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Small background current draw

Started by TimH, February 22, 2018, 11:34:53 PM

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TimH

Just picked up our new Tvan (Mk5 Murrunji) Woohoo!! :D
Now to get the setup & packup down from "too long" to the 3 minutes you see in the videos  :P

So on to the question.
When I have the master switch on, and all of the other switches turned off, I have a current draw of around 0.2A.
If I turn the master switch off, it drops to zero.

Any idea if this is normal and if so where the 0.2A is going to?
If its unusual I'll start trying to trace where its going.
Can't have the power wandering off somewhere when it could be better utilised keeping the beer cold  ;)

Unplugged the Tvan from the car so it's not going there.
Electrical setup is BCDC1240D with 2 x Lithium batteries but I can't see how they would contribute to this background power consumption.
Checked that none of the LED lights are on.

It's probably something really obvious that I haven't thought of yet. :-[
Tim
Tim & Julie
Tvan (Mk5 Murranji)
Prado 150 GXL

Gumb

We have the same set up and I assume it's just powering the board and the battery monitor. If it's on and showing you a draw, it has to be using some itself and that small amount isn't worth worrying about.
2017 Firetail with extra fruit
2015 Pajero NX GLS

mal1958

#2
What you describe is Perfectly normal.   

The draw of 200ma (0.2A) when the master switch is on but everything else is off,  is the current required to hold the main relay on. 

A main relay is used because the master switch does not have the current carrying capacity required to power all the various items around the TVan.

Cheers,
Mal


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

TimH

That makes perfect sense.
I should have known that. I'd read about the control relay somewhere else in the forum but didn't connect the dots with the current draw required to keep it activated.

On to the next thing.
Thanks
Tim
Tim & Julie
Tvan (Mk5 Murranji)
Prado 150 GXL

peter_mcc

If you are worried about it and are electrically handy you can replace the main relay with a solid state one from Jaycar - they only draw around 10mA.

monktm

I little off subject but what are people thoughts when your tvan is just sitting around in the shed should you leave it on charge ??? And that I mean the charger that's fitted and supplied in the tvan

Gumb

I just hook it up top 240v power about once a month for a day or so to help it top up, which is all it needs.
2017 Firetail with extra fruit
2015 Pajero NX GLS

monktm

Quote from: Gumb on February 24, 2018, 11:02:42 AM
I just hook it up top 240v power about once a month for a day or so to help it top up, which is all it needs.
Thanks

Landy

As far as I know that small current draw comes from the green led in the switch.

MarkA

Relay, battery monitor, and if fitted the Bluetooth transmitter for same.  I got a cheep timer switch and set it to turn on for a few hrs every couple of weeks to keep the battery's topped up.
200 series LandCruiser
Canning Mk 3
And a Mountian of stuff I don't think we need but apparently it's vital camp equipment.

Smallfry

Quote from: Gumb on February 24, 2018, 11:02:42 AM
I just hook it up top 240v power about once a month for a day or so to help it top up, which is all it needs.

Isn't that the job of the multi-stage charger? All my boat batteries are hooked up 24/7 so they are ready to go, but I am no 12v guru
Rob

MK V - Scout 
2014 Pajero

Not all who wander are Lost"

HappyTraveller

I used to have the belief that smart chargers were smart enough to be left charging batteries all the time. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the case.... with AGM batteries at least, and probably others. I've seen batteries that should last many years die in a year or so. The final clincher was when I bought a set of Full River AGMs from a battery specialist a year or so back, he gave an unsolicited warning about leaving them on charge when in storage. He said it will kill the batteries in a year or two. I questioned him about smart chargers and he said very clearly that they shouldn't be left on all the time. The batteries should be topped up for a day or so, say, every month. That was good enough for me.
TVan Mk5
Trakmaster Pilbara Extreme
Landcruiser 200

RAR110

What's a good smart charger to permanently fit to the TVan? Our Mk2 Tanami doesn't have one.
TVan Mk2 & RAAF Tactical Trailer

monktm

Quote from: RAR110 on October 21, 2018, 10:04:02 AM
What's a good smart charger to permanently fit to the TVan? Our Mk2 Tanami doesn't have one.
Cteck charger

tastrax

Quote from: RAR110 on October 21, 2018, 10:04:02 AM
What's a good smart charger to permanently fit to the TVan? Our Mk2 Tanami doesn't have one.

Probably best to think about everything that you want to do and then decide. Is it only for 240V top up, do you also want solar included, fixed or occasional solar, how much solar, charging from the car as well? It will make a difference to the type of charger that you need. I am sure others will chime in with particular recommendations.
Cheers - Phil

2006 Tvan Tanami (with a few extras)
2010 Isuzu Dmax LS-U