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04-18-2019, 10:30 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Coachmen Miranda 35KB
State: Ontario
Posts: 26
THOR #7134
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To Leave Motor home plugged into 110 Volt
Hello everyone, pretty new to this site but I find it very helpful. I have a 2012 Allegro Open Road that has a converter but not an Inverter, I keep it in a garage with access to 110 Volts and I wont be using it for a few months, I was wondering if I am wise to leave it plugged in all the time or should I unplug ever so often to give the converter etc. a break from usage. Please let me know your thoughts, I am in Ontario Canada and not worried about air conditioning or heating the RV. Thanks Al
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04-18-2019, 10:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
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anything electrical likes to have electricity...so yes.
but, if you have no power, it wouldn't care, either.
either way, no issues.
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the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
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04-18-2019, 10:39 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Coachmen Miranda 35KB
State: Ontario
Posts: 26
THOR #7134
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Thanks, I have electric and don't mind using it, just didn't know if it was hard on the converter/battery charger??
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04-18-2019, 10:42 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Travato
State: Florida
Posts: 2,475
THOR #1765
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Good idea to check your converter/charger and make sure it is dropping down to 13.1v and going into maintenance mode. If it continues to charge at 13.5v it could “boil” your batteries and ruin them. Always a good idea to periodically check the water of your batteries if you leave your coach plugged in all the time.
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04-18-2019, 10:43 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Massachusetts
Posts: 441
THOR #8180
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I leave mine plugged in all winter in the Northeast. So no issues and keeps my batteries topped off.
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USN - RETIRED NUKE
Taunton, MA
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04-18-2019, 11:56 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Coachmen Miranda 35KB
State: Ontario
Posts: 26
THOR #7134
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That is a very good suggestion to check the voltage, I just checked it and I plugged it in around noon today and it reads 13.57 Volt so I will check in the morning, my coach has a button that I can push and get the reading or should I be testing the house batteries themselves with a voltmeter??
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04-19-2019, 12:12 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31D
State: Virginia
Posts: 137
THOR #5638
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You should be fine. Tiffin makes a very good product and the converter/charger should be a multi stage which will limit battery water boil off but still check the cells regularly. I have my Hurricane in the driveway that when home is plugged in constantly. I also have a multi stage charger and no problems with battery boil off.
And yes you should check from time to time with a voltmeter. Important tool that you need to learn how to use.
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2006 Hurricane 31D built on a 2006 Ford F53
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04-19-2019, 12:17 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Travato
State: Florida
Posts: 2,475
THOR #1765
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetbriar
You should be fine. Tiffin makes a very good product and the converter/charger should be a multi stage which will limit battery water boil off but still check the cells regularly. I have my Hurricane in the driveway that when home is plugged in constantly. I also have a multi stage charger and no problems with battery boil off.
And yes you should check from time to time with a voltmeter. Important tool that you need to learn how to use.
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Unfortunately he apparently has a Thor and for the Axis/Vegas at least, the converter/charger is not good quality. I have had two (a 2014 Vegas and 2016 Axis) and neither ever went to maintenance mode, even though the charger is supposed to be multi stage. Easy to check and expensive not to.
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04-19-2019, 12:28 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: S.O.B.
State: Florida
Posts: 684
THOR #14543
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oneilkeys
Unfortunately he apparently has a Thor...
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He says in the original post that it's a 2012 Allegro Open Road, a Tiffin.
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Ed
Some Other Brand w/2020 Jeep Gladiator Toad
Living The Dream in "God's Waiting Room"
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04-19-2019, 01:32 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Coachmen Miranda 35KB
State: Ontario
Posts: 26
THOR #7134
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I tried to change my profile as I just purchased this Tiffin but there doesn't seem to be away to change from Thor to Tiffin. Thanks for all your helpful replies Happy Easter To All Al
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04-19-2019, 02:14 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,360
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beacoal
I tried to change my profile as I just purchased this Tiffin but there doesn't seem to be away to change from Thor to Tiffin. Thanks for all your helpful replies Happy Easter To All Al
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Sure there is, just ask Bob Denam. I'm surprised he hasn't already posted in this thread.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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04-19-2019, 02:39 AM
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#12
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Coachmen Miranda 35KB
State: Ontario
Posts: 26
THOR #7134
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when you go to your profile info and go to Brand there is no Tiffin in the drop down menu, not that I could see Al
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04-19-2019, 03:23 PM
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#13
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,360
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beacoal
when you go to your profile info and go to Brand there is no Tiffin in the drop down menu, not that I could see Al
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Oh! You're looking at the pre-filled out field. Could be because Tiffin is not a Thor brand.
People with "other brands" use the "Still Looking" in that field, use SOB for the model, and put the actual coach info in their signature.
A la:
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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04-19-2019, 03:28 PM
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#14
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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04-19-2019, 04:14 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Coachmen Miranda 35KB
State: Ontario
Posts: 26
THOR #7134
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Thanks to everyone for all your thoughts, I will leave it plugged in, check the water level in the battery and make sure that the voltage runs around 13.1 when in the float mode, great site Thanks again Al
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04-19-2019, 04:19 PM
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#16
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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How about some pictures of that Open Road?
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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04-28-2019, 06:24 AM
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#17
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 29.2
State: California
Posts: 65
THOR #2580
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I have a Thor ACE 29.2 2012, I leave it plugged in normally with no issues.
Just a week ago the battery top covering 3 cells blew off with a bang.
Granted this was my fault simply because I forgot to check the fluid level in the cell and fill them when needed creating what i assume was off gassing that caused the top to blow off.
Definitely will need new batteries.
So be sure to check cell level at least once a month to prevent similar failure and possibly more if you live in desert climates like I do.
Your tiffin may have a better quality charging system/inverter than our unit and may actually shut down our reduce output based on battery charge level were many simply provide a continuous feed such as a topper and therefore must be checked frequently.
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04-28-2019, 12:15 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Travato
State: Florida
Posts: 2,475
THOR #1765
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Also check to see if your converter/charger is working correctly and actually going into maintenance mode. It should drop to to 13.1V when the battery is fully charged. If it is not working correctly (the WFCO units that Thor uses are not quality and I have had two that never went into maintenance mode) the converter/charger will continue to charge at 13.5v and boil off the electrolyte in you battery leading to an explosion.
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04-28-2019, 03:13 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Coachmen Miranda 35KB
State: Ontario
Posts: 26
THOR #7134
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Thanks to everyone again for all your thoughts and knowledge, I definitely will keep an eye on the water level and I checked the voltage after being plugged in for a week, I have a test button and it reads 13.2 V and when I test the batteries it reads 13.5 do you guys think this is OK. Thanks Al
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04-28-2019, 03:26 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Travato
State: Florida
Posts: 2,475
THOR #1765
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Your “test button” and voltage at the batteries should read the same. If your reading at the batteries is correct (13.5v) after the coach has been plugged in for a week, then the converter/charger is probably not going into maintenance mode (about 13.1v). Putting 13.5v continuously into you batteries will “boil out” the electrolyte and can ruin them even if you continually add water. It’s not good for your batteries. In the long run it is cheaper to replace the converter/charger with a better quality one that works correctly. One of my WFCO chargers did not start in “boost” mode when the batteries were below 50% charge as well as never going into maintenance mode. By replacing the Thor converter/charger I got faster battery charging time as well as saving my batteries.
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