Current draw of airstream connect

[coblio]

Does anyone have information on the current draw of the pepwave router used in Airstream connect. It is wired direct and on 24/7 and we are curious about battery drain while boondocking.

[kittmaster]

Looks like maximum of 12 Watts

[BayouBiker]

For a ballpark number, Online sources indicate WiFi routers consume between 2 and 20 Watts. Peplink has data sheets for all of their products. You didn't say but I'm assuming it's a Surf On The Go model and if so they say "5 Watts Max" . Here is the link https://download.peplink.com/resourc..._Datasheet.pdf

[kittmaster]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

For a ballpark number, Online sources indicate WiFi routers consume between 2 and 20 Watts. Peplink has data sheets for all of their products. You didn't say but I'm assuming it's a Surf On The Go model and if so they say "5 Watts Max" . Here is the link https://download.peplink.com/resourc..._Datasheet.pdf

AS connect uses the model I attached the datasheet for. So your link will not help him.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Based on other similar systems, an amp draw is a pretty good bet once WiFi and Cellular are in the mix.

Bob

[Gleverett]

Mine has a key off and on switch. Does it have a draw when turned off?

[kittmaster]

Originally Posted by Gleverett

Mine has a key off and on switch. Does it have a draw when turned off?

If it it's the BR mini unit, when off, there should be no 12v to it, and therefore, no current draw i.e. no power draw.

[coblio]

Originally Posted by kittmaster

Looks like maximum of 12 Watts

Thanks, that is the model I have so thank you for the information. While it does not seem like much, I figure it is about a 1 amp draw (watts/voltage) so hopefully my solar panels will keep the batteries charged while boon docking. The power connect is a bear to get at so a switch may be indicated.

Thanks again.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

1A for 24 hours gets you 24 AH. On a cloudy day or three (it's been raining here ...) that can be a pretty big deal.

Bob

[stevejones]

The datasheet for the Pepwave modem/router used in AS Connected says Power Consumption: 12W Max. The antenna is passive.

If you use a second router as many do, be sure to include the power consumption for that as well.

If your AS Connected system does not have a power switch for the Pepwave router, you should add one inline with the 12VDC supply. That way you can turn off when trailer is not being used, or easily reboot the router.

Steve

[BeSerious]

FWIW it is pretty easy to measure the amp draw across the 12v fuse which supplies power to any item. You simply pull the appropriate fuse and connect a multi-meter (most can measure up to 10 amps at 12v) where the fuse was.

It’s best if you turn off as much 12v stuff as you can prior to pulling the fuse. If your AS doesn’t have a label telling you what each fuse handles, this would be a good opportunity to fix that

[Kevinshortnh]

Thanks but that is not the right model.

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

For a ballpark number, Online sources indicate WiFi routers consume between 2 and 20 Watts. Peplink has data sheets for all of their products. You didn't say but I'm assuming it's a Surf On The Go model and if so they say "5 Watts Max" . Here is the link https://download.peplink.com/resourc..._Datasheet.pdf

[Kevinshortnh]

Originally Posted by kittmaster

AS connect uses the model I attached the datasheet for. So your link will not help him.

Agreed. You posted the correct model.

[Kristof]

Most of these types of routers draw AC and convert to DC. If there is a DC draw at 12V it will indicated on the AC converter you plug into the unit. That is the best indication for watts provided at 12VDC you can find. My Netgear 4G LTE modem draws 12 V at 1.5amps. My Linksys 1200 WIFI router draws 12V at 1.5amps. I have them on a switch so I can turn them together on and off.

5-7amps at 12V is a lot of power. My fridge only draws 2.4 amps at 24V - I would check your work on the 5-7 amps at 12V.

The other side of the coin is to make sure you have a battery bank for boondocking that can make it through a couple cloudy days. You will need 200AH or more at 12V. I have a 800W of solar and 200AH of batteries at 24V and it may not be enough sometimes.




Kristof

[kittmaster]

Originally Posted by Kristof

Most of these types of routers draw AC and convert to DC. If there is a DC draw at 12V it will indicated on the AC converter you plug into the unit. That is the best indication for watts provided at 12VDC you can find. My Netgear 4G LTE modem draws 12 V at 1.5amps. My Linksys 1200 WIFI router draws 12V at 1.5amps. I have them on a switch so I can turn them together on and off.

5-7amps at 12V is a lot of power. My fridge only draws 2.4 amps at 24V - I would check your work on the 5-7 amps at 12V.

The other side of the coin is to make sure you have a battery bank for boondocking that can make it through a couple cloudy days. You will need 200AH or more at 12V. I have a 800W of solar and 200AH of batteries at 24V and it may not be enough sometimes.




Kristof

I don't know what you are talking about.......there is NO AC component to this unit. It is wired right to 12VDC. The unit can draw at most up to 12W thereby pulling about 1 Amp of current worse case.

In a short term, it is not much of a draw, but over a long period of time and on a cloudy day, it can wear down the batteries if not recharged by an external power source.

[Geekemeritus]

With the router at idle, the power is one watt.



See meter in attached photo showing .08 A at 12.8 v. (E=I*R)


I have seen it go as high as .11 A with a lot of activity.

[Josephine517]

Your numbers match mine. I put a clamp meter on router power line and read 0.05 A when the router is idle to 0.11 A while streaming.

[coblio]

Thanks for the info. With 1 watt at idle I won't bother putting a switch on the line.