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10-09-2018, 09:34 PM
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#1
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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Heater on battery power?
I have a Thor ACE 30.2 2017. My heater will not run on battery power. I have to start the generator or be plugged in to run it. Is that normal?
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10-09-2018, 09:39 PM
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#2
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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 westlaker
I have a Thor ACE 30.2 2017. My heater will not run on battery power. I have to start the generator or be plugged in to run it. Is that normal?
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No, the heater is a 12 VDC appliance. Do any other 12 VDC loads work on battery (like the lights, refrigerator, water pump)? If not, make sure your USE/STORE switch is in USE.
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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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10-09-2018, 09:41 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Axis 25.4
State: Arkansas
Posts: 2,669
THOR #12231
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Nope, the fan should run on your 12 volt power only. Do you have the store switch set to use?
__________________
2017 Axis / 25.4: Big Foot Levelers, Aims 1200 Watt inverter, Ceramic Window Tint, Full River AGM 6V batteries, Front Hellwig Sway bar / Rear Track Arm, Safe T Plus Steering Stabilizer, PD 4655 converter, Hard Wired Surge Guard, WEboost + WiFi Ranger, LED Headlights/Driving lights, TPMS, Surge tank, Tornado flush, Viair Compressor
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10-09-2018, 10:10 PM
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#4
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tfryman
No, the heater is a 12 VDC appliance. Do any other 12 VDC loads work on battery (like the lights, refrigerator, water pump)? If not, make sure your USE/STORE switch is in USE.
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Yes. Battery works fine in every other aspect.
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10-09-2018, 10:10 PM
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#5
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Long & Winding road
Nope, the fan should run on your 12 volt power only. Do you have the store switch set to use?
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No. I know the function of this switch.
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10-09-2018, 10:17 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Axis 25.4
State: Arkansas
Posts: 2,669
THOR #12231
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Well this is baffling. So when hooked to shore power or Genny power it works fine?
Hopefully someone else can enlighten us.
I guess check for loose connections around the heater/Fan? Not sure if that would do any good if it works on AC/Genny power but perhaps you will see something questionable??
Check Battery volts just in case??
__________________
2017 Axis / 25.4: Big Foot Levelers, Aims 1200 Watt inverter, Ceramic Window Tint, Full River AGM 6V batteries, Front Hellwig Sway bar / Rear Track Arm, Safe T Plus Steering Stabilizer, PD 4655 converter, Hard Wired Surge Guard, WEboost + WiFi Ranger, LED Headlights/Driving lights, TPMS, Surge tank, Tornado flush, Viair Compressor
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10-09-2018, 10:21 PM
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#7
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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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I was wondering the same thing...
I'm guessing that the heater would be a pretty decent-sized draw on your battery power.
What sort of shape it it (or... "are they".) in?
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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10-09-2018, 10:41 PM
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#8
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Long & Winding road
Well this is baffling. So when hooked to shore power or Genny power it works fine?
Hopefully someone else can enlighten us.
I guess check for loose connections around the heater/Fan? Not sure if that would do any good if it works on AC/Genny power but perhaps you will see something questionable??
Check Battery volts just in case??
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I don't have a volt meter but you'd think that the battery performance would be affected in some other area. Everything works perfectly except this one thing and it has always been true for the year I've owned it.
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10-09-2018, 10:41 PM
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#9
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
I was wondering the same thing...
I'm guessing that the heater would be a pretty decent-sized draw on your battery power.
What sort of shape it it (or... "are they".) in?
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No other battery performance issues.
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10-09-2018, 11:40 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Axis 25.4
State: Arkansas
Posts: 2,669
THOR #12231
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Very odd.
Do you have a digital thermostat? (or Even the analog one). If so does it display the temp without AC or Genny power? Perhaps it not getting 12v power to activate fan?
When you move the temp up or down (while on HEAT) does it "click" (without AC or Genny power on)? If not - check wiring behind thermo.
Just an Idea.
If I think of any others I will thow them on the wall to see if they stick.
I bet its something simple but I cant think of anything else unless it need more 12v juice than your providing (I would get a cheap mutimeter if I was you- Im just learning how to use mine..... but its becoming a valulable tool for me).
__________________
2017 Axis / 25.4: Big Foot Levelers, Aims 1200 Watt inverter, Ceramic Window Tint, Full River AGM 6V batteries, Front Hellwig Sway bar / Rear Track Arm, Safe T Plus Steering Stabilizer, PD 4655 converter, Hard Wired Surge Guard, WEboost + WiFi Ranger, LED Headlights/Driving lights, TPMS, Surge tank, Tornado flush, Viair Compressor
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10-09-2018, 11:48 PM
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#11
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Long & Winding road
Very odd.
Do you have a digital thermostat? (or Even the analog one). If so does it display the temp without AC or Genny power? Perhaps it not getting 12v power to activate fan?
When you move the temp up or down (while on HEAT) does it "click" (without AC or Genny power on)? If not - check wiring behind thermo.
Just an Idea.
If I think of any others I will thow them on the wall to see if they stick.
I bet its something simple but I cant think of anything else unless it need more 12v juice than your providing (I would get a cheap mutimeter if I was you- Im just learning how to use mine..... but its becoming a valulable tool for me).
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The thermostat seems to work fine for AC and heat (with non battery power) It's just that on battery power only the fan comes on when the thermostat triggers it. No furnace. The fan will run all night.
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10-10-2018, 12:18 PM
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#12
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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 westlaker
The thermostat seems to work fine for AC and heat (with non battery power) It's just that on battery power only the fan comes on when the thermostat triggers it. No furnace. The fan will run all night.
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Well that puts a different spin on it. On battery the fan on the furnace runs when required but the propane heat never comes on? But on SP or Genny the propane heat works as expected?
The furnace will not trigger the propane heat unless the air flow switch is triggered so apparently not enough voltage is getting to the fan to spin it fast enough to trigger the switch on battery, but when the converter kicks the voltage up to charging levels the fan spin fast enough to trigger the switch and consequently the propane heat comes on.
__________________
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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10-10-2018, 12:25 PM
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#13
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tfryman
Well that puts a different spin on it. On battery the fan on the furnace runs when required but the propane heat never comes on? But on SP or Genny the propane heat works as expected?
The furnace will not trigger the propane heat unless the air flow switch is triggered so apparently not enough voltage is getting to the fan to spin it fast enough to trigger the switch on battery, but when the converter kicks the voltage up to charging levels the fan spin fast enough to trigger the switch and consequently the propane heat comes on.
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That seems to fit the facts. So, are my batteries weak? New batteries?
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10-10-2018, 12:27 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Axis 25.4
State: Arkansas
Posts: 2,669
THOR #12231
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Quote:
Originally Posted by westlaker
The thermostat seems to work fine for AC and heat (with non battery power) It's just that on battery power only the fan comes on when the thermostat triggers it. No furnace. The fan will run all night.
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Oh, I didnt know the fan was working on 12V. I thought nothing was according to what you wrote above.
Check on what Tfryman said.
I would still check the voltage of the 12v batteries.
Low voltage will do some strange things. Some 12v items will work fine and others wont.
__________________
2017 Axis / 25.4: Big Foot Levelers, Aims 1200 Watt inverter, Ceramic Window Tint, Full River AGM 6V batteries, Front Hellwig Sway bar / Rear Track Arm, Safe T Plus Steering Stabilizer, PD 4655 converter, Hard Wired Surge Guard, WEboost + WiFi Ranger, LED Headlights/Driving lights, TPMS, Surge tank, Tornado flush, Viair Compressor
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10-10-2018, 12:38 PM
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#15
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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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Yep, time to get the voltmeter out and check the voltage at the furnace with the fan running. May be a simple sail switch adjustment/cleaning, may be a high resistance connection causing a lower than normal voltage at the furnace.
__________________
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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10-25-2018, 02:31 PM
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#16
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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I just got this email from Thor...is he saying that the heater will not work on battery power? Must it be connected to shore power? Seems strange.
Thank you for your inquiry.
Your furnace operates on LP. It does have 12 volts connected to it but only for the control board. The furnace itself will not operate on 12 volts alone.
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10-25-2018, 03:49 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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Quote:
Originally Posted by westlaker
I just got this email from Thor...is he saying that the heater will not work on battery power? Must it be connected to shore power? Seems strange.
Thank you for your inquiry.
Your furnace operates on LP. It does have 12 volts connected to it but only for the control board. The furnace itself will not operate on 12 volts alone.
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They’re just saying the furnace won’t work without propane.
I hate to ask, but is it possible that any “heat” you have gotten in the past has been from heat pump or electric heat strips in your A/C unit? Is it possible that even when on shore power or generator that your propane furnace isn’t actually heating at all?
Like I said, I hate to ask, but others here are assuming the propane furnace works on shore power and I’m not certain that is necessarily a given based on what you have written.
Also, while asking to rule out possibilities, have you done one of those electric heat strip upgrades to your furnace?
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10-25-2018, 05:48 PM
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#18
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance
They’re just saying the furnace won’t work without propane.
I hate to ask, but is it possible that any “heat” you have gotten in the past has been from heat pump or electric heat strips in your A/C unit? Is it possible that even when on shore power or generator that your propane furnace isn’t actually heating at all?
Like I said, I hate to ask, but others here are assuming the propane furnace works on shore power and I’m not certain that is necessarily a given based on what you have written.
Also, while asking to rule out possibilities, have you done one of those electric heat strip upgrades to your furnace?
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No. The furnace works fine... just not on battery power. No upgrades either. You are right, I think the Thor guy thinks I don't understand that the heat source is the propane. I wrote again to clarify.
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10-25-2018, 06:27 PM
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#19
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Wyoming
Posts: 56
THOR #7482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by westlaker
No. The furnace works fine... just not on battery power. No upgrades either. You are right, I think the Thor guy thinks I don't understand that the heat source is the propane. I wrote again to clarify.
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I got the Thor guy on the phone. He thinks it's the "board" made by Atwood. Now I need to contact them.
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10-25-2018, 06:39 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
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so, the issue is really only of a single symptom: the igniter will not fire the propane when only on 12v battery power.
The fact that 120v power is somehow allowing the igniter to fire the propane is confusing, since it has no direct correlation or connection, BUT, could the Converter somehow be a clue?
It is the only thing that links the two, providing the conversion of 120v power down to 12v power.
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