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Topic: Average daily electric cost (hibernating) (Read 902 times) previous topic - next topic

Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Just looking at the electric bill for year over year and it's looking like about $3.00 a day. I'm wondering if that's normal, high or low. We have made no major changes in our home except for adding a couple of LED kitchen lights.

  The coach is plugged into a 20 amp plug (I think I need a 30 instead) to keep the batteries charged. We have a heater on at about 850 watts and two LED kitchen puck lights on 24/7. Temperatures here are running at low 30s to high 40s and coach stays at about 62 mostly. DW hates to see the coach get cold (30s 40s) so we have this heater going almost 24/7.
 
  I know there can be a lot of variables but I'm just looking foe averages here. The answer is in the book probably but I like the variety of opinions here.  Thanks.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #1 –
This may be better at "Around the Fire Ring"  I will answer here and someone could move this topic; 

You made me review my last 12 months; in South west Florida, Lots of air conditioning in the house, Motor Home plugged  into  50amp service to keep battery charger and 110 volt domestic refrigerator working, Motor Home, a/c on only when we use it as a guest house.  My electric bill came out to  $  6.07  per day  :o    You Have a Bargin electric bill 
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Gerry & Brenda
CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FL
1994 Grand Villa - # 4466
U300 Unihome - 6V92 Detroit
4 speed Allison - Jake Brake

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #2 –
Ops, sorry to mislead. It's a $3.00 a day increase, day over day from last year. Sounds like mine is high.
 Don't know yet how to move fire ring.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #3 –
Sounds like you are not living aboard.  Is this the bill for your house? That would be a $1095 yearly increase.  If you didn't have a coach the year before and have been keeping it plugged in, I suppose that could account for the increase.  Did the local power company add or increase some fee that wasn't there before? 

I think only a moderator can move the topic.

If you can get by with a 20 amp plug, 30 amp will not change the kwh used, but you can use up to 1200 more watts of lights, etc. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #4 –
They make a device called Kill A Watt at Home Depot, I bought one you could plug your MH 20 amp into it and get the electricity it is using then using the price for kilowatt in your area figure out what the MH is costing
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Bob & Sue –
It's a $3.00 a day increase, day over day from last year. Sounds like mine is high.

Do you have the KWH usage numbers, rather than the cost? 

Rates can vary, depending on the utility's costs.  KWH will show you actual consumption.  With our utility company, which uses smart meters, we can actually see daily usage stats and I easily discern the days we have the coach plugged in at home, especially if we ran one of the air conditioners while it was here.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #6 –
Quote from: craneman –
They make a device called Kill A Watt at Home Depot, I bought one you could plug your MH 20 amp into it and get the electricity it is using then using the price for kilowatt in your area figure out what the MH is costing


Craneman.  Just bought one of them (Amazon) and it does work. I have a water proof plug and it doesn't fit, so I'll have to use a small jumper to get the reading.  Thanks. 

 Is it acceptable to kill all power including that switch buy the door ( salesman switch ? ) and then just plug it in for a couple days once a month to charge stuff back up or  "Bad idea"
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #7 –
Bob and Sue,

I am going to do a little chest thumping here and suggest you read an article I wrote and Barry put in his Foretravel archive.  There is lots of wonderful stuff on his website.  Coach Electrical System Explained
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #8 –
I'm not sure you can compare last year's usage against this years usage, subtracting last year's usage from this year's usage to determine MH cost due to variation in Temps from previous year as well as possible thermostat changes.
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #9 –
850 watt heater running 24 hrs per month = 850*24*30 = 612,000 watts  612KW *.14 (cost per KW?) = $85.68 per month or $2.86 per day. That is just for the heater. Cost for battery charger power usage will bring that number up higher but do not have a clue how much is uses once batteries are charged. 

To get your cost per KW look at your bill.  Take the total cost of your bill and then divide by the total KW, you will then get what your electricity cost per KW.

Parts of Texas you can choose who provides your power.  Base on different companies, contract times, and packages the price per KW can go from 1.4 to 13.5 cents based on using 1000KW.  They have it you use over or under that amount the price can go up to 1.4 to 14 cents per KW. When I look at my bill by the time they have added everything together the price comes out to 15-18 cents per KW.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #10 –
FWIW
I think your thought that you should get a 30 amp plug is correct (if you can).  When I have used a 20 amp I have run into some melted wires usually on my adapter (30-20).  I haven't had that issue with the 30 amp plug.  Just a thought, best of travels.
Best of Travels

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #11 –
We just got our power bill for November, it's been chilly and we run both radiators overnight and switch to the furnaces for a short time in the am. We pay commercial rates (for some dumb reason) so our power bill (with t.v & internet, etc.) was $96.00. Add propane and I'd bet we're $140.00 +/-.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #12 –
Mike, you pay the same as the camp ground there is no Mark up. A long time law.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #13 –
Quote from: turbojack –
850 watt heater running 24 hrs per month = 850*24*30 = 612,000 watts  612KW *.14 (cost per KW?) = $85.68 per month or $2.86 per day. That is just for the heater. Cost for battery charger power usage will bring that number up higher but do not have a clue how much is uses once batteries are charged. 

To get your cost per KW look at your bill.  Take the total cost of your bill and then divide by the total KW, you will then get what your electricity cost per KW.

Guess I will be checking the power bill when we return home, to see what kW cost were running.

  Question for me still remains, is the coach ok sitting unheated in 35 to 40ish temps ( electronics type stuff) as long as I keep the batteries up. Per forum advise we try to run her about 50 miles per mo to "warm lubricants up".
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Bob & Sue –
  Question for me still remains, is the coach ok sitting unheated in 35 to 40ish temps ( electronics type stuff) as long as I keep the batteries up. Per forum advise we try to run her about 50 miles per mo to "warm lubricants up".

I know when it is cold in mine (40-50 degree) the touch pad on the microwave will not work. Once it warms up it will work again.  As far as electronics I think those temps are not a problem at all. I have been told that electronics parts take a bigger hit when they warm up and then cool down.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Bob & Sue –
  Question for me still remains, is the coach ok sitting unheated in 35 to 40ish temps ( electronics type stuff) as long as I keep the batteries up.

Depending on where you are, humidity will be the big enemy, just like a boat. Is there no way for you to have a couple of ceramic heaters on board to avoid mildew ?
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #16 –

Depending on where you are, humidity will be the big enemy, just like a boat. Is there no way for you to have a couple of ceramic heaters on board to avoid mildew ?

 Could the drys-the-air type things that we used to use in the TT accomplish the same thing as far as moisture goes. Got an oil heater for Christmas that works great. May try to use one of those.

 I would just rather spend it on Diesel instead of on heating,
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR
 

Re: Average daily electric cost (hibernating)

Reply #17 –
Quote from: mike leary –
Depending on where you are, humidity will be the big enemy, just like a boat. Is there no way for you to have a couple of ceramic heaters on board to avoid mildew ?

I live in Houston where high humidity is a fact of life.  I have had an RV for the last 40+years and have done nothing except leave the coach/Rv plugged in and only turn the heater on when temp goes below 32 for more then a few hours.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago