current draw
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10679
Printed Date: 19 May 2024 at 4:10pm
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Topic: current draw
Posted By: phil & sue
Subject: current draw
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 4:26pm
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prior to hooking up to tv, when I connect battery to trailer I get quite a spark, indicating a substantial current draw, everything is turned off but the radio light comes on. what could be using that much juice?
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Replies:
Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 6:27pm
The Propane Alarm draws .07 amps (70ma). I do not sure what the radio draws in the newer trailers. If AC is plugged in the battery charger can put out quite a few amps depending on what battery charge mode it is in
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JandL
2013 Honda Ridgeline
2012 177
2 Paynes in a Pod
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 7:52pm
When you connect the battery, is shore power plugged in? Even so, there may be a spark. Consider this analogy:
Take a water hose. Attach it to your house. Make sure the nozzle on the other end is turned off or use a cap to cap off the hose. Turn on the faucet. Water will surge into the hose until the pressure equalizes with that of the house water line. Now, consider the battery as the house and the wires as the hose. When you connect the wire, the electrons in the battery surge into the wiring until the system reaches equilibrium. The very small draw of the radio, the CO/LP detector, the refrigerator electronics, the thermostat electronics are not what is causing the spark.
To eliminate it, consider installing a battery disconnect switch in between the negative terminal of the battery and the cable. Then you can just flip a switch and you don't get the visible spark. I don't know if there is one inside the switch. However, the switch may make the connection fast enough that it does not have time to generate a visible spark.
In my mods (link below), you can see the battery disconnect switch I installed.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: phil & sue
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 8:31pm
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no shore hook up and a switch won't eliminate the draw, only hide it, will determine how much current is flowing and go from there.
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Posted By: phil & sue
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 8:33pm
Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2017 at 9:11am
I get just a small spark also....figured it was the CO alarm, microwave display, fridge display and radio.
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Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4
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Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2017 at 11:01am
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All these devices have capacitors in them for noise and surge filtering. The initial surge is the capacitors charging.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2017 at 12:53pm
Originally posted by TheBum
All these devices have capacitors in them for noise and surge filtering. The initial surge is the capacitors charging. |
Which is where my water hose analogy fits in. Thanks.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2017 at 1:01pm
Sorry Stephen.......didn't read your response above thoroughly enough.... I learned something today! It's a good day!
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Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2017 at 1:03pm
If you're really concerned about it, try measuring the steady-state amps. Should be well under 1 amp if it's just the usual stuff.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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