Vampires!!!!

[DAVSCH]

Ewww. Spooky stuff. Vampires sucking blood. In this case though, I’m not talking about Dracula, I’m talking about electrical vampires. They suck your battery dry without ever being turned on. In my new International I’ve identified three so far, the propane detector, and two televisions. The propane detector I don’t want to drive a stake through, but the other two, the televisions, I have unplugged entirely. Most people don’t know, but MANY electronics go into a sleep mode when turned off so they turn on quicker, televisions for one. They don’t eat as much as when they’re turned on, but they still sip the lifeblood out of your battery at a greater-than-zero level.

Knowing that vampires hide, what else should I dig up and drive a stake through? What is sitting there, not being turned on…..but still slurping down electricity even though it looks like it’s been turned off? My inverter has an on/off control panel, is it still grabbing electrons? I don’t know, but what device have I not dug up to be exposed to the light of day?

Dave
2023 International 27’ FBQ

[Kay0]

I have read the sub-woofer is always on, and contributes to the vampire drain.

[Hittenstiehl]

Parasitic power draws erg! And why do so many things have a little light on it. If it's OFF we would rather no light and NO power draw whatsoever.

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by DAVSCH

Ewww. Spooky stuff. Vampires sucking blood. In this case though, I’m not talking about Dracula, I’m talking about electrical vampires. They suck your battery dry without ever being turned on. In my new International I’ve identified three so far, the propane detector, and two televisions. The propane detector I don’t want to drive a stake through, but the other two, the televisions, I have unplugged entirely. Most people don’t know, but MANY electronics go into a sleep mode when turned off so they turn on quicker, televisions for one. They don’t eat as much as when they’re turned on, but they still sip the lifeblood out of your battery at a greater-than-zero level.

Knowing that vampires hide, what else should I dig up and drive a stake through? What is sitting there, not being turned on…..but still slurping down electricity even though it looks like it’s been turned off? My inverter has an on/off control panel, is it still grabbing electrons? I don’t know, but what device have I not dug up to be exposed to the light of day?

Dave
2023 International 27’ FBQ

My Airstream televisions work off of AC so they only operate, even in standby/sleep mode, when the inverter is on. If the inverter is switched off, which it certainly should be for storage or unless you're actually using an AC appliance, they are drawing nothing from the battery.

[DAVSCH]

Originally Posted by Kay0

I have read the sub-woofer is always on, and contributes to the vampire drain.

Wow. Never even thought of that, and it’s under a bench seat to boot. I’ll check that out! Thanks!!

[DAVSCH]

Originally Posted by mikeinca

My Airstream televisions work off of AC so they only operate, even in standby/sleep mode, when the inverter is on. If the inverter is switched off, which it certainly should be for storage or unless you're actually using an AC appliance, they are drawing nothing from the battery.

Thank Mikeinca! I am out camping right now and plugged into shore power. I’ll have to look at it when I’m unplugged. That still brings me back to the inverter. Is it laying there in its coffin keeping itself charged up ready for me to turn it on the rest of the way? Unknown. Maybe someone with a better handle on the Airstream electronics can put in some info here.

[DAVSCH]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Parasitic power draws erg! And why do so many things have a little light on it. If it's OFF we would rather no light and NO power draw whatsoever.

Couldn’t agree more Hitten. I’m willing to wait an extra few seconds while my electronic do-dad boots up. I don’t need it charged up and ready to instantly turn on.

[DKB_SATX]

The TVs *DO* have some parasitic draw off the inverter when the inverter's switched on... I unplug them for boondocking because I run my CPAP off the inverter at night, but don't worry about the TVs' standby power otherwise.

The inverter itself, however, has some standby draw and I have a disconnect for it for low-power storage.

[SSquared]

Yes, some/many modern inverters do have a phantom draw.

Solar controllers, also.

Are you worried about phantom draws when the trailer is in storage, or when you are using it?

[barnhawk]

I read on the forum last week that the new TVs in 2023 models were 12v, is this not the case for you?

[DAVSCH]

Originally Posted by SSquared

Yes, some/many modern inverters do have a phantom draw.

Solar controllers, also.

Are you worried about phantom draws when the trailer is in storage, or when you are using it?

SSquared. I would have to say both, but my highest concern is during boondocking. I’m greedy. I have a CPAP I want to run at night. Unlike vampires, I want to breath while I rest. Waking up in the middle of the night with a shut-down machine is not a pleasant experience.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Parasitic power draws erg! And why do so many things have a little light on it. If it's OFF we would rather no light and NO power draw whatsoever.

Anything that has a remote or a standby is drawing power. Not necessarily "on", but using enough circuitry to be watching for a remote order. TV's, Subwoofer, possibly the radio or DVD player. The antenna booster? The thermostat?
I confess I don't even know where the "on/off" switch is on the TV. You could always unplug it.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

Anything that has a remote or a standby is drawing power. Not necessarily "on", but using enough circuitry to be watching for a remote order. TV's, Subwoofer, possibly the radio or DVD player. The antenna booster? The thermostat?
I confess I don't even know where the "on/off" switch is on the TV. You could always unplug it.

If a TV has an "on/off" switch/button it has the same function as the one on the remote on/standby. Might be good to get a wall plug extender with a switch, this will also get rid of the problem of only one outlet.
https://www.amazon.com/Extender-Prot...ps%2C88&sr=8-8