ok to pull fuses to prolong battery?

grimgrinningghost

While boondocking is there any reason you can't pull fuses for systems were not planning to use? Radio, tv, alde, fridge, etc are not going to be used. Just want battery available for lights and some fan use.

I looked around this forum and didn't find any clear recommendations for minizing background power use to get more than a day from the battery.

Thanks!

Smullis7

I believe long ago there was discussion as part of the post about what each fuse does that did state it was ok to pull the fuse on anything you weren't using that was a parasite, like the radio, etc.  I have done this when boondocking before I got my solar panels, but I would recommend you keep the safety devices enable...just in case.

grimgrinningghost

Thanks for the feedback. I'll see if I can find this post. We would plan to keep the propane detector, smoke detector running of course!

We're also looking into a suitcase solar set up. More of an investment than I had originally thought!

jkjenn

If you have a newer T@b with a battery shut off switch, the battery cut off will be easier and accomplish the same thing. 

grimgrinningghost

We do have a battery shut off but we still want to be able to use lights freely and fan intermittently

pthomas745

The famous spreadsheet:  note the parasitic draw on the top line.  Those will be the Jensen/TV/smoke alarm and Co2 detector (I think...there may be others.)  Also note the amp use by the fan: 1-2 amps, depending on how you are using it.  Also, see how little power the lights use.  Depending on the size of your battery, you can determine how many amps you have used and how many amps you have left.

I have 35 amp hours to use in my Group 24 battery, or 50 percent of its capacity.  If I just turned on the battery switch and did nothing else in the camper, they roughly 5 amp parasitic draw will use my 35 amps in 7 days (roughly...might be faster or slower. )  No matter, I still have more than one day to camp if I don't charge my battery with a generator or solar panel.  

If you work the math, and have some way to monitor your battery state of charge, you should be able to plan out how much power you can use. 

I've just reached behind my TV and pulled the plug.  It is important to know what size battery you have, how many amps you have to play with, and what your state of charge your battery is in.  Then you can decide how long you can use the fan or a light.