Tab 360 Portable Power

Vincent

When my Tab 360 is connected to an Anker C1000X as shore power, it continuously draws ~500W even with every branch breaker OFF and only the 30A main ON. With all breakers ON, the draw increases to ~1,000W and takes the Anker from 100% to 20% in about 20 minutes. Turning the main OFF drops consumption to zero. I suspect the likely load is the WFCO converter/charger charging the lithium battery, even though the battery shows 100%. My goal with the Anker was simply to use it for occasional 120V loads like the microwave, not to charge the trailer battery.

Am I missing something here? Is there a way to prevent this draw when using an external power source like the Anker?

MuttonChops

I suspect you are correct that the 500W is the WFCO.
Over the years there was been variation with how the WFCO is powered in other TAB models.
Some years it is connected to Circuit Breaker #1, some years it is connected to the Main Breaker.

No idea why there is variation and no idea if the RVIA Standards specify what should be done.

For your rig, you would/will need to complete a DIY project to isolate the WFCO from the Main Breaker to achieve your goal . . .

For reference:
On my 320S the WFCO is on circuit breaker #1, however so are all the cabin 120VAC outlets. So my rig would require installation of an additional circuit breaker and rewiring to keep the WFCO fully isolated.

pthomas745

Mark Turney did a video that measured the efficiency of the WFCO converter in his 2015 just a couple of weeks ago, testing the efficiency of the WFCO for lithium shore power charging. He has changed out the converter for the "Auto Detect" lithium model. Even with turning off every breaker except the 30 amp main breaker, and pulling every fuse, the WFCO wasted at least 50 percent of the shore power charging current for a discharged lithium battery.

Mark Turney experiment about the "efficiency" of the WFCO converter.

Skip ahead to about the 9 minute mark if you want to see how he set up the test, and the basic conclusions.

For your need to use the Anker as a 30 amp power source you should shut off the battery switch to isolate the battery from the trailer. Even more efficient would be to fish out the power cord for the microwave and plug it directly into the Anker. (Not even sure how possible that might be!)

There are just so many inefficiencies and conversions happening using a device plugged into the 30 amp power in the trailer. Even with the battery switch off, if the loss of efficiency is still 50 percent from the WFCO, that is where your Anker power is being wasted.

Vincent

Thanks to both of you! This is very helpful!

valkraider

Yeah, they all beat me to it - but I was going to say - don’t plug the trailer into power banks.

Even if the WFCO was better - you would still be doing like 2 or three conversions in there which is super in efficient.

Just plug appliances directly into the power banks.

Instead of the microwave we have a cheap stand-alone single induction cooktop that I plug into my power bank.

I also plug my electric coffee percolator directly into my power bank.

I am not sure where the microwave outlet is - I bet it’s right behind it…

Vincent

"stand-alone single induction cooktop" — that's a great idea, thank you!