Vehicle Battery Freedom Elite 24FE

[john445]

This is our third season with the Freedom Elite 24FE. We are having problems with the vehicle battery. Between trips we leave the camper plugged in to power the refrigerator, lights etc.

Several times now after the camper has not moved for five or more days, the vehicle battery is dead and we can not start the camper without a jump start.

Does leaving the camper plugged in eventually drain the vehicle batter? This last time the camper sat for four weeks and even with jumping will not start the vehicle. This is not the first time.

Is something draining the vehicle battery during this period of time? Are we not not realizing some setting that should be changed when plugged in to external power?

Any thoughts appreciated.

John

[16ACE27]

The "vehicle" battery is normally called the chassis battery. Leaving it plugged in should have no affect on the chassis battery discharging. How old is this battery? It may be past it's expiration date. Have you checked the water level in the cells?

[abjbrtd]

We've had the same problem on our E450.
It was not a healthy battery when we bought the new to us Citation.
SOoo I bought a new battery and keep a tender on it.

[Pete'sMH]

Many RVs have seriously damaged batteries even when brand new. Unfinished chassis’s can sit at Thor’s plant for weeks or months (which is why the chassis and coach can be different model years sometimes) and then the finished coach can sit in a holding lot and then on a dealers lot. Sometimes for months. Typically not being charged. Most times dealers leave the store switch “on” to make it easier to show the unit and sometimes customers or dealers even leave lights or something on between showings. It doesn’t take much to permanently damage batteries. Many people on this and other forums blame Thor for using poor batteries but it’s just as common to have chassis batteries bad and Ford doesn’t use crap batteries. You might be able to get the dealer to replace them or more likely you’ll just end up buying new and starting fresh. Take good care of your new ones and they’ll last for years. Good luck.

[john445]

We tried to charge the battery ourselves after the camper would not start. We left the charge on to long and essentially cooked the battery. Mercedes kindly replaced the battery under warranty.

We had left the camper in our driveway for four weeks. Mercedes suggested we disconnect the vehicle/chassis battery and showed us the switch. Basically letting it sit for weeks drains the battery and either we need to trickle charge it or start regularly.

We live and learn and off for a trip tomorrow. Thanks for the kind responses.

John

[CPass58]

House batteries wont charge from being plugged in if the coach is in "store" mode, rather than "Use".

Engine battery, you can add a tender to it...

hope this helps.

[Wyz3rd]

Originally Posted by john445

We tried to charge the battery ourselves after the camper would not start. We left the charge on to long and essentially cooked the battery. Mercedes kindly replaced the battery under warranty.

We had left the camper in our driveway for four weeks. Mercedes suggested we disconnect the vehicle/chassis battery and showed us the switch. Basically letting it sit for weeks drains the battery and either we need to trickle charge it or start regularly.

We live and learn and off for a trip tomorrow. Thanks for the kind responses.

John

Hi, I have a 24FE and was wondering where the chassis battery cutoff switch is. Can you please describe?

Thanks

[john445]

Hi:

Driver's side to the right of the gas pedal is the battery disconnect. Push down on red button and pull to disconnect and do the reverse in spring.

John

[Wyz3rd]

Originally Posted by john445

Hi:

Driver's side to the right of the gas pedal is the battery disconnect. Push down on red button and pull to disconnect and do the reverse in spring.

John

Hi John, What model year is your 24FE? I just checked and there is no red button. There is a connector with wires connotes to the gas pedal, and a small sign to the right of the pedal, but I could find no disconnect switch.

[Bob Denman]

Look up "battery master switch" in your owner's manual.
(Your picture shows how to use it... )

[Wyz3rd]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Look up "battery master switch" in your owner's manual.
(Your picture shows how to use it... )

Ok, just to be sure we are talking about the same thing, I do have a battery master switch inside the coach to connect/disconnect the coach battery.

For the chassis battery disconnect, however, I cannot find anything under the dash by the gas pedal. The instruction provided in the image I sent is meaningless, as I cannot identify anything remotely resembling a master switch. I hate to ask you, but if ever you have an opportunity to snap a picture of your gas pedal area, could/would you post it so I can see what you are talking about? Yes, I will check my Thor and MB manuals to look for this. My Thor model year is 2021, but my MB model year is 2019. Thank you so much.

[Bob Denman]

I've got a picture of it on my office computer.
I'll have it for you tomorrow morning.

[Wyz3rd]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

I've got a picture of it on my office computer.
I'll have it for you tomorrow morning.

Ok, thank you. I'm beginning to think that it is behind the panel where that note is.

[Bob Denman]

I have it in this phone...

... but it's in a .png format.

[Bob Denman]

You were so very close to the switch...

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1608554078

[Bob Denman]

You push down on the red button, and pull down on the wiring to disconnect it.
Just be sure to secure the wiring!

[Wyz3rd]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

You were so very close to the switch...

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1608554078

What model year is your sprinter chassis????

Thanks for the picture, but that does not exist in my vehicle. Just a wiring harness attached to the gas pedal. No red buttons. There may be something behind the panel, which houses the same exact disconnect instructions at shown in your picture. It is very troubling that I do not have this same disconnect capability accessible as is in your MH.

[Bob Denman]

Mine is a 2019 RV (2018 chassis)

[Wyz3rd]

Here is a photo of where your master battery disconnect would be in my sprinter.



I even looked behind the panel where the instructions are...no disconnect.

[Wyz3rd]

Funny thing is, the owner's manual even refers to a master disconnect, but does not explain where. Do you think that pulling the wire harness from the gas pedal is the disconnect?