House Battery Issue

K. Meckes · 01-23-2023, 06:33 PM

I am hoping for some answers on a problem I am having. I have a Go Power solar charge controller and it is not getting power. I am plugged into shore power and my computer screen is telling me that my house batteries are fully charged. The manufacturer of this solar charge controller tells me that the only thing this controller does is charge the house batteries from solar panels. I do not have solar panels hooked up. Thor must have put other electrical components on the same circuit with this controller because my navitgation screen will not come on and my generator will not even try to start when I press the button. I found 1 20 amp fuse right at the house batteries which was not blown. How can I find out if there are anymore fuses to check in the wiring? I have a 2019 Thor Axis 27.7.

Bill Johnson · 01-23-2023, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K. Meckes

I am hoping for some answers on a problem I am having. I have a Go Power solar charge controller and it is not getting power. I am plugged into shore power and my computer screen is telling me that my house batteries are fully charged. The manufacturer of this solar charge controller tells me that the only thing this controller does is charge the house batteries from solar panels. I do not have solar panels hooked up. Thor must have put other electrical components on the same circuit with this controller because my navitgation screen will not come on and my generator will not even try to start when I press the button. I found 1 20 amp fuse right at the house batteries which was not blown. How can I find out if there are anymore fuses to check in the wiring? I have a 2019 Thor Axis 27.7.

I have a solar panel and Thor forgot to install the charge controller. Thor sent me one and I cut a hole in the panel by my door, If I remember right there were 4 wires 2 in and 2 out that's it. As far as I know they just go to the battery and there is a fuse right by the battery because the wires shorted out from Thor just coiling them in a ball inside the panel

Bill Johnson · 01-23-2023, 07:10 PM

Sign up at the Thor Owners Resource. Everything about YOUR rv.https://www.thormotorcoach.com/owners

**16ACE27** · 01-23-2023, 08:08 PM

If you have no solar panels the solar controller does NOTHING.

If the radio won't come on and the generator won't start then it sounds like the house batteries are dead and the battery disconnect is open so they are not being charged from the converter/charger and shore power (SP).

You should measure the voltage of the house batteries directly at the house batteries. While there check the status of the 50 amp and 100 amp DC breakers.

If the battery disconnect is open and the house batteries are dead then they will need to be charged externally or by running the engine in order to shut the battery disconnect.

The battery "status" screen tells you the status of the batteries if NOT connected to SP or running the generator and the battery disconnect is closed.

I suspect if you disconnect from SP right now, nothing will have power in the RV.

DavidEM · 01-23-2023, 09:04 PM

I agree with Ted’s advice above.

With regard to the solar system, the wire with the 20A fuse tied to the batteries goes to the solar controller. The input wiring to the controller goes to a solar port on the roof and if no panels, stops there.

Apparently prewired for solar means various things to Thor and in your case it means you have a solar controller wired to the batteries and a roof port, which makes it easy to add a panel or panels if you so choose.

David

Bill Johnson · 01-23-2023, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidEM

I agree with Ted’s advice above.

With regard to the solar system, the wire with the 20A fuse tied to the batteries goes to the solar controller. The input wiring to the controller goes to a solar port on the roof and if no panels, stops there.

Apparently prewired for solar means various things to Thor and in your case it means you have a solar controller wired to the batteries and a roof port, which makes it easy to add a panel or panels if you so choose.

David

Funny the diagram I posted shows a 10 amp fuse, I'm sure mine is larger than that

K. Meckes · 01-25-2023, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

If you have no solar panels the solar controller does NOTHING.

If the radio won't come on and the generator won't start then it sounds like the house batteries are dead and the battery disconnect is open so they are not being charged from the converter/charger and shore power (SP).

You should measure the voltage of the house batteries directly at the house batteries. While there check the status of the 50 amp and 100 amp DC breakers.

If the battery disconnect is open and the house batteries are dead then they will need to be charged externally or by running the engine in order to shut the battery disconnect.

The battery "status" screen tells you the status of the batteries if NOT connected to SP or running the generator and the battery disconnect is closed.

I suspect if you disconnect from SP right now, nothing will have power in the RV.

My RV is an hour away at our perm site so I cannot check right now. I found this problem when I was there to check on the RV and run the generator for a little bit. I did unplug from shore power when I saw this problem because I wanted to shut off the power disconnect switch to kill everything, wait a few minutes and then turn the power back on in hopes that something might reset. I still had power when I unplugged. I will check the batteries with my tester and look for 50 & 100 breakers. Are those 2 breakers in the battery compartment?

**16ACE27** · 01-25-2023, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K. Meckes

My RV is an hour away at our perm site so I cannot check right now. I found this problem when I was there to check on the RV and run the generator for a little bit. I did unplug from shore power when I saw this problem because I wanted to shut off the power disconnect switch to kill everything, wait a few minutes and then turn the power back on in hopes that something might reset. I still had power when I unplugged. I will check the batteries with my tester and look for 50 & 100 breakers. Are those 2 breakers in the battery compartment?

In or very near the battery compartment.

K. Meckes · 02-08-2023, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

If you have no solar panels the solar controller does NOTHING.

If the radio won't come on and the generator won't start then it sounds like the house batteries are dead and the battery disconnect is open so they are not being charged from the converter/charger and shore power (SP).

You should measure the voltage of the house batteries directly at the house batteries. While there check the status of the 50 amp and 100 amp DC breakers.

If the battery disconnect is open and the house batteries are dead then they will need to be charged externally or by running the engine in order to shut the battery disconnect.

The battery "status" screen tells you the status of the batteries if NOT connected to SP or running the generator and the battery disconnect is closed.

I suspect if you disconnect from SP right now, nothing will have power in the RV.

I finally got there to check this yesterday and you are right the batteries are dead. I ran the engine for approx. 10 minutes and then plugged back into shore power, turned off all of the breakers on the inverter and then turned them back on and you hear the inverter run for 2 seconds then stop. I don't think the battery disconnect shut, do I have to run engine longer?

Beau388 · 02-08-2023, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K. Meckes

I finally got there to check this yesterday and you are right the batteries are dead. I ran the engine for approx. 10 minutes and then plugged back into shore power, turned off all of the breakers on the inverter and then turned them back on and you hear the inverter run for 2 seconds then stop. I don't think the battery disconnect shut, do I have to run engine longer?

If lead acid batteries are discharged for any length of time, they begin to sulfate (produce hard non-soluble crystals), so the batteries probably need to be replaced. A battery load test will confirm the batteries state.
Assuming you have two group 27 lead-acid batteries being charged by a 200 amp engine alternator, which produces about 60 amps at engine idle, it would take a minimum of 3.5 hours to charge the batteries if all was perfect.

**16ACE27** · 02-08-2023, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K. Meckes

I finally got there to check this yesterday and you are right the batteries are dead. I ran the engine for approx. 10 minutes and then plugged back into shore power, turned off all of the breakers on the inverter and then turned them back on and you hear the inverter run for 2 seconds then stop. I don't think the battery disconnect shut, do I have to run engine longer?

Breakers on the inverter? Do you mean breakers in the Power Center? If so, not necessary.

Run the engine, with it still running close the battery disconnect (STORE/USE in USE or MAIN POWER switch ON). You can stay plugged into SP with the engine running.

Now turn off the engine and let the CONVERTER charge the house batteries.
After about an hour disconnect from SP and see if your DC loads continue working (interior lights). If so, you've got some charge on your house batteries AND the battery disconnect is closed - plug back in to SP and let the batteries fully charge (8 or more hours).

If not, either the house batteries are completely dead or the battery disconnect is open.

You can't hear either an inverter or converter run, just their cooling fans, which don't run all the time.

Frank@theShop · 02-08-2023, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K. Meckes

I am hoping for some answers on a problem I am having. I have a Go Power solar charge controller and it is not getting power. I am plugged into shore power and my computer screen is telling me that my house batteries are fully charged. The manufacturer of this solar charge controller tells me that the only thing this controller does is charge the house batteries from solar panels. I do not have solar panels hooked up. Thor must have put other electrical components on the same circuit with this controller because my navitgation screen will not come on and my generator will not even try to start when I press the button. I found 1 20 amp fuse right at the house batteries which was not blown. How can I find out if there are anymore fuses to check in the wiring? I have a 2019 Thor Axis 27.7.

My first thought was that your disconnect is not turning on which would cause you to have no power to your genset or navigation/radio. However, you made reference to your "computer screen" which makes me think you are talking about a BM Pro or LCI multiplex system. If thats the case, then the disconnect must be working or partially working because that screen would not be working otherwise. Is this a 30 amp or 50 amp coach? What voltage does the "house/coach" battery show when plugged in to shore power?

**16ACE27** · 02-08-2023, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank@theShop

My first thought was that your disconnect is not turning on which would cause you to have no power to your genset or navigation/radio. However, you made reference to your "computer screen" which makes me think you are talking about a BM Pro or LCI multiplex system. If thats the case, then the disconnect must be working or partially working because that screen would not be working otherwise. Is this a 30 amp or 50 amp coach? What voltage does the "house/coach" battery show when plugged in to shore power?

The battery disconnect has no bearing on DC loads when plugged in to SP. The converter will power all those DC loads and the "computer screen", just like the old 4 LED battery status indicators, would give you a false "batteries fully charged" status.

LolliBus · 02-09-2023, 02:47 AM

we have a nightmare issue with batteries dying. Even when the service shop at the dealer (RVONE) put in all new batteries, they all went dead during a long weekend trip while we were connected to shore power.
RVOne replaced Inverter. Replaced Converter. Replaced house and coach batteries.
The only solution that seems to work is when RVOne 24-7 assistance rep told me to unplug the fridge from the converter and plug it into a wall outlet with an extension cord.....and run the generator while we drive. Service rep claims 'something' is not grounded properly and is draining batteries all the time...even when everything is off.

**16ACE27** · 02-09-2023, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LolliBus

we have a nightmare issue with batteries dying. Even when the service shop at the dealer (RVONE) put in all new batteries, they all went dead during a long weekend trip while we were connected to shore power.
RVOne replaced Inverter. Replaced Converter. Replaced house and coach batteries.
The only solution that seems to work is when RVOne 24-7 assistance rep told me to unplug the fridge from the converter and plug it into a wall outlet with an extension cord.....and run the generator while we drive. Service rep claims 'something' is not grounded properly and is draining batteries all the time...even when everything is off.

You mean unplug it from an inverter powered receptacle? You could have just left it there and ran the generator.

K. Meckes · 02-09-2023, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

The battery disconnect has no bearing on DC loads when plugged in to SP. The converter will power all those DC loads and the "computer screen", just like the old 4 LED battery status indicators, would give you a false "batteries fully charged" status.

So do you think it is the converter?

LolliBus · 02-19-2023, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

You mean unplug it from an inverter powered receptacle? You could have just left it there and ran the generator.

When we left the fridge plugged into the unit under the fridge cabinet (converter/inverter?), even with the generator running, the fridge was dead.

Bill Johnson · 02-19-2023, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LolliBus

When we left the fridge plugged into the unit under the fridge cabinet (converter/inverter?), even with the generator running, the fridge was dead.

I think you need to get some of those watt meters and find out how much power is being drawn out of you batteries. I think Amazon has many meters that can be installed on the battery cable that will show you the amount of power being used over a given time. I think the have a shunt for the battery cable. It might show the batteries are toast and need to be replaced

LolliBus · 08-01-2023, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Johnson

I think you need to get some of those watt meters and find out how much power is being drawn out of you batteries. I think Amazon has many meters that can be installed on the battery cable that will show you the amount of power being used over a given time. I think the have a shunt for the battery cable. It might show the batteries are toast and need to be replaced

All fixed. Amazing what a bad mechanic can do.
The fridge was not grounded. The batteries were not connected properly and were over heating. La Mesa service manager said we should have caught fire easily. Have new batteries. Fridge grounded. No issues.
La Mesa Fort Pierce, Florida fixed it all.
RVOne ala Blue Compass in Newtown, waste months of us not traveling and getting stuck when we did….and wasted time and money. Worst mechanic service ever experienced, car or rv.

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