Topic: Amount of time before TV drains batteries with inverter on (Read 2158 times) previous topic - next topic

I have a 2020 Wonder MB with 400 watts of solar and the 2000 watt inverter. It has dual 6 volt batteries. I’m curious how long I should be able to watch the TV at night before the batteries wear down to far while boon docking ? Currently It doesn’t take more than an hour or so before my batteries are low. Is this normal?

You need a battery monitor so you can see how many amps are being used, like a Victron 712 blue tooth, about $130.  It’s not just the tv, your inverter must be on & using battery power.  A wild guess, maybe 5 amps per hour, your batteries, if in good condition & fully charged have about 100 amps to give.  So tv on for 5 hours, that’s 50 amps, half of your available.
Since they  last an hour, no that is not normal.  We’re they 100% charged when you started?  You should have the batteries load tested, they may be in poor condition.

I have the same set up as you.  I can watch about 1.5 hrs of tv using the inverter, longer if mid day and good sun.  Look at your Xantrex  FreedomX panel. The middle green light is on when on inverter, or not on shore power.  Push the button until you see “input” and “load” readings.  It will give you an idea how much load your using.  Mine works longer with engine running. 
Leisure rep said inverter not for high loads.  Use generator instead.  Tv perhaps too much?  Let me know if you come up with anything else.  Good luck!

A 32” tv uses about 40 watts, that’s about 3.5 amps per hour, inverter another 5 amps, so say 10amps.  If your batteries are 100% charged, that should give you 10 hours of time before they are down to 50%. 
If you get only 1.5 hours, your batteries were low, or they are failing.

They are only two years old. And you’re right it’s 40 to 42 amps while I’m watching my TV.  If two of us are having the same problem perhaps they’re not meant to provide the 10 hours?  LTV support doesn’t think so….  Next move to test it?

if you want to really know how many amp hours you are using have a look at installing a Victron Shunt 500A which has a bluetooth app.  It reports voltage/amps/watts and amp hrs. live.
I can run the TV with DVD player; have the furnace cycle overnight and make a couple sets of toast with 800W toaster and still be less then 115 Amp hr I can get from the two 6 volts GC2 batteries rated at 230 Ah

It was the batteries.  Thanks for the feedback.