RV Battery Charging

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

I have been reading THOR schematics and owners manuals for about a yr. now. I am connected to the RV electrical post at night, and would like to charge the batteries overnight.

I have been shutting off the RV DC pwr ON/OFF switch prior to locking the RV at night. Does this mean i am not charging the batteries? UGH!

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by txc2936@yahoo.com

I have been reading THOR schematics and owners manuals for about a yr. now. I am connected to the RV electrical post at night, and would like to charge the batteries overnight.

I have been shutting off the RV DC pwr ON/OFF switch prior to locking the RV at night. Does this mean i am not charging the batteries? UGH!

Correct, as documented dozens of times in this forum. That is a battery DISCONNECT switch whose sole purpose is to disconnect the house batteries from the DC buss when storing the RV when not plugged into SP so the loads on the DC buss do not deplete the house batteries. No connection to the DC buss means no connection to the converter/charger and no charging.

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

Thank you ACE. I made the assumption that since the interior lights work with the switch off and SP connected, the converter was charging the Battery, No worries, all cleared up.

And the 100W solar powered charger on roof. That charges whether the switch is ON or OFF?

BTW, Thor manuals are quite vague on this issue....

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by txc2936@yahoo.com

Thank you ACE. I made the assumption that since the interior lights work with the switch off and SP connected, the converter was charging the Battery, No worries, all cleared up.

And the 100W solar powered charger on roof. That charges whether the switch is ON or OFF?

BTW, Thor manuals are quite vague on this issue....

Yes, the solar should be wired directly to the house batteries.

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

I plugged the RV into the 110 Vac post, and took readings with the switch ON and then OFF (see below). Low and behold 13.6 Vdc when ON and 13.5 Vdc when OFF showing on the volt meter.

Thanks for help!

I searched back in 2016, a similar question.

[Chateau_Nomad]

A DC voltage of 13.6 indicates your batteries are fully charged. When you start your coach engine it should show over 14 volts.

If you keep that Ohio snow off of your solar panel, even with cloudy winter skies, your batteries should stay topped off. Just keep the disconnect switch OFF to prevent phantom drains on your batteries. No need to be connected to shore power.

[To Camp]

Originally Posted by txc2936@yahoo.com

I have been reading THOR schematics and owners manuals for about a yr. now. I am connected to the RV electrical post at night, and would like to charge the batteries overnight.

I have been shutting off the RV DC pwr ON/OFF switch prior to locking the RV at night. Does this mean i am not charging the batteries? UGH!

Worse yet, it's possible that there are still phantom loads on the batteries if they're disconnected via the switch.

In that case you're not only not charging them, they're slowly discharging.

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by txc2936@yahoo.com

I plugged the RV into the 110 Vac post, and took readings with the switch ON and then OFF (see below). Low and behold 13.6 Vdc when ON and 13.5 Vdc when OFF showing on the volt meter.

Thanks for help!

I searched back in 2016, a similar question.

Attachment 35880

My solar panel keeps the batteries charged all winter with the switch off also the chassis battery

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

Appreciate the assistance, I plugged in over night in these very cold temperatures, with DC switch on. On arrival this morning, the pwr panel showed FULL!

I would keep switch on all the time, but THOR recommends to shut if off when leaving the RV.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Why not just leave the switch "ON" all the time? I've been doing it that way for 3 years now...check fluid levels in batteries monthly and keep everything going. Constantly drawing batteries up and down will shorten their life.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by txc2936@yahoo.com

Appreciate the assistance, I plugged in over night in these very cold temperatures, with DC switch on. On arrival this morning, the pwr panel showed FULL!

I would keep switch on all the time, but THOR recommends to shut if off when leaving the RV.

Where did you get that? If you are boondocking and do that it shuts off your absorbtion fridge and water heater as well as many other things.

Leave it on at all times EXCEPT FOR:
Storing the RV when not connected to SP.

[Jimbo56]

Originally Posted by txc2936@yahoo.com

Appreciate the assistance, I plugged in over night in these very cold temperatures, with DC switch on. On arrival this morning, the pwr panel showed FULL!

I would keep switch on all the time, but THOR recommends to shut if off when leaving the RV.

“Thor recommends to shut it off when leaving”! What a ridiculous instruction. That was written by some guy in a dark room counting with an abacus that they don’t allow to interact with the public. Probably also says never to leave your AC running when leaving. The writer doesn’t RV. Disregard that. Leave the switch on use if you’re plugged into shore power. Your converter will go into float mode when batteries are fully charged.

[Chateau_Nomad]

There are many YouTube videos of sales staff "reviewing" RVs. One in particular doesn't like the tilt-view bed. ??? ...which can be laid flat OR with head raised. Telling is that this particular reviewer is under 40...

There are MANY more examples. My conclusion is many/most of these "reviewers" have NEVER spent more than a couple nights in an RV... if at all! The sad part is that potential RV purchasers are taking this advice as if it was from an experienced viewpoint.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

There are many YouTube videos of sales staff "reviewing" RVs. One in particular doesn't like the tilt-view bed. ??? ...which can be laid flat OR with head raised. Telling is that this particular reviewer is under 40...

There are MANY more examples. My conclusion is many/most of these "reviewers" have NEVER spent more than a couple nights in an RV... if at all! The sad part is that potential RV purchasers are taking this advice as if it was from an experienced viewpoint.

Did you post this in the right thread? I don't see the relevance.