Need help with metered power

[amishgirl]

We have a Forest River Wildcat 30' Fifth Wheel. We are at an RV Park, where we don't have our own meter, but share with some of the others in the park. The owner is over charging us for electricity. We have a solar panel on the top of our camper, we use propane to heat and even use propane only to heat our hot water when we use it once a day. Is there any type of device we can get like a portable meter to hook up between the outlet we plug into and our outlet that we plug in that would measure our killowatts used?

We are desperate. We are being ripped off on the electric we use. Others here in the park are using portable electric heaters all the time, leaving lights on all the time and abusing the electric. We save and need a way to track that.

[caper]

I would ask the owner to install a meter on your site. You say you are sharing a meter with another site. Could the other site be using more power and the owner is just taking watts used and dividing the amount by 2?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by caper

I would ask the owner to install a meter on your site. You say you are sharing a meter with another site. Could the other site be using more power and the owner is just taking watts used and dividing the amount by 2?

I am pretty sure that is their issue. With only one meter, there is no "fair" way to do it. The owner (and the other tenant!) would have to agree to a different way of dividing up the power used, I would think.

Even if you put a personal meter on your line, the owner would have to agree to use your readings and if it is less that 1/2 of the total usage, bill your neighbor for the extra power.

Me thinks THEY will not be happy paying for what they are using more than you.

[Evo2700]

If the manager doesn't want to give you your own meter I would take your money to a park that will treat you fairly.

[wmtire]

I have seen ones like this for 30 amp RV's. May have to google to see if they make one for a 50 amp. However, you have to add the cost of any kind of metering equipment to the costs on what you are paying for electricity to see if it's advantageous to buy a meter.

MeterMaid 30A Plug-In Power Meter for Power Pedestals - Microcustom International

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by wmtire

I have seen ones like this for 30 amp RV's. May have to google to see if they make one for a 50 amp. However, you have to add the cost of any kind of metering equipment to the costs on what you are paying for electricity to see if it's advantageous to buy a meter.

MeterMaid 30A Plug-In Power Meter for Power Pedestals - Microcustom International

WOW that is cool! Pricey, but cool!

[wmtire]

A google search turned this up for the DIY'er:

Tech Tips: Building a Portable Electric Meter - RV Life Magazine - The Motorhome and Travel Trailer Lifestyle

[Herk7769]

So, here is an "El Cheapo" solution!

Though you would need to buy two for 50 amp RV service.

5 in 1 AC264V 100A Digital Combo Panel Meter Volt Amp kWh Watt Working Time Ct | eBay

[robm]

you are likely not just paying for electric use. Typically there are other charges related to this. The biggest thing to find out is call the local supplier and find out what additional rates may apply, such as what they a "rider". These riders allow utility companies to get back money from expenses. Say coal goes up, instead of like gas companies that hike it overnight, utility companies usually have to charge a set price with the public utilities commission for that state. Then the utility files for an adjustment which if approved ends up as these rider costs. Also since there is only one meter, it is likely he is charged a commercial rate vs residential rate...check with utility to verify rate. There is also in some form a meter charge. As you can see too many variables to just pay for use, unfortunately many do this to either make money on you or not to lose money by paying for meter charges on unused sites. You could suggest he puts in tab metering (customer owned meters) however I am sure with added cost he will just say no.

[TGR]

The Kill-A-Watt meter plugs into a 15 amp outlet and accepts a standard 15 amp extension cord. It costs less than $20 and might be useful to use for a day or 2 to demonstrate "typical" power usage. I don't think it is practical for continuous monitoring of the power used but it might get a conversation going on power usage facts.


P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor - Low Temperature Alarms - Amazon.com

[HappyCamper77]

Originally Posted by Evo2700

If the manager doesn't want to give you your own meter I would take your money to a park that will treat you fairly.

X2


Ontario, Canada

2014 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7
2015 Rockwood Ultralite 2905ss

[amishgirl]

Owner told us she would be fair, but we have a solar panel which cuts back, we are not using electric to heat, we are not using electric for water heater and told her that, but she claims that charging just everyone a general $50 per month for electric should be fair. It might be worth while for those using it to heat with their furnace and hot water heater, but not for us. We paid about $50 for propane one month when it was really cold. I was just hoping we could get a meter. The other lot has their own connection, it is just that our line and their line goes into the same meter as the bathroom for the campground. The owner is really guessing and not even listening to what we have on the camper. She claims the campers use a lot of electric. It is not the camper it is the people. We are very conservative. We only paid $58 per month for our entire house, which was air conditioned. We save and don't abuse. I fear that we are going to have to leave now, which is hard because in Florida right now it is hard to find empty campgrounds.

[La Plata View]

So.. the owner is actually splitting the electric three ways (you, other camper, and bathroom)? And then guessing that $50 from each party covers the cost? Has the owner shown you the monthly bill?

I used to live in FL and know the electric usage soars in the summer (AC usage). Maybe what's happening is the owner is averaging a years worth of electric, dividing by 12 to come up with a monthly cost, then dividing by the three to arrive at that $50 amount. But if you're only there for the winter months - as many snowbirds are- you're subsidizing someone else for the summer.

Just a thought. Call the electric company that serves your area and ask if they have anything available you could borrow or rent.

[caper]

I would start calling around local CG and see if they have any room for the rest of the season.

[MillerTime]

Yes I'd want my own meter too in this situation.

We do have our own meter on our site and over the summer (well actually May thru October ) our bill was between $48 and $87, with most in the $70-80 range. Thats with weekend only use other than refer being on. But we have 2 ac units and use electric on the water heater about 1/2 the time.

[robm]

if it's only 50 per month, i would not bother moving. how much could you save $20??? If you like the location just chalk it up as a site premium over one you may not like. Not sure about you, but cheap isn't why we chose this lifestyle

[mhbell]

If it is a Flat Fee of $50 a month added to the rent then That is not bad for electric. If you like the RV Park and all I would use what ever electric I needed. On the other hand if it is a varable rate changing every month, then I would move to another rv park. Some states won't let the rv parks charge more than what the utility charges them. I know the park we stayed in in Arizona had separate meters for each site. We only paid what the meter said plus a $5 fee for the person who came around each month and read the meter. When management tried to profit by raising the electrical rate they got in trouble and had to refund the over charge. They were not allowed by law to charge more for electric than what the paid the utility. Don't know if the State your in is the same or not. might be worth investigating.
Mel

[lbrjet]

Since you are paying for it why not put your hot water on electric and get an electric heater? 50 bucks a month sounds pretty reasonable for a monthly site.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

Since you are paying for it why not put your hot water on electric and get an electric heater? 50 bucks a month sounds pretty reasonable for a monthly site.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

X2 use all the electric items you can if it's a flat $50.00 a month!
That sounds cheap to me unless your paying a lot for lot rent!
By the way that's $1.67 a day

What is the price per kilowatt hour in that area?

I'm buying the meter herk showed to see how much power we really do use this summer.

[donanddona]

How long have you been there and how long are you planning to stay? Spring isn't to far away. It may not be fair but you maybe through most of it.