What BIM do you have and any troubles with it

[DavidEM]

Most recent motorhomes have either the Intellitec BIRD/Trombetta or the Precision Circuits BIM 160, but there may be others. There have been a number of recent posts re chassis or house battery charging problems from the other. battery system. This poll attempts to find which systems are causing the most problems.

David

[Judge]

My '20 Magnitude SV34 came with a BIM160 and as I have posted many times, Thor wired it incorrectly and that was the source of my problems.

After posting my findings and ways to test whether a BIM160 was wired properly a couple years ago, many people found their BIM160 was also wired incorrectly from Thor and causing their 12V electrical problems.

My theory on why this happened so regularly is that the schematics show the BIM mounted upside down but the guys on the assembly line mount it right side up. Then they attach the wiring the way they see it on the schematics and as a result it wired backwards.

Once the wiring issue is corrected, the BIM starts operating the way it was designed.... and no more issues.

So in this case, the BIM was not the issue at all. It was Thor wiring it improperly and shooting themselves and their customers in the foot.

[16ACE27]

BIRD/Trombetta - Trombetta Solenoid died after a couple of years. Replaced it with a heavier duty, cheaper continuous duty solenoid from Amazon and no problems since.

[blw2]

I clicked "other with problems"
I had the Intellitech BIRD system on mine when it was new. Had problems with the relay but not with the controller. Not so long ago I replaced it with a Bim from precision circuits inc. As far as I know so far so good...but it hasn't been all that long

[m1noel]

I have the BIM 225, not listed in your poll. I had the same issue Judge had, wired backwards. Didn't know it until I had a house battery go bad and was draining the chassis batteries also. Swapped the wiring and all is good 2+ years later.

[DavidEM]

If you checked "other", could you add a post describing what it is.

Also, my interpretation of the results so far is: the problems with the BIM 160/225 are installation related; those with the BIRD/Trombetta are component failures- the Trombetta relay usually.

David

[lwmcguir]

Starting year 7 soon with a replacement Trombetta/BIRD

Original lasted less than 1 year and had copper contacts

Replacement had silver and same 100% 200 amp duty rating

[Judge]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

If you checked "other", could you add a post describing what it is.

Also, my interpretation of the results so far is: the problems with the BIM 160/225 are installation related; those with the BIRD/Trombetta are component failures- the Trombetta relay usually.

David

I would say that is a fair assessment.

I have not heard of anyone having a Precision Circuits BIM fail; only the wiring issues.

On the other hand I have read about BIRD / Trombetta failures.

[Vibeman]

My BIM 160 was wired backward too.

[Trkyte@msn.com]

had the Trombetta relay go bad in my 29H. replaced it with an Amazon one and was fine when I sold the unit. (note: outlaw had a IRD unit not a BIRD, one way engine to House)

Bought a used Outlaw 37LS. When checking out, found relay was no good via emergency start switch. replaced it with new one. Further testing, BIRD was also bad Amazon replacement also.

Six months and all is still fine.

[appsol]

Other, no problem. Specifically Precisions Circuits BIM 225, part number 00-10041-250, recommended and installed when at TMC factory service center. Previously had two trombetta failures in first four years of ownership, first was standard version, second was silver contact version from Amazon. No problems since the BIM was installed.

[DavidEM]

This poll has been running for about 5 days so far and here are the take aways:

The BIRD/Trombetta system does fail fairly often, usually the Trombetta solenoid. This can be solved by replacing it with a heavier, continuous duty solenoid.

No failures reported with the Precision Circuits BIM 160 or Li 225, except for installation wiring errors by Thor. Read Judge's post above.

Thanks for responding,
David

[k.maslowski@comcast.net]

What brand or product name/number please?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by k.maslowski@comcast.net

What brand or product name/number please?

To whom are you addressing this question?

[DavidEM]

Originally Posted by k.maslowski@comcast.net

What brand or product name/number please?

Intellitec Bird/Trombetta and Precision Circuits BIM 160/225.

David

[chunker21]

Originally Posted by Judge

My '20 Magnitude SV34 came with a BIM160 and as I have posted many times, Thor wired it incorrectly and that was the source of my problems.

After posting my findings and ways to test whether a BIM160 was wired properly a couple years ago, many people found their BIM160 was also wired incorrectly from Thor and causing their 12V electrical problems.

My theory on why this happened so regularly is that the schematics show the BIM mounted upside down but the guys on the assembly line mount it right side up. Then they attach the wiring the way they see it on the schematics and as a result it wired backwards.

Once the wiring issue is corrected, the BIM starts operating the way it was designed.... and no more issues.

So in this case, the BIM was not the issue at all. It was Thor wiring it improperly and shooting themselves and their customers in the foot.

Judge isn't it true that even after you contacted thor about the wrong wiring they refused to acknowledge their error?

[Judge]

Originally Posted by chunker21

Judge isn't it true that even after you contacted thor about the wrong wiring they refused to acknowledge their error?

That is true. I detailed it and sent it to the head of the Factory Service Center but they must have never done anything with it since they kept installing it incorrectly.

It’s not all thst surprising…. Thor see that same failures over and over and they don’t really do anything to rectify them.

[chunker21]

Originally Posted by Judge

That is true. I detailed it and sent it to the head of the Factory Service Center but they must have never done anything with it since they kept installing it incorrectly.

It’s not all thst surprising…. Thor see that same failures over and over and they don’t really do anything to rectify them.

As long as people buy them there is no reason to change. I find it amazing the position they take such as the front cap attachment failures are not structural, the propane line routing debacle, and many other issues. But they rely on a new crop of buyers who don't know better to come along, and of course will eliminate a model when it's no longer profitable to be replaced with something similar just named different.

And the beat goes on.

[reminckv]

I experienced the Trombetta relay failure as well. After replacing it, everything worked well for 2 years. I recently changed to LiFePO4 batteries and installed the BIM 225 Li.

[Hurricanejohn]

Originally Posted by Vibeman

My BIM 160 was wired backward too.

Hi, How can I tell if the BIM 160 is installed backwards without actually changing the wire around....