will be other draw on the battery also such as CO detector, propane detector, smoke detector, stereo standby etc.

If the fridge is on a circuit all by itself, you could pull all the fuses except the fridge fuse then check current draw at the battery cable.

Boon Docker wrote:
...If the fridge is on a circuit all by itself, you could pull all the fuses except the fridge fuse then check current draw at the battery cable.

That's what I was planning to do - have everything "off" except fridge. I want to see if I can use the fridge while dry camping, or if I'm going to use the Yeti cooler that I, er, I mean Santa, gave me for Christmas. I FINALLY figured out how to disengage the Dometic heater...jeesh - was that a project.

Just bought a new AGM Group 31 battery (about the max weight my trailer tongue could take).

Like Boon said, some loads you can't turn off, so it's better to measure on the "fridge" wire.

I remember reading somewhere that it measures more accurately if you connect the wire to power source (i.e. to battery) after you've closed jaws on the wire.

With a single Gr 31 battery you'll be out of juice in a few days even if there is nothing else but LP fridge. I would rather sacrificed radio/TV and bedtime reading than fridge though. The most important item.

Almot wrote:
...The most important item.

For the sake of the beer! (er, wait - not beer. Wine.)

I have a 100W solar panel and a little Honda 1000. Those should help me extend my ability to stay out... ?

Run the genny (connected to shore power cord) for 1 hour in the morning then the rest of the day let the solar do the battery charging. You should be good to go for an extended period.

xyzHollyxyz wrote:

I have a 100W solar panel and a little Honda 1000. Those should help me extend my ability to stay out... ?

Length of stay will only be limited only by your supply of propane and wine.

100W solar should be able to put out what the fridge consumes, on a good day. Get another 100W, and you won't have to run Honda other than on rainy/cloudy days.

You can clamp that meter around any wire in the RV without worry.
I am betting it is right close to 500 milliamps. (one-half amp)
Not sure how accurate that meter is at such a low reading.
Use the 40 amp DC scale.

Why not remove the vent cover on the outside behind the refrigerator? The DC wire to the ref. should be right there behind it. Then you don't have to turn everything off and you know you're on the right wire.
Just put the wire thru the clamp. Nothing bad will happen.