Shore power while storing at home?

[Bill-N-Donna]

Has anyone calculated the benefits of not keeping the Monty plugged into shore power while storing over winter? I usually just leave it plugged in for the convenience of being able to have lighting and heat, etc… if needed. I was wondering if it’s a significant difference in the power usage. I read talk of disconnecting the battery or leaving the battery switch open through out the winter. Just curious if it really pulls that much power or not, anyone have any figures on this?

[richfaa]

We have a 50 amp power to our camper at all times at home.Before the Montana it was 30 amp power. We keep it powered up at all times. When we stayed home for the winter (northern Ohio) we shut down the fridge etc but kept the power on. When it got really cold we could crank up the furnace or have a space heater running in the camper. We never considered the cost of keeping power to the camper only the benefits of having it.

[Jim Jarvis]

I have 50 amp service too. I just plug it in once a month to keep the batteries topped up. The rest of the time I have the battery disconnect switch turned off.

[NCFischers]

we leave ours plugged in. If nothing is on, then no power is being used.

[HamRad]

We leave our rig hooked up to shore power all the time it is at home. We've had it since 2002. Replaced the batteries that came with it second year we had it. The ones we have now are the no maintainance type. I have been surprised they have lasted this long.

We turn off the fridge and the HWH.

We've never done a cost comparison. We have the rig ready to go (or almost so). We use it as a spare bedroom for family and guests. It is really handy having it right at the house.

HamRad

[Jim Jarvis]

quote:Originally posted by HamRad

We leave our rig hooked up to shore power all the time it is at home. We've had it since 2002. Replaced the batteries that came with it second year we had it. The ones we have now are the no maintainance type. I have been surprised they have lasted this long.

We turn off the fridge and the HWH.

We've never done a cost comparison. We have the rig ready to go (or almost so). We use it as a spare bedroom for family and guests. It is really handy having it right at the house.

HamRad

We do the same as you, a spare bedroom even in the depths of winter. I just put the cord away to keep it out of the weather although I don't suppose it really hurts it.

[Delaine and Lindy]

We have complete hook-ups (50amps) and keep the 5er hooked up when its at the home base. Our 5er is used when we have company (kids and grandkids) we always use the 5er and they use the stick house. As for cost don't really know and we think its better to leave it hooked-up. GBY....

[ggranch]

We keep ours plugged in at home and have the reefer and a small freezer that we keep cold. The electrical usage is about $15.00 a month . The battery has not shown any abnormalities. I service it completely about every 6 months. Bob

[bsmeaton]

quote:Originally posted by NCFischers

we leave ours plugged in. If nothing is on, then no power is being used.

Actually, unless you shut oft the breaker to the converter, it continuously draws power for the 12v conversion transformer(s) - between 2 and 5 amps I believe (about the same as 500 Watts).

We leave our plugged in to power the sonic rodent devices, but I open the breaker to the converter during the long haul between November and March.

[noneck]

We leave ours plugged into a 30amp service (with 50amp socket) during storage as others have stated, no HWH, no heat, just converter running to keep the batteries charged.

[Bill-N-Donna]

In reference to my original post and to the cost of leaving the Monty plugged in over the winter, I called my power Co. and got a cost quote of .0647500 per KW. If I have everything figured correctly I came up with a cost of less than $2.00 per month to leave the electric plugged in. This of course is a no brain-er where the cost is so insignificant. However I was mostly curious about it in the first place.

Yesterday, with a meter that I placed around the main cord, I got a reading of only .3amps. The reading was so small it was difficult to even gage it on the meter. Checking it again today I was getting a reading on the meter even less than that. I may periodically check to see if it varies from time to time. With the readings I got yesterday this is what I calculated.

Amps x Volts = Watts
(.3 X 110) = 33 Watts
Watts / 1000 = Kilowatts
33/1000= .033KW used
24 X .033KW = .792 KW used in 1 day
.792 X .0647500 = .051282 Cost per day
1.53846 Per Month

Just thought I would share this for the curious.
Merry Christmas!

[bsmeaton]

Bill,

I wish you would have published that yesterday! I could have used it.

My storage company just sent me a notice Tuesday that they are charging for electric. He said a "pass through" charge of approximatley $27.65 per continous amp! I fell out of my chair.

As it turns out, ours is drawing very near what yours is - 0.28 amps (or 33.6 Watts @ 120 Volts). I worked through this with Xcel Energy like you have it laid out. The storage lot electric rate was a little lower at 0.0314, put that was before tax and demand charges. After the dollar signs faded from his eyes a little, we settled on a $3.50 flat rate per month.

Just goes to show you life goes on and stuff never crosses your path until somebody posts it on the MOC. Suddenly the info you never thought about before becomes critical info you need to get through the next day .

[The Old Fogies]

We had a 28’ travel trailer before moving up to the Montana. I have a 30 amp service that we keep ours on all the time. It makes it more connivance. Like this weekend myself, son and grandson will use it to watch the games.

Bill do you leave the frig. on? We do. I was thinking the ones in our home and garage shay on all of the time and they last forever.

[Bill-N-Donna]

quote:Originally posted by The Old Fogies


Bill do you leave the frig. on?

I don’t have anything on other than what is on through the electric to keep the battery charged. It is winterized but as others mentioned, I like being able to have access when needed or wanted.
Merry Christmas!

[The Weekenders]

quote:Originally posted by noneck

We leave ours plugged into a 30amp service (with 50amp socket) during storage as others have stated, no HWH, no heat, just converter running to keep the batteries charged.

Exactly what I do.