What is normal parasitic DC amp draw?

1.5 amps does seem a bit high. Mine idles at 500 milliamps running the fridge on propane.

How did you measure the current?

I would be pulling 12 volt fuses one at a time during the test to find the issues.

If you have a 12vdc radio.....It is one of the most forgotten source of drain. I installed a switch to remove all power from it.

As stated the TV antenna booster also...

If you have an inverter it is a standby amp gobbler! Turn it off.

With just the safety detectors and everything else off you should see .2 -.3 amps...

Jim

What is considered excessive parasitic draw? My current draw is 2.7amps. I opened breakers and pulled fuses one at a time with no change. The batteries are two size 24DC with 92amp hour capacity each. I do have an inverter.

I'm thinking the draw is up. I used the trailer for a month hooked up in a park. Put it in storage for two months and forgot to disconnect the batteries. When I picked it up both batteries were dead and had cell damage and had to be replaced.

The trailer is an Adventure Manufacturing FBS 26.

Actual draw is 1.5 amps as explained in later post.

afinepoint wrote:
What is considered excessive parasitic draw? My current draw is 2,7amps. I opened breakers and pulled fuses one at a time with no change. The batteries are two size 24DC with 92amp hour capacity each. I do have an inverter.

The trailer is an Adventure Manufacturing FBS 26.

Maybe you have other fuses in the trailer... Many of us have fuses in our distribution panel and another fuse block some place else for other things.

Most of us run .5 or less with everything off or disconnected and safety monitors running.

2.7 amps is BIG!

Inverter parasitic draw varies between units. I have measured .5 to .75 parasitic.

kyle86 wrote:
Wow thanks for the tips!! I have a dc cut off switch on the rear fuese box next to the main breaker. When cut off, the amps go to 0.01 draw. I just found it interesting/concerning that it was drawing so much with everything off.

When boondocking, how low do you let the batterys get before recharging? Or is a daily charging routine what people do? Sorry for the newb questions, first camper :)

Smart People ask questions!

Normally 50% capacity is the maximum recommended discharge. But this has permutations by the dozen. If you are on a three week boondocking trip and it takes maybe 10 days to discharge to 50% then time has to be factored in.

This is similar to radiation dosages. Take 10-years of total gamma exposure (sunlight) and compress it into 1-minute and you will become a walking cadaver. So time as well as intensity has to be realized.

A discharge to 50% then recharge every 3rd day would be fine.

For months-long boondocking, proper care is totally different. BFL13 has extensive records and tips regarding this.

The object is to waste minimum time on battery care when camping
Minimize generator run time in remote or sensitive camping spots.
And ask as many questions as you like. There is no hard & fast routine to charge batteries. Some folks who camp where there is sun prefer solar panels.

The thing about not religiously using a full cutoff is one single stupid mistake and the battery becomes a trade-in hunk of lead. Is the gamble worth it? And yeah I had a real steep learning curve about this subject back in the 1970's. I've held a grudge for 40 years. Humbling experience.

(Speaking of screwups)

Thanks Bigfoot. I thought it was high as well. I'll look around. All I know of are the detectors and a Tire Minder booster which is wired into the lighting circuit.

Quote afinepoint:
"Thanks Bigfoot. I thought it was high as well. I'll look around. All I know of are the detectors and a Tire Minder booster which is wired into the lighting circuit.

Regarding addition power sources. I don't understand the design of the electrical system of a trailer. Every load in a house goes through the electrical panel. What's the point in a breaker box if you're going to bypass it? "

Well 2 different systems... the 120vac system is like a house and wired as such...

But the 12vdc system is like a car/truck in a way....

Battery has a fuse link

Fuse panel under the hood
Fuse panel under the dash
And there may be fuses else where....

If you have the owners manual for the trailer there may be locations for the fuses and their function.... hahahaaaa probably not... A major sore point for most rv consumers.. No wiring diagram..

Jim

Okay, the actual draw is 1.5 amps. I was using a different meter and had not set it up correctly. I can not find any other fuse boxes or power panels.