Class A plugged in cost

[msmith1199]

I currently have my motorhome in an indoor storage unit and I have a 50 amp outlet in the unit. So I have plugged the motorhome in and had left the refrigerator on. I have kept my motorhome at home in the past but never realized how much energy it used when plugged in since it was combined with everything else.

I just got my first electric bill that shows a full month and almost the only power used was the motorhome plugged with the refer running. And I just remembered I did spend one night in the motorhome and ran the AC's and electric water heater for just that one night.

Total bill for just electricity use was about $34. That is for 272 Kilowatt hours of electricity. I guess I was expecting a little cheaper than that. I think what ran the bill up was keeping the refer running. The storage unit is all metal with no insulation and it gets hot on the inside. So it probably took some extra energy for the refer to keep it cool on the inside with triple digit temps on the outside. I turned the refer off so I'll have to wait and see what the charge for next month comes in at.

[down_home]

Second or third time I've heard that home style fridge/freezers are cheaper on electricity. And someone is running one with just four batteries through the inverter, dry camping with no problems. he may have auto gen start though.

[msmith1199]

Although I thought it would be cheaper, I'm not concerned about the cost so much as I thought others may be interested in how much electricity the RV uses when just plugged in.

[Dance_Chick]

We have a residential fridge and leave it on along with the a/c set at around 82. We are in covered storage. Our bill is never over $30.00 total and usually in the $24.00-$26.00 range.

[Sam_Spade]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Your inverter/charger might have also been on to keep the house batteries charged.

Yes hopefully is IS. Otherwise no reason to plug it in at all probably.

And if it is a newer 3 or 4 stage charger, that usage should be pretty small.

[Sam_Spade]

msmith1199 wrote:
I turned the refer off so I'll have to wait and see what the charge for next month comes in at.

Good plan. NO good reason to leave it running.

After it warms up inside, make sure it is dry and then leave the doors cracked open.

[Ivylog]

Absorption refrigerators are energy hogs...you put heat in to get cold out which is a pretty neat trick. Having gone residential (BEST mod ever) my electric bill when snowbirding has come down aprox $20/month. A NoCold 1200 uses 450 watts when on electric and they run the majority of the time when it's hot out. My 21 cuft Energy Star refer draws 96 watts and the compressor runs less than half of the time making it 4X more efficient.

Yes, in the summer we dry camp often and my generator time has decreased BUT I added a 100 amp charger to the battery bank/inverter that powers the refer. A residential refer needs two additional batteries if you boondock often.

[Branson_N_Tucso]

Just might be cheaper to buy one of those small college dorm refrigerators at Mall mart and keep your drinks cold in it.

[msmith1199]

Because I was building a shelving unit and had planned on doing other work, so I wanted cold drinks.

[ArchHoagland]

I'm curious why you leave the refrigerator on when not being used?

[msmith1199]

siggyd777 wrote:
You only paid $34 for 272 kwh, that is 34/272= 12.5 cents per kwh.
That is a very good rate !!! In my house I pay about 15 cents with all the fees included.
Siggy

You're right, that is a good price. I was just looking at my house rates and I pay about 20 cents per Kwh. I have Pacific Gas & Electric at my house and the motorhome storage is covered by Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

[msmith1199]

down home wrote:
In our area they have a minimum charge, on electricity, water and anything else they can come up with.
Check the number of kilowatt hours against their rates.
In the 70's our entire electricity bill including well pump, was about 24.00 per month in summer, and in the mid thirties or winter.
Now we have a pricing structure, and surcharges and taxes, to benefit such as chicken houses, and industry, and lots of Regulations affecting charges. Our cost now are around 350.00 a month summer and 450.00 and more winter So your 34.00 still sounds like a minimum charge,"in California."

Yeah, the price I gave was just the electricity. The total bill was $56. So the rest of that money is what I'd have to pay even if I didn't use any electricity at all, but just had it available.

[siggyd777]

You only paid $34 for 272 kwh, that is 34/272= 12.5 cents per kwh.
That is a very good rate !!! In my house I pay about 15 cents with all the fees included.
Siggy

[down_home]

In our area they have a minimum charge, on electricity, water and anything else they can come up with.
Check the number of kilowatt hours against their rates.
In the 70's our entire electricity bill including well pump, was about 24.00 per month in summer, and in the mid thirties or winter.
Now we have a pricing structure, and surcharges and taxes, to benefit such as chicken houses, and industry, and lots of Regulations affecting charges. Our cost now are around 350.00 a month summer and 450.00 and more winter So your 34.00 still sounds like a minimum charge,"in California."

[rgatijnet1]

Your inverter/charger might have also been on to keep the house batteries charged.