2018 Freedom Elite 24FE missing isolation solenoid?

gafenwick · 07-11-2021, 02:59 PM

I've been trying to find my isolation solenoid, as it is either missing or not working. Thor has told me three different places to look: under the hood (NOT), under the passenger seat (NOT), and possibly under the driver seat (NOT). I am electrically 'smart', and know what it looks like, and how it works (or is supposed to work). Can anyone with a similar Freedom Elite (or similar) tell me where it is? I know that MB does not allow chassis battery charging from the house system, and that's fine, but I'd like to be charging the house battery when driving down the highway! I have the (mostly useless) system diagrams. I have voltmeters on both the chassis battery and house battery, so I can see what is happening. My suspicion is that it was never installed.

Beau388 · 07-11-2021, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gafenwick

I've been trying to find my isolation solenoid, as it is either missing or not working. Thor has told me three different places to look: under the hood (NOT), under the passenger seat (NOT), and possibly under the driver seat (NOT). I am electrically 'smart', and know what it looks like, and how it works (or is supposed to work). Can anyone with a similar Freedom Elite (or similar) tell me where it is? I know that MB does not allow chassis battery charging from the house system, and that's fine, but I'd like to be charging the house battery when driving down the highway! I have the (mostly useless) system diagrams. I have voltmeters on both the chassis battery and house battery, so I can see what is happening. My suspicion is that it was never installed.

I suspect you have a BIM and not a BIRD with relay.

gafenwick · 07-11-2021, 03:18 PM

Haven't found a BIM, either!

Brad2018 · 07-11-2021, 11:47 PM

If it's like mine... it is located under the rear dinette seat. less than a foot from the breaker panel. We don't have the same model but doubt Thor would change the location.

gafenwick · 07-14-2021, 03:06 PM

Not under the dinette seat and the panel is not close to the dinette seat. Still can't find the solenoid! Assuming it is powered on when the ignition is on, there should be a fuse for the control side of the solenoid. I can't find it, either!

DavidEM · 07-14-2021, 03:38 PM

I agree you probably have the BIM 160. Thor started installing them in coaches built in the high teens. Mine is inside the compartment underneath the driver's side on a 2-21 Axis.

I have never heard that Mercedes does not allow chassis charging from external sources, but the BIM 160 does not prevent that.

David

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