leisure batteries (again) (1 Viewer)

Jul 11, 2020
543
1,440
Southampton
Funster No
72,887
MH
Benimar Tessoro T486
Exp
Since August 2020
I have left the moho on hook up permanently whilst parked up on the drive but have noticed a large leap in electric usage. I doubted this was to do with the EHU as I assumed that the leisure battery would only charge to top up any prior usage.
I was thinking of turning off the EHU and only switching it on the night before a trip in the same way I shove some water in.
I doubt that the leisure battery will go totally flat but will it do it any harm to recharge on a regular basis - it means sticking the fridge on gas, I guess but would have to review the cost/usage
Ta muchfully!
 

Eggs

Free Member
Jan 3, 2018
1,633
2,934
Suffolk
Funster No
51,836
I have left the moho on hook up permanently whilst parked up on the drive but have noticed a large leap in electric usage. I doubted this was to do with the EHU as I assumed that the leisure battery would only charge to top up any prior usage.
I was thinking of turning off the EHU and only switching it on the night before a trip in the same way I shove some water in.
I doubt that the leisure battery will go totally flat but will it do it any harm to recharge on a regular basis - it means sticking the fridge on gas, I guess but would have to review the cost/usage
Ta muchfully!
I'm not quite sure why you would turn the EHU off if you doubt, (which I also do) that it is the cause of the leap in electric usage.

I'd try finding out why you are using more electric.
 
OP
OP
Keep Right On
Jul 11, 2020
543
1,440
Southampton
Funster No
72,887
MH
Benimar Tessoro T486
Exp
Since August 2020
I'm not quite sure why you would turn the EHU off if you doubt, (which I also do) that it is the cause of the leap in electric usage.

I'd try finding out why you are using more electric.
It's the only thing in the house I can think of - coincides with getting the moho last August

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Eggs

Free Member
Jan 3, 2018
1,633
2,934
Suffolk
Funster No
51,836
It's the only thing in the house I can think of - coincides with getting the moho last August
Strange, the only thing in use when the van is on the driveway should be the battery charger which will use very little electric.

Do what you suggest and only turn the EHU on at night and monitor.
 
Jul 5, 2016
492
864
Essex
Funster No
43,930
MH
Burstner IXEO I728G
Exp
Ex tugger
Is the fridge on mains or auto setting?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Apr 26, 2015
2,749
6,863
Ottershaw
Funster No
36,067
MH
Hymer S820
Exp
First motorhome May 2021
Do you have electric water heating and has it been left on?
 
OP
OP
Keep Right On
Jul 11, 2020
543
1,440
Southampton
Funster No
72,887
MH
Benimar Tessoro T486
Exp
Since August 2020
Do you have electric water heating and has it been left on?
Nooooo - water heater has not worked ever since moho was delivered new. Glossop and Elddis must have failed to do a thorough PDI but dealer failed to answer my emails. Being fixed this week under warranty (fingas crossed) as Whale sent wrong part to start with

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Oct 29, 2016
4,498
52,483
Surrey
Funster No
45,842
MH
Carthago C Tourer
Exp
Motor Homing 5 years, caravan previously
If you have definitely checked that the heating/water boiler & Fridge/Freezer is off completely, not on timed etc, then once your cab & leisure batteries are topped up, there shouldn't be much electric being consumed as the charger will be trickle charging at a very low current.
Maybe consider putting in a battery monitor like The Victron BMV 701 or 702 this will monitor any current being used from the batteries and is very accurate.
Good luck.
LES
 
Dec 24, 2014
9,178
47,402
Hurstpierpoint. Mid Sussex.
Funster No
34,553
MH
Compass Navigator
Exp
Ever since lighting was by Calor gas.
My battery charger spec'n shows its power consumption is 110 watts at 230v, little more than a 100 watt light bulb. Bearing in mind that a charger doesn't operate continuously at at full power it shouldn't cause 'a large leap in electricity usage'.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Feb 15, 2016
638
1,066
Essex
Funster No
41,677
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
Since April 2016
If you have a smart meter, turn the power off to the van and see whether the instant power usage changes. You could then try the same by switching off each circuit in turn in the house and narrow it down from that.
Without a smart meter you could do the same with a clamp meter over the incoming tails.
 
OP
OP
Keep Right On
Jul 11, 2020
543
1,440
Southampton
Funster No
72,887
MH
Benimar Tessoro T486
Exp
Since August 2020
If you have a smart meter, turn the power off to the van and see whether the instant power usage changes. You could then try the same by switching off each circuit in turn in the house and narrow it down from that.
Without a smart meter you could do the same with a clamp meter over the incoming tails.
No smart meter but I'll look at your suggestion. Thanks all that replied
 
OP
OP
Keep Right On
Jul 11, 2020
543
1,440
Southampton
Funster No
72,887
MH
Benimar Tessoro T486
Exp
Since August 2020
Presuming you use a 3 pin plug on the EHU at home I'd buy one of these to see what was going on.

<Broken link removed>
may have to run an extension lead from external power socket as size of monitor wont fit external socket housing

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Eggs

Free Member
Jan 3, 2018
1,633
2,934
Suffolk
Funster No
51,836
may have to run an extension lead from external power socket as size of monitor wont fit external socket housing
Sounds like a plan.

I'd be very surprised if it's the van that's causing a "large leap" in electric usage unless one of the power hungry appliances has been left turned on.

Keep us informed.
 
OP
OP
Keep Right On
Jul 11, 2020
543
1,440
Southampton
Funster No
72,887
MH
Benimar Tessoro T486
Exp
Since August 2020
Sounds like a plan.

I'd be very surprised if it's the van that's causing a "large leap" in electric usage unless one of the power hungry appliances has been left turned on.

Keep us informed.
Thats my thought too - nothing else has changed consumption wise unless its Alexa. Now she;s power mad.......
 

Eggs

Free Member
Jan 3, 2018
1,633
2,934
Suffolk
Funster No
51,836
Thats my thought too - nothing else has changed consumption wise unless its Alexa. Now she;s power mad.......
Thinking about it, even if the water heater was working and the fridge left turned on it would'nt cause a " large leap" in electric usage.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Oct 30, 2016
1,444
2,843
Colchester
Funster No
45,854
MH
Le voyageur 8.5
Exp
On 3rd van so not a total newbie....
You've mentioned the water heater, but it's the heating definetely turned off? That is likely to be the biggest user.
 
Apr 27, 2016
6,852
7,948
Manchester
Funster No
42,762
MH
A class Hymer
Exp
Since the 80s
Do you have an estimate of how large the leap in usage is?
You say you leave the fridge on mains. If it has a 200W heater element, and the thermostat switches it on for 50% of the time, that's 2.4 kWh every 24 hours. Is the leap in usage much more than that?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Keep Right On
Jul 11, 2020
543
1,440
Southampton
Funster No
72,887
MH
Benimar Tessoro T486
Exp
Since August 2020
You say you leave the fridge on mains. If it has a 200W heater element, and the thermostat switches it on for 50% of the time, that's 2.4 kWh every 24 hours. Is the leap in usage much more than that?
I need to check what the utilities co have sent. Up to now it was just a demand for a big increase in the monthly DD
 
Jul 30, 2015
231
118
Barnsley, South Yorks
Funster No
37,389
MH
Auto-Trail, Tracker FB
Exp
45 yrs Tugging
Do you take your own meter readings I’ve just had elec meter go down on me
AUG read was 018633 sept read is 000135 last year same period was only 253.
cliff.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Mar 23, 2012
9,523
31,935
sleights
Funster No
20,245
MH
c class
Exp
1
So is it just a large price increase, rather than a large increase in consumption?
It could even be an estimated bill or catching up after a previous underestimate. I think measuring the use at the motorhome supply is the first step.
 

marchie

Free Member
Mar 9, 2021
2,279
6,140
Funster No
79,651
MH
Burstner
Emailed meter readings to Eon on Wednesday, and received an automated reply: 'Based on readings, we recommend you reduce your Direct Debit from £74 to £45pm'

Yesterday, the full statement arrived. 'We estimate that your full energy consumption will be [IIRC, about £820, so a maximum of £50 credit, and way above the 9 x £29 'savings' I was supposed to make according to the original email ]. You do not need to adjust your payments'

As my Grandma used to say, 'If they're right, I know where there's a house full of them ...' :rolleyes: (y)

Steve

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Jan 19, 2014
9,364
24,699
Derbyshire
Funster No
29,757
MH
Elddis Accordo 105
Exp
since 2014
Fitted this meter on ours, handy to have. Displays real time watts or watt hours.

20200302_134805.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 20200302_134805.jpg
    20200302_134805.jpg
    250.3 KB · Views: 4

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top