New to Thor

[TinyRebel]

Hi all. I'm new to Thor and have a 2025 Sanctuary 19a. Looking forward to getting some tips from others - and learning more about adding another lithium battery. The van has the 460Ah Mastervolt battery and Combimaster inverter/charger.

Thanks!

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by TinyRebel

Hi all. I'm new to Thor and have a 2025 Sanctuary 19a. Looking forward to getting some tips from others - and learning more about adding another lithium battery. The van has the 460Ah Mastervolt battery and Combimaster inverter/charger.

Thanks!

Welcome to the group!!

Is your battery underneath? I'd move it up inside asap- bad place for batteries and electrics as my 2022 Tellaro 20L was- now all up inside, and upgraded to 600Ah LFP battery system.
If you are looking to add batteries- see if you can get the same battery or batteries to add- you have about 1 year to add to existing as a general rule, and should use the same mfr and type and amps. If not- look into a new setup with more amps (hence more watts, VxA=W)

I replaced my ReLions with two 300A Weize batteries and landed them under the pass. bed which stored the tables that I tossed and replaced with self-storing Lagun tables.

Show us a pic of your battery setup as well. 19a is very similar to the 20L, so lots you can do. PM me if you want more info on my battery move/upgrade.

[TinyRebel]

Mark54, thank you! My battery is inside and under the passenger side bed. I believe at least one person has added another MV460a - well, ABC did it for them, in a small cubby adjacent to the existing battery. Since the MVs are so expensive, I'm thinking about changing to a less expensive version and selling the existing MV. Yes, I'd be interested in seeing what you did. Thanks!

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by TinyRebel

Mark54, thank you! My battery is inside and under the passenger side bed. I believe at least one person has added another MV460a - well, ABC did it for them, in a small cubby adjacent to the existing battery. Since the MVs are so expensive, I'm thinking about changing to a less expensive version and selling the existing MV. Yes, I'd be interested in seeing what you did. Thanks!

Sending PM with email address. So with two 460A batteries, you have 920Ah or 12x960= 11,520Wh of power. (11.52kWh) which more than my 7.2kWh with the 600A setup I have. (assuming they combined them)
If you change out the roof AC to a 12V one, then you can boondock a lot longer!! I did that too- can send details when you send me an email.

Was yours previously owned? Or did Thor wake up and finally overcome their case of encephalorectalitis (head up their ass)???
I sent them a memo about how bad they assembled mine- no answer- big surprise...

[TinyRebel]

Mark54, thank you. It is new to me and came with battery inside. So, I guess they did finally figure that out.
I will send you an email for the info. I might be able to get away with a set up similar to yours. I need to plan for about 8 hours of AC use since many places I go don’t allow generators nor do they have shore power.

[DavidEM]

Originally Posted by TinyRebel

Mark54, thank you. It is new to me and came with battery inside. So, I guess they did finally figure that out.
I will send you an email for the info. I might be able to get away with a set up similar to yours. I need to plan for about 8 hours of AC use since many places I go don’t allow generators nor do they have shore power.

So after running your A/C for eight hours overnight and running the batteries down, how do you recharge the batteries for the second night?

FWIW, now that we have high capacity, low cost batteries, we need a way to recharge them cheaply and efficiently and with minimal noise. Fuel cells could do it, but not so cheap and efficient as of now.

David

[TinyRebel]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

So after running your A/C for eight hours overnight and running the batteries down, how do you recharge the batteries for the second night?

FWIW, now that we have high capacity, low cost batteries, we need a way to recharge them cheaply and efficiently and with minimal noise. Fuel cells could do it, but not so cheap and efficient as of now.

David

Hi David. For now, I need AC during the day for dog events that I attend where we aren't allowed to use gas generators or even run our cars/vans for AC. For camping off grid, I would probably go with a gas generator if that becomes necessary.

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

So after running your A/C for eight hours overnight and running the batteries down, how do you recharge the batteries for the second night?

FWIW, now that we have high capacity, low cost batteries, we need a way to recharge them cheaply and efficiently and with minimal noise. Fuel cells could do it, but not so cheap and efficient as of now.

David

My 12V Mabru AC is 400W, (low-cool) so I can run for 18 hrs on my 7200Wh system. I usually only need 8 hrs, and then drive (or idle with the UHG) or 400W solar tops the batteries off for next night. I figure I can boondock 5-7 days depending on AC needs.
There are less expensive 12V AC units, but the Mabru was highly recommended by the local custom van place that I had install mine.

No gas generator for me.

[Mark54]

Haven't seen email yet- but see my response above. My Quebec buddy just got the $900 (vs $2300 Mabru) unit for his 20A Tellaro, and looks promising. Not as well built as the Mabru, but nice and small (short too). Lots like this one- which seem to be made in the same factory in Unowhere, like all that look like this one.
8200Btu, which should be enough for your rig.
Can't beat the price- also need a 14x14 one-piece gasket instead of what they supply in the kit.
Remote is nice too. I have one for my Mabru, and great to have while driving. No more BMPro to fire up and control AC from that.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9NM5BS1...9kZXRhaWw&th=1

[TinyRebel]

Do you know what brand/model he bought? I will search for an 8200 but system. And, sounds like your battery system would be plenty for me, too. I have to look into whether or not I can just delete the existing MV battery and replace it with two of a different kind and higher Ah. I'll email again - sent yesterday.
Thank you!

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by TinyRebel

Do you know what brand/model he bought? I will search for an 8200 but system. And, sounds like your battery system would be plenty for me, too. I have to look into whether or not I can just delete the existing MV battery and replace it with two of a different kind and higher Ah. I'll email again - sent yesterday.
Thank you!

He got the same unit I linked to Amazon (above), under $800- on sale for $699. Has heat too, but heat generally not very zesty- but I have no experience with that. Super easy install. Note that the AC only costs more than the AC w/heat one!!

I had a Dometic 120VAC unit with heat on my Rialta, and was pretty useless as a heater.
I'll send another message w/email- might have gotten wrong- not found anywhere, junk or otherwise.
I sold my two RB100LT batteries (ReLIon) and got two Weize 300A ones. About $1800 for the two at that time- 2 yrs ago.
No need for heated batteries any more since they are inside now. I can just run the Truma if I need to.

(PM just sent w/ email repeated)

[ducksface]

Mark i saved your link to that 12v unit.
I've been meaning for months now to ask you about it.
I'll probably buy and install two of them (because I can) if we ever decide we need such. Need and want are often confused in my rv things...so...

So...
A question:
Do they rate differently if set for 24v than for 12v?
Like, more btu or less something beneficial?

It won't bother me to put in one 24v circuit if there is any measurable real world benefit..

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by ducksface

Mark i saved your link to that 12v unit.
I've been meaning for months now to ask you about it.
I'll probably buy and install two of them (because I can) if we ever decide we need such. Need and want are often confused in my rv things...so...

So...
A question:
Do they rate differently if set for 24v than for 12v?
Like, more btu or less something beneficial?

It won't bother me to put in one 24v circuit if there is any measurable real world benefit..

I noticed the 24V unit was less Btu's than the 12V unit, oddly enough.
I think it was 8200Btu for 12V and 7900Btu for 24V.
So I say stick with 12V.

I helped my Quebec friend put it on his roof, and was only 50#. SO much easier to handle.
Lots quieter (40dB) and lower amps/watts too.

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by TinyRebel

Do you know what brand/model he bought? I will search for an 8200 but system. And, sounds like your battery system would be plenty for me, too. I have to look into whether or not I can just delete the existing MV battery and replace it with two of a different kind and higher Ah. I'll email again - sent yesterday.
Thank you!

Also price out another MV 460A battery, and see if it makes sense.
I would put as much as you can in there- if your usage doesn't change, then wire gauges can stay the same.
12V AC's have a built-in inline fuse as well.

[ducksface]

Thanks.
I'm stopping short of ordering your ac unit until my mod box, 4'x3'x5', is empty of its current holdings (or at least until the lid closes correctly)

[TinyRebel]

Mark54, what kind of AC did you have originally? And how much additional mod was needed to your roof with the new one? Any gaping holes or was a larger hole required?

I saw those on Amazon and at Outeqquippro- seems they have good customer support and lots of folks are happy with the unit.

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by TinyRebel

Mark54, what kind of AC did you have originally? And how much additional mod was needed to your roof with the new one? Any gaping holes or was a larger hole required?

I saw those on Amazon and at Outeqquippro- seems they have good customer support and lots of folks are happy with the unit.

I had an 11kBtu Mach 1, 1100 watts, and 70+Db. It weighed about 100#+/- and my Mabru was about 70#, so less weight, 12kBtu, and 40dB.
The bigger benefit was that it's about 5.9" tall instead of 12+".
Same size hole for both 12V units I mentioned. 14"x14" works fine. Once piece gasket is recommended for either one, 14x14.

The installer had to add a cherry trim to hide the brackets, but the $700 one has a better design for the ceiling cover- hides the bracket nicely. Less Btus than the Mabru.. but a class B, esp a short one, like yours, doesn't need a lot of Btus.
Mine: https://www.vanlifeoutfitters.com/st...r-conditioner/

[ducksface]

Originally Posted by Mark54

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9NM5BS1...9kZXRhaWw&th=1

$619 today.
Hard to say no to this unit.