Thor video: Proper use of store/use switch

[srvandal]

I have installed a solar panel on my Vegas 24.1. If I use the 'store' switch in the winter does the solar panel stop charging the battery etc. If so should I leave it in 'use' all the time?

[halfprice]

Originally Posted by revjeffrey

I did state before. I took BOTH NEGATIVE cables off coach batteries & Still have Power going to the 12v ceiling lights in coach. Maybe Bimm is wired wrong?

No BIM is wired correctly Its drawing power from the chassis battery

I bet if you hit the emergence start switch the power will stop

Jerry

[revjeffrey]

I will try that tomorrow and report back.
Thank you for the tip!

[halfprice]

Yes Bob I did disconnect positive cable because I was having the same problem as Rev. There is always a debate pos or neg when discussing disconnects. Im not in any way a mechanic but always believed neg should be disconnected. Read below why I did pos cable


Ok Rev heres how it works. I called the company that makes the BIM Great help!!! Because I thought it was bad but after speaking to tech found it was working correctly. By the way the BIM is warranted for 5 years. THe tech walked me through several steps to determine it was fine. If bad he would have sent a new one and they dont need the old bad one sent back to them.

It was explained that the BIM connects house and chassis batteries together. When the BIM senses no power from the house, cables removed, so it draws from the chassis battery

BIM tech said to disconnect pos cable that goes to the breaker/fuse box. On the 29m the breaker/fuse panel is at the foot of the bed. Called Thor to figure out which of the numerous cables in the batter compartment this was This cable on the class a's is the one going to the 50 amp fuse bus in the battery compartment

THere are 3 fuse buses in the battery compartment. They are the ones with the yellow flags that drop out when they are blown. Two are 100 amp, 1 for jacks and gen the other for invertor. The last bus is a 50 amp. It powers the power panel. WHere all the breakers and coach fuses are. By disconnecting the pos cable running to this 50 amp bus you kill all power going to the coach.

The BIM can still read the voltage of the batteries so it will not direct power from the chassis.

I was confuse as hell when I had power with both neg cables removed. Even called Thor and they had no answer. Im sure glad the BIM tech knew his product and was able to help

And before everybody slams the Thor tech I was kind of pissed and frustrated and may not have explained the problem very well. I have had great help from Thor techs and from my experience would never complain about them. Hey they were able to tell me which cable to disconnect.

While typing this I went to the mh and took a pic of the 50 amp fuse bus on my cell Ill post it in a minute

Jerry

[halfprice]

Originally Posted by revjeffrey

I will try that tomorrow and report back.
Thank you for the tip!

Hitting the emergency switch was the only way I could get the power off

[halfprice]

Rev
I dont know how your Axis is set up so i hope some of what i wrote is heloful to you

Heres a pic if the 50 amp fuse bus in the battery compartment. All you need to do is follow the cable to the battery and disconnect it there

Jerry

[revjeffrey]

This is Exactly my issue. The Axis has no levelers etc. 50 amp fuse like yours is left of batt. box. Thank you for that tip.
Many owners have never taken off both negative cables like we have and still seen lights & power. Why would they? That is why the neg disconnect will never work on house batteries. Bin detects and auto switch to chassis now All drained.
That was a wakeup call for me. Ok you have me refocused and I will dig back in tomorrow. Crazy dealers, techs, Thor. Will not put out a fix for this. Power (elec,solar,gen.,battery,engine) go hand n hand with Rving. They fix this one tiny thing 50% issues solved.
Thanks 4 taking time to run out and get the pic. Rev.

[halfprice]

no problem. I hope it helps you

Jerry

[MichFigs]

Originally Posted by halfprice

Rev
I dont know how your Axis is set up so i hope some of what i wrote is heloful to you

Heres a pic if the 50 amp fuse bus in the battery compartment. All you need to do is follow the cable to the battery and disconnect it there

JerryAttachment 15215

for the information. Now I realize my two quick disconnects on the house negative battery terminals are ineffective. Would like to know where the best place to mount a disconnect on the Axis/Vegas as to eliminate this electrical draw from both the house and chassis batteries when the rig is in storage

[lug]

I'll be switching out the 50A circuit breaker. The PTT serves as a on-off switch.

[bry899]

Originally Posted by srvandal

I have installed a solar panel on my Vegas 24.1. If I use the 'store' switch in the winter does the solar panel stop charging the battery etc. If so should I leave it in 'use' all the time?

If your solar panels are wired correctly, that is wired directly to the batteries, then it does not matter if the switch is in "use" or "store".

With solar panels added, no battery disconnects are needed either, that would defeat the purpose of solar panels.

[bry899]

If Thor mounted a solar panel on new RV's they would end all this confusion.

on New units they already installed the controller and wiring, a 100 watt panel bought in bulk would cost a lot less than $100.

If you have solar panels, the only time you would have to disconnect the batteries would be for inside storage.

[Ragman]

Originally Posted by Ragman

I never dry camp and always leave the switch on.

That way the all the batteries are being charged in route to the campsite and when plugged to shore power at the campsite.

When I'm back home I plug in shore power in the garage.
That way all the batteries are topped off all the time.

Am I missing something here?

Does anyone have an answer to the question asked in the above quote?
Thank you,
Steve (Ragman)

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Ragman

Does anyone have an answer to the question asked in the above quote?
Thank you,
Steve (Ragman)

Nope you're not missing anything: when plugged in leave it in use. Its as simple as that.

[jbwilli1]

I kinda understand the info in this thread, but, my switch is not labeled & sounds like it is connected to a solenoid. Makes no difference what I do, the light stays on, makes me wonder if it is working as intended.


The day after I brought it home, all the batteries were dead, not plugged in to shore power. Don't remember the status of the light by the switch.


Since then I'm plugged in to shore power & the light is always on.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by jbwilli1

I kinda understand the info in this thread, but, my switch is not labeled & sounds like it is connected to a solenoid. Makes no difference what I do, the light stays on, makes me wonder if it is working as intended.


The day after I brought it home, all the batteries were dead, not plugged in to shore power. Don't remember the status of the light by the switch.


Since then I'm plugged in to shore power & the light is always on.

Which part of my post in your other thread did you not understand?

The switch IS connected to a solenoid as the switch itself cannot handle the current requirements going into/out of the battery.

An easy way to see which way is connected is to unplug from shore power and toggle the switch. The direction that lights the red light is CLOSED: the house batteries are connected to the DC buss.

[jbwilli1]

Originally Posted by Tfryman

Which part of my post in your other thread did you not understand?

The switch IS connected to a solenoid as the switch itself cannot handle the current requirements going into/out of the battery.

An easy way to see which way is connected is to unplug from shore power and toggle the switch. The direction that lights the red light is CLOSED: the house batteries are connected to the DC buss.

Thanx I'll try that in the morning. I guess the sound of the solenoid is what confuses me, it's the same sound turning off or on. I was being too simple, light switch clicks either off or on, but you have a change in position. Only way is to do as you suggested.

[lwmcguire]

On the Tuscany the front ceiling lights when you open the door and then time out

They are wired off the chassis battery

There's at least 6 threads currently regarding the use of the house battery disconnect switch

Tuscany and others have the manual chassis battery disconnect as well so if you are storing without power then be sure to turn it off also