Trickle charge

[petefoss]

Got to be cost. Personally I'd prefer if the chassis battery did charge from shore power.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by petefoss

Got to be cost. Personally I'd prefer if the chassis battery did charge from shore power.

Have you verified it doesn't? With a voltmeter? Wouldn't be the first time Thor provided incorrect information. Why would it be bi-directional in a Class A but not a Class C? The BIM or BIRD is certainly capable of bi-directional charging.

[Oneilkeys]

Roger. I’d check and make sure. I don’t understand how the chassis and house batteries disconnect when the engine is off. The BIRD and Trombetta do that in the Axis. They have to disconnect somehow or the chassis battery will run down with the use of the house batteries.

[petefoss]

Seems silly to me too, but I believe it's what I have. Coach batteries are sitting at 13.7 while on shore power for a week or so while the chassis has dropped to 12.54 over that same week. Before plugging in we had a 2 hour drive and the coach inverter display was showing 14+ while underway.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Oneilkeys

Roger. I’d check and make sure. I don’t understand how the chassis and house batteries disconnect when the engine is off. The BIRD and Trombetta do that in the Axis. They have to disconnect somehow or the chassis battery will run down with the use of the house batteries.

They use either a BIRD or a BIM (Battery Isolation Module).

[Oneilkeys]

Originally Posted by petefoss

Seems silly to me too, but I believe it's what I have. Coach batteries are sitting at 13.7 while on shore power for a week or so while the chassis has dropped to 12.54 over that same week. Before plugging in we had a 2 hour drive and the coach inverter display was showing 14+ while underway.

Your coach batteries should not be sitting at 13.7v after a week. If you have a smart charger (as you should) it will drop the charge down to around 13.1v to maintain the batteries indefinitely (if it is working correctly). 13.7v will ruin your batteries and you will have to replace them.

[Oneilkeys]

Originally Posted by Tfryman

They use either a BIRD or a BIM (Battery Isolation Module).

Some Vegas/Axis have a BCC (Battery Control Center) instead of a BIRD/Trombetta or BIM.

[Oneilkeys]

Originally Posted by petefoss

Seems silly to me too, but I believe it's what I have. Coach batteries are sitting at 13.7 while on shore power for a week or so while the chassis has dropped to 12.54 over that same week. Before plugging in we had a 2 hour drive and the coach inverter display was showing 14+ while underway.

Please read the “Windsport 34E coach battery exploded” thread. Best guess is that he had a bad converter/charger that boiled his battery and led to an explosion. If your’s is charging at 13.7v, I would not leave it permanently plugged in and I would check your electrolyte levels to make sure you don’t need to add water.

[Ragman]

Originally Posted by Tfryman

Well since the question was asked by someone with a Class A (Hurricane 32N) the answer is true for him. It's also true for most Class Cs except those on the Mercedes Sprinter Chassis - Mercedes doesn't allow their 12 VDC to work and play well with other 12 VDC systems.

Thank everyone for great comments!

My motorhome is indeed a 32N. It has been on Shore Power, for over a week, with the Use/Store switch on Use. The house battery is at 13.18 volts.

Although 13.18 is a little high for just maintaince(sp), I think it is OK to leave it, as is, while storing, but check battery water every month.

or

Toggle the switch to Store and use a BatteryTender on the house batteries and one on the engine battery for prolonged storage.

Jeesh…………..

Ragman