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07-28-2016, 09:55 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2013 ACE 30.1
State: Colorado
Posts: 13
THOR #608
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Parasite battery draw?
With new, fully charged coach batteries and the coach disconnect switch in the "Use" position my Thor ACE battery reserve drops to 12.1 volts in just 3 days. I have repeatedly combed through the interior and exterior compartments for any power draws and find nothing but the propane detector on. Could this single item draw the coach batteries down by one half in that short a time? BTW, my radio has the option to turn off the power-off display, so should not be the culprit. There is no battery drawdown in the "Store" switch position. I'm not inclined to try any dry camping until I figure what the heck is going on.
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07-28-2016, 10:09 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: SOB
State: South Dakota
Posts: 941
THOR #3916
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See the "Dead House batteries" thread, very good discussion there on parasite draws
http://www.thorforums.com/forums/f10...ries-3177.html
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current coach
An SOB Shack called Foretravel...This will Do.
former coach
Thor Infinity
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07-28-2016, 10:16 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2013 ACE 30.1
State: Colorado
Posts: 13
THOR #608
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saddlesore
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Yes, interesting. Can measure battery state but don't really know how to measure battery current draw. Any suggestions, there? Thanks
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07-28-2016, 10:29 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: California
Posts: 135
THOR #3552
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Quote:
coach disconnect switch in the "store" position
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When the disconnect switch in my coach is in "store", my propane detector is off. But the detector should not draw that much - one source estimate 2.4 amp-hours in a day.
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07-28-2016, 10:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 35SK Super C
State: Missouri
Posts: 108
THOR #711
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Disconnect your positive battery cable and hook your multi meter in series between the positive post and the cable end. I don't recall the amperage reading that is normal with no parasitic draw (possibly something like 5 milliamps). If higher amperage found, start pulling 12 volt fuses one at a time. When you find an amperage drop, you will have found your parasitic draw.
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07-28-2016, 10:39 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: SOB
State: South Dakota
Posts: 941
THOR #3916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cosmo
When the disconnect switch in my coach is in "store", my propane detector is off. But the detector should not draw that much - one source estimate 2.4 amp-hours in a day.
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Don't forget that there is a draw for dash/fridge/clocks & LP/Co2 monitors, and some inverters & auto levelrers everywhere that are not disconnected with the store switch. Otherwise you would have to re-set them each time you put switch to "use" settings.
__________________
current coach
An SOB Shack called Foretravel...This will Do.
former coach
Thor Infinity
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07-28-2016, 11:48 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2013 ACE 30.1
State: Colorado
Posts: 13
THOR #608
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rskrbina
Disconnect your positive battery cable and hook your multi meter in series between the positive post and the cable end. I don't recall the amperage reading that is normal with no parasitic draw (possibly something like 5 milliamps). If higher amperage found, start pulling 12 volt fuses one at a time. When you find an amperage drop, you will have found your parasitic draw.
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Thanks for the elementary but so useful info. Actually sounds pretty easy!
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07-29-2016, 12:09 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 35SK Super C
State: Missouri
Posts: 108
THOR #711
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You are welcome. I hope you find what's causing the problem. Let us know.
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07-30-2016, 04:53 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2013 ACE 30.1
State: Colorado
Posts: 13
THOR #608
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OK, armed with the advice and a new multimeter set to the 200 milliamp scale I have measured 0 milliamp battery draw with the disconnect sw. in "store" and a .2ma draw with the sw. in "use", which is inconsequential. So, I conclude that I either have 2 bad batteries or the very old multimeter with which I initially tested the batteries was inaccurate in showing me rapidly depleted battery states. I'm letting the freshly charged batteries sit for a week or so and will then retest their charge to confirm their condition. Thanks for contributing to the learning experience!
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08-04-2016, 11:41 AM
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#10
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37TB
State: Connecticut
Posts: 98
THOR #3785
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I had the EXACT same problem on my 2016 Challenger 37TB. It turned out to be the crappy no name batteries Thor uses. I changed them for interestate batteries and the problem went away. My mechanic tested it and found the problem, but I don't know what kind of meter he used.
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Bill Tozzo
New Fairfield, CT
2016 Challenger 37TB
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08-04-2016, 07:05 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2013 ACE 30.1
State: Colorado
Posts: 13
THOR #608
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Thanks a lot for that insight. I wasn't aware that there were chronic problems with Thor's coach batteries so sounds like it's replacement time!
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08-04-2016, 07:27 PM
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#12
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37TB
State: Connecticut
Posts: 98
THOR #3785
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skyridez
Thanks a lot for that insight. I wasn't aware that there were chronic problems with Thor's coach batteries so sounds like it's replacement time!
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Yes. I finally found a mechanic who I believe knows what he is doing. Not a dealer though, so I had to fight a bit with Thor to use him for warranty. He said it was a "Bad Cell" and once he replaced both factory batteries there was no abnormal draw on the system.
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Bill Tozzo
New Fairfield, CT
2016 Challenger 37TB
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