Water Pump Power Draw

[pineranch]

With water pump on, when I check the battery it drops to two lights. Turn pump off lights go back to four. I see this draw only when the pump is on. Am I looking for a solution in search of a problem?
Mike

[Irlpguy]

Although the battery level indicators are not the most accurate to begin with, if you only have four bars showing I would guess you have a very low battery, combine that with the current draw of the pump and resultant voltage drop it would surely indicate a lesser voltage. Check your battery with a volt/ohm meter at the battery and see what it reads, guessing it will be very low.

You have a problem that needs a solution I am thinking.

[pineranch]

Have 2 battery's, they read 13.57. Lights don't move off of 4 when slides are operated.

[Irlpguy]

Check the voltage at the batteries with a meter when you are operating the water pump, also check the reading when operating the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump should draw much more current than the water pump (greater voltage drop). The way these things are wired anything is possible. If there is a short in the water pump circuit, it would make a huge difference.

If you confirm the voltage drop at the batteries using a meter is no more (should be much less) than when running the slides one would assume the pump is not drawing excessive current and maybe you need to ignore the in house meter.

This may be of no help to you at all, I never pay any attention to the in house battery indicator, if I want to know what my battery condition is I check it at the battery.

[Drifty1]

Do you see this voltage drop when the pump is running or just by turning the switch on? I would not worry about the drop if the pump is running as it could be caused by the way it is wired. If it drops when you turn the switch on and the pump isn't running then I would check further..

[Trailer Trash 2]

pineranch my pump does the same thing as yours. I cant wait to see what solution you come up with so I can try it with mine.
I believe the wires that feed the pump could be a gage or to too small for the high amp draw, from the pimp control panel, or the pump is not disconnecting the power when it reaches the pressure shut off if it is adjustable try turning the output pressure down a bit.
Just a thought.

[WaltBennett]

This is an interesting question (other than how good one's batteries are). I could have checked last night, but didn't see your post then. It's morning now, but I can disconnect my solar panels, turn off the inverter (it also charges when on shore power) and measure how much the pump pulls on my Triminic. Have to wait a couple of hours though.


OK, with nothing charging the batteries, the Triminic say's there's .8 amp of phantom load. When I turn on the water pump with a faucet open, it goes to 7.2 amps. That means the pump is pulling 6.4 all by itself while running without back pressure.

[Drifty1]

Do you see this voltage drop when the pump is running or just by turning the switch on? I would not worry about the drop if the pump is running as it could be caused by the way it is wired. If it drops when you turn the switch on and the pump isn't running then I would check further..

[kdeiss]

Here is the AMP Draw of RV 12 Volt items in an RV

Appliance or Accessory

Estimated Amps

Aisle Light 1 Amp
CO Detector 1 Amp
Fluorescent Light 1-2 Amps
Furnace 10-12 Amps
LP Gas Leak Detector 1 Amp
Overhead lights (Per Bulb) 1 Amp
Porch Light 1 Amp
Power Roof Vent 1.5 Amps
Radio/Stereo 4 Amps
Range Hood (Fan & Light) 2-3 Amps
Refrigerator (LP Gas Mode) 1.5- 2 Amps
Security System 1 Amp
Television (12 volt) 4-5 Amps
TV Antenna Booster

[Trailer Trash 2]

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[pineranch]

Finally got the meter out.
1. Battery voltage is 13.56
2. Voltage at WP sw is 13.55
3. Voltage when sw is on, pump running, is 12.33

Conclusion: lights are pretty worthless.

Moving on to next great unknown.
Mike