Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Thor Forums > Thor Tech Forums > Maintenance and Repair
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-27-2017, 10:48 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
rickymac's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2014 Windsport 34f
State: Alabama
Posts: 295
THOR #6507
Battery Maintenance-Slide will not work

I have the 2014 Windsport 34f and it seems like the batteries are not charging.

I keep my RV plugged into a 50Amp at home. As long as I am plugged in, slide and leveler works great. I went to gas up today and when I returned I got a low voltage read on the leveler and the slide would not operate at all. I plugged in and slide worked great.

I checked the batteries (popped off top caps and discovered that liquid level was low and/or dry).

How do I do maintenance on these batteries. What do I put into the cells to keep the batteries charging properly.

Thanks,

__________________
Rick & Jan
with Lilly (Most Active Dog) & Mattie (Laziest Dog in the World)
Wally: 2014 Thor Windsport 34f
Toad: (Wally One) 2014 Fiat 500L Trekking (4 Down)
"Welcome to our front porch"
rickymac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 10:51 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Oregon
Posts: 911
THOR #2271
Distilled water to the top of the plates.
__________________
sky_blue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 10:55 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
rickymac's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2014 Windsport 34f
State: Alabama
Posts: 295
THOR #6507
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbrown View Post
Distilled watet to the top of the plates.


Thank you
__________________
Rick & Jan
with Lilly (Most Active Dog) & Mattie (Laziest Dog in the World)
Wally: 2014 Thor Windsport 34f
Toad: (Wally One) 2014 Fiat 500L Trekking (4 Down)
"Welcome to our front porch"
rickymac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 11:08 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 28A Class C
State: Vermont
Posts: 267
THOR #4117
You may want to check what converter you have. Many RVs come from the factory with single stage converters that tend to overcharge the batteries. A good converter, like the Progressive Dynamics converters, start with a rapid charge but reduce the charging voltage as the battery is charged. This reduces the evaporation of the water in the battery. In any case you should check the level of the water in the battery often until you learn how long how long the water lasts in your batteries.
__________________
tenbear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 11:10 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
rickymac's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2014 Windsport 34f
State: Alabama
Posts: 295
THOR #6507
Quote:
Originally Posted by tenbear View Post
You may want to check what converter you have. Many RVs come from the factory with single stage converters that tend to overcharge the batteries. A good converter, like the Progressive Dynamics converters, start with a rapid charge but reduce the charging voltage as the battery is charged. This reduces the evaporation of the water in the battery. In any case you should check the level of the water in the battery often until you learn how long how long the water lasts in your batteries.


Thank you,
__________________
Rick & Jan
with Lilly (Most Active Dog) & Mattie (Laziest Dog in the World)
Wally: 2014 Thor Windsport 34f
Toad: (Wally One) 2014 Fiat 500L Trekking (4 Down)
"Welcome to our front porch"
rickymac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 11:26 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 28A Class C
State: Vermont
Posts: 267
THOR #4117
If you would like to learn more about the RV 12v system, google "The 12 volt side of life." It has a lot of good info.
__________________
tenbear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 11:27 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
rickymac's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2014 Windsport 34f
State: Alabama
Posts: 295
THOR #6507
Quote:
Originally Posted by tenbear View Post
If you would like to learn more about the RV 12v system, google "The 12 volt side of life." It has a lot of good info.


Thank you, I will order today from Amazon.
__________________
Rick & Jan
with Lilly (Most Active Dog) & Mattie (Laziest Dog in the World)
Wally: 2014 Thor Windsport 34f
Toad: (Wally One) 2014 Fiat 500L Trekking (4 Down)
"Welcome to our front porch"
rickymac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 11:50 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 28A Class C
State: Vermont
Posts: 267
THOR #4117
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickymac View Post
Thank you, I will order today from Amazon.
There is no need to order "The 12 volt side of life." It is a web site that you can reach for free by just googleing it on line.
__________________
tenbear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2017, 11:57 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
rickymac's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2014 Windsport 34f
State: Alabama
Posts: 295
THOR #6507
I just found the free info on-line, thanks
__________________
Rick & Jan
with Lilly (Most Active Dog) & Mattie (Laziest Dog in the World)
Wally: 2014 Thor Windsport 34f
Toad: (Wally One) 2014 Fiat 500L Trekking (4 Down)
"Welcome to our front porch"
rickymac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2017, 01:13 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
rickymac's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2014 Windsport 34f
State: Alabama
Posts: 295
THOR #6507
Update

1. Filled batteries to proper level with distilled water.
2. Charged batteries.
3. Cleaned and coated battery post.
4. Stopped putting RV on "store" since I am always plugged into 50 AMP.

Now my batteries stay charged all the time. They also are holding charge when I am not connected to shore power.

Amazing what good preventive maintenance can do for your equipment.

I learned a lot about batteries through this forum....thanks everyone.
__________________
Rick & Jan
with Lilly (Most Active Dog) & Mattie (Laziest Dog in the World)
Wally: 2014 Thor Windsport 34f
Toad: (Wally One) 2014 Fiat 500L Trekking (4 Down)
"Welcome to our front porch"
rickymac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2017, 02:01 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Windsport 29M
State: Indiana
Posts: 3,692
THOR #5196
Rick, your batteries will not charge with the switch in the store position, switch must be in the use position. Since you can stay plugged in there is no reason to change from the use position. Even in the store position there is parasitic drain on the batteries and since they can't charge they will go dead in a short amount of time.

Always a learning process, you are doing exactly what you need to be doing now. Enjoy!
__________________
SuperD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2017, 03:01 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Gemini 24TX (Formerly)
State: California
Posts: 1,459
THOR #5821
Seems unusual for the battery cells to go dry. My experience has been to add some distilled water every 8 to 10 months, but they never take very much. Your converter or alternator could be overcharging your batteries, which will basically cook them. BTW, mine is plugged in all the time, with use/store in use position.
__________________
Laco is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Thor Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.




All times are GMT. The time now is 08:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2