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Unusual power bill-electrical
Just bought a 1999 Prevost Vantare Featherlite-Put a 50 amp service at home for shorepower. Has Trace inverters on board,is it normal for these coaches to use a lot of power when plugged in. I can watch the power meter take off like a rocket as soon as I plug it in and soon as you unplug it it almost stop and goes back to a slow pace. Has been hooked up for 3 weeks-just got power bill,normal bill $60 this bill was $190. It was twice as much. I had all the breakers on the panel off and still the meter would spin real fast. Is there a setting on panel that reduces this or does battery chargers use this much. Just was wandering is this normal or something that needs to be cut off. I just intended to keep it plugged up so I would have not to winterize,keep plumbing bays warm and refrigerator in use. Just like some input on this-Thanks! David
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11 Replies
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David, the inverters will draw between 10 and 20 amps each when in bulk charging mode. That is a pretty significant draw. They should step down significantly after the batteries reach capacity and the inverters kick into float mode. You should check your house batteries to assure that they are taking and holding the charge and if so, you should check your inverter settings to assure that they match the type of batteries installed so that they go into float mode at the proper voltage.
p.s.: I read your post to seek info to rule out a potential electrical problem and I think you mentioned the bill just to illustrate the amount of power being used, but if you are worried about that extra $130 every month, you have definitley gotten into the wrong hobby. 🙂
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I don’t notice that much of an increase, except in the hot summer time when I leave a couple of Cruise airs running all the time, and then it is not that much of a difference.
agree with above post, make sure the chargers are going into float mode after a few hours max.
Your digital “red” readout on your electrical panel should show very few amps being used on each inverter. What is your amp draw reading?
Maybe you have some bay heaters that are on set too high?
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Congratulations on the purchase of a new to you coach.
I’m with Jerry and Bryan.
I didn’t watch the meter … I should the meter for the house, race shop, and bus only about five feet from the bus and easy to access.
But the additional electrical draw doesn’t seem to be too bad based on the electrical bill. A touch higher in the summer (Cruise-airs running to keep temp 80/85 or less) and a touch higher in the winter (two little space heaters plus the water heater in the winter to keep it at 40 or so).
How old are your coach batteries? Is there a chassis charger that is on and constantly charging the chassis batteries? Where are you located? Do you need the water heater on? Is there an electric engine block heater that is on that you don’t need? Another poster mentioned bay heaters set to high or on unnecessarilly?
Try turning everything “off” (including the inverters/chargers). Then turn one thing at a time on while watching the electric meter. That might give you a clue.
The top of the line Progressive surge protectors that you plug shore power into have a digital read out that will tell you amp draw. Consider investing in one.
More information in your signature might help us help you quicker and faster.
Tom: Could old/weak coach batteries cause the inverters to charge, charge, charge?
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If the inverters are not going into float it will not be too long before the batteries pop, you get the smell of rotten eggs and you have bigger problems than an electric bill.
Storing a coach still requires some regular oversight.
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We had a ’98 Vantare H3-45 DS and keep it plugged in at home all the time… I always have at least 2 A/Cs or heaters running and the other 2 units on Fan Only for circulation… our bus never gets too hot inside or too cold. Our electric bill goes up about $40-$50 a month in the summer months and less than that in the cold or cooler months… we have never really noticed much difference..we had new Lifelines from Tom and the inverters stayed in Float Mode…. you might want to check your Inverter settings as well as batteries…. something doesn’t sound right.
Enjoy your new coach… we loved our Vantare !
Cheers, Diane
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Dick – Bad batteries can cause the charger to remain in bulk/absorption. I’ve seen them with the cell vent cap blown completely out.
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When the charger is in bulk/absorption, is that when it would be drawing lots of amps/watts from the 120volt shore power?
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The inverters are only going to draw the max current based on the setting you have selected, but far less in float than in bulk or absorb.
If there is an issue with batteries for example and the inverters stay in bulk the chance is very high the batteries are going to let go and the inverters will still try to supply sufficient current to complete the charge unless they shut down. AGM and gel batteries are sealed and excess charging will ruin them either by breaking the case or popping the safety valve. Lead acid batteries will be cooked dry. Either way they are toast and you are spending a lot of money on electric.
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Something is out of order here with a single electric bill ramping up to $190 dollars in a single month.
With our “8” stall bus barn wired to single source electric meter rarely does electric bill go over $300 in any month. High usage during summer, tenants use A/C cooling bus while on it, sometimes tenants fail to switch off hot water heater while parked, floor fans are allowed in high temp summer months.
Breakdown on stalls are 2 at 50 amp and 6 at 30 amp plugs.
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Thanks for the input Jerry and Gayle,found out this weekend we put an amp meter on line and checked each individual circuit-found a plumbing bay heater themostat stuck-fixed that and figured out how to put it in float mode and everything seems fine now! Thanks and have a great week.
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Thanks everyone on the Prevost Community for all of your suggestions, they were very helpful. Everyone take care and have a great week! Thanks again- David
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