2005 Hurricane 30Q Electrical Distribution

[Duke 48]

We bought our RV from an individual who didn't have an owners manual. No problem, I'll find it online.... NOT

Usually we are able to glean enough information from manuals of similar models that routine maintenance is not a problem, but now, something seems to be draining our chassis battery, and trying to troubleshoot without adequate information is adding to the challenge.

We have a 2005 Hurricane, powered by a Ford V-10 gas engine, and mounted on a Ford F-53 truck chassis. I'm probably dreaming, but I would like to find a shop manual, or at least an electrical distribution schematic to aid in the troubleshooting.

Any information you may care to share will be greatly appreciated.

Currently, the only diagnostic information I can pass along is:
- The chassis battery is new, less than a month old.
- The battery will accept and hold a charge when totally disconnected from the circuit.

One of the questions I have is whether or not the chassis battery should be seeing a trickle charge when connected to showerpower?

Again, Thanks for Any Help.
Duke

[JamieGeek]

Have you contacted Thor at all to see if you are able to get some electrical diagrams? It is worth a shot.

[Duke 48]

I have gone to the Thor web site, after entering the VID, the response is no information available. I also contacted a Thor dealer and was told even they don't have a shop manual.
My next effort will be to try and contact Thor's customer service by phone; I'm predicting they will probably use the same web site to enter my VID with the same results. Hopefully, I'm wrong on this.

[JamieGeek]

Did you ask for a shop manual or build diagrams? Granted they may not have much available for a unit over 10 years old but it is worth a try.

For the newer ones people have been able to request the build diagrams (electric, plumbing, walls, etc.). I have a set for my Axis.

[Duke 48]

Thanks for the suggestion. Definitely worth a try.

[Tom N3EQF]

Hi Duke,

I looked at the Thor documentation archive page and didn't find a 2005 Hurricane user manual, but there is a 2007 manual there. Not sure if those model years are even close, but it doesn't hurt to look. Here is the link:

https://thormotorcoach.com/document-...23&model_year=

[tenbear]

Originally Posted by Duke 48

One of the questions I have is whether or not the chassis battery should be seeing a trickle charge when connected to howerpower?Duke

My 2005 Four Winds Class C has a solenoid that is used to charge the house battery by connecting it to the chassis battery when the ignition switch is turned on. Presumably the engine is running then. There is nothing to charge the chassis battery when connected to campground power.

I installed a trickle charger to charge the chassis battery.

[Duke 48]

The RV is parked next to the house and is attended almost daily for maintenance and projects. Typically, I extend and retract the RV's steps - that are connected to the chassis 12 volt circuit - as needed to keep the steps clear of any additional vehicle movement in the driveway. So, if there isn't a trickle charger feeding the chassis battery when on shore power, it is probably me that is draining the battery.

During warm weather, we constantly run two to three fans using the coach 12 volt circuit. Never having an issue with the house batteries I ASSUMED there is a trickle charger for those batteries and further expected the same charger would be maintaining the chassis battery.

[tenbear]

If you are plugged in to 120VAC power your converter keeps your house battery charged. In my rig, it does not keep the Chassis battery charged.

I don't have electric steps but I recall reading that electric steps are run off the chassis battery. However, that may have been in a newer RV where the converter also keeps the chassis battery charged.

Edit: recorrected, Sorry.

[Hudsoner]

my converter will not charge my chassis battery either. I have an extra trickle charger for this one.

[Duke 48]

Looks like I'll be adding an auxiliary chassis battery charging circuit to my list of projects.
Any suggestions?

[tenbear]

I just googled "rv chassis battery charger" and found several suggestions for keeping your chassis battery charged.

It will depend on your knowledge and skill at doing electrical work. It could be as simple as connecting a trickle charger to the chassis battery when connected to power or building some control circuit for connecting a trickle charger to the battery when the ignition is off and the RV is plugged in.

Some newer RVs come with a sensor that automatically connects the chassis battery to the house battery when the house battery is at a higher voltage than the chassis battery. I believe these are available to be installed in older RVs. I don't know much about them.

[Duke 48]

We are pretty much parked until spring, so for a temporary solution to keeping the chassis battery charged I brought the brought the chassis battery to full charge and reconnected it to the circuit, then jumpered it to the house bank. There shouldn't be any problem with the coach converter maintaining the three batteries.

This is not a fix, just a means to keep from damaging the chassis battery until a permanent solution can be installed.

[Duke 48]

Technically, installing a control circuit won't be a problem; it's the physical contortions frequently needed that now give me the biggest challenge.

[ZipBella]

I also just purchased a Thor /Four Winds Motorhome. I also contacted Thor and here is what they told me! Thor purchased Four Winds in 2008 and did not get any info on the older motorhomes... We're stuck!

To help you with your problem when I'm hooked up to shore power I need to disconnect the battery using the switch above the door. So to keep the motor battery from going dead, I just turn it off. I have had numerous people tell me they have no idea of why it drains and isn't charged with the coach converter!

Now to my problem, I also need a build diagram as I want to install a Tornado black water cleaner on the back side of the tank! I looked and I think I know which one it is but don't want to start drilling!!

Need those manuals

[ZipBella]

Link didn't work for me!