2013 Thor Four winds new to us. Some problems already

[Chobuck]

Batteries fully charged but no lights when not on shore power. Switch for disconnect is in correct position. Also have not radio/backup camera. Screen is blank and unit will not come on. It's a Pioneer mode.

 

[ghnl]

Hello & welcome.

When you move the Use/Store (aka Disconnect) switch do you hear a relay click?

Near the coach battery there should be a 50 or 100 amp circuit breaker. You often have to look up somewhat to see it - they don't usually put it in a clearly obvious place. It'll be a small black box with a red or yellow 'handle'. When tripped the red (or yellow) handle will extend. See if that circuit breaker has tripped.

 

[16ACE27]

Batteries fully charged

Switch for disconnect is in correct position

How do you know that? Pictures help.
Lights and radio run off the same house DC buss.

Since it's new to you we have to assume you have no history on when it worked correctly last and what has been done since.

So we have to start with the basics:
Do you have a voltmeter and know how to use it?
Besides the 50 amp DC breaker mentioned above it could be as simple as a battery cable left off the house batteries.

 

[ducksface]

The question is elementary on a few levels.
Hire an rv mobile repair person to fix this and show you every aspect of your rv.
It'll be the best $300ish you'll ever spend on your rv.

 

[mdstudey]

Hi ya'll, wife to Chobuck here. So he crawled underneath the rig and did not find a circuit breaker. We do have a multi meter and know how to use it. I have tried tracing the switch wires and they go back behind the wall and towards the back. I can not find anywhere by giggling them to where they attach to the battery area. I assume they are going to the converter in the bedroom. There is no click when pushing the switch to neither position. There is no power from the battery to the switch. There is this solenoid looking thing that has a bunch of positive cables attached to it. I have been doing a lot of research and tgey say to trace the cables. So I am going to take a wag that this may be the culprit or the stupid switch is bad. Why they just didn't put in a regular disconnect switch is beyond me.

 

[16ACE27]

Hi ya'll, wife to Chobuck here. So he crawled underneath the rig and did not find a circuit breaker. We do have a multi meter and know how to use it. I have tried tracing the switch wires and they go back behind the wall and towards the back. I can not find anywhere by giggling them to where they attach to the battery area. I assume they are going to the converter in the bedroom. There is no click when pushing the switch to neither position. There is no power from the battery to the switch. There is this solenoid looking thing that has a bunch of positive cables attached to it. I have been doing a lot of research and tgey say to trace the cables. So I am going to take a wag that this may be the culprit or the stupid switch is bad. Why they just didn't put in a regular disconnect switch is beyond me.

Welcome wife to Chobuck (that can be said with either an Indian or a ConeHead alien accent)
The switch controls a latching disconnect relay normally located behind the power center.
Your first picture is simply a common distribution point from the positive side of the batteries. The voltage on it to chassis ground should be battery voltage,
Tracing the cables off it, one should go tp a 100 amp DC breaker for the generator start (and leveling system, if so equipped).
Another should go to a 50 amp DC breaker that goes to the latching relay, and then house DC buss.
One may also go towards the front of the RV to connect/disconnect the chassis battery buss for charging and emergency start.

I assume this is a Class C RV? With batteries under the steps? And the DC breakers usually well hidden in the battery well or under the RV in the hardest to find places.
Depending on the floor plan, the 50 amp DC breaker may be in an adjoining cabinet space.

 

[45Kevin]

Batteries fully charged but no lights when not on shore power. Switch for disconnect is in correct position. Also have not radio/backup camera. Screen is blank and unit will not come on. It's a Pioneer mode.

How do you know the batteries are fully charged?
Did you do a load test on them?
Checked their voltage?

I have a set of batteries that I could charge for week and they still wouldn't light a light bulb.

This being a full system failure the problem is most likely between the batteries and the 12V fuse panel.

 

[16ACE27]

How do you know the batteries are fully charged?
Did you do a load test on them?
Checked their voltage?

I have a set of batteries that I could charge for week and they still wouldn't light a light bulb.

This being a full system failure the problem is most likely between the batteries and the 12V fuse panel.

Maybe you'll have better luck with answers.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

Gotta agree about the latching relay... which seems to be an ongoing source of frustration. Many threads relating to it.

On my class C the battery was originally under the entry steps (I moved after lithium upgrade). 2AWG cable ran from the battery directly to a rotary disconnect just inside the door. From there about two feet to a frame rail mounted 50 amp breaker... then to a nearby single pole bus (splitter?) with one 2AWG cable running across to the generator breaker; then another 2AWG cable running nearly the length of the coach, through the rear floor and connecting directly to the DC fuse box.

With all the issues of latching relays, WHY is Thor using them in a seemingly unnecessary situation? Am I missing something? I will gladly change my mind if a real need (usually switching a higher voltage) can be explained! 12 volts powering the 12 volt side of the power center... why is a relay needed?

 

[Lt Keefer]

I think the latching relay is only there so a salesman can turn off all the lights at once.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

I think the latching relay is only there so a salesman can turn off all the lights at once.

A rotary switch will do exactly that... with a nearly zero failure rate.

 

[Lt Keefer]

Sure would.

 

[Chobuck]

Batteries fully charged but no lights when not on shore power. Switch for disconnect is in correct position. Also have not radio/backup camera. Screen is blank and unit will not come on. It's a Pioneer mode.

Well after days of searching the breaker was located. I searched almost every inch of the wiring both outside and underneath and inside of every cabinet I thought was hiding some wiring. I finally gave up and went to a RV service shop and had them look. I directed the tech to look under the counter shelf in the bathroom. It's the back side of the converter and fuse box. He took one look and said hey there's a breaker right there. He pressed the button and I flipped the disconnect switch. Boom lights on. I had looked at it 3 or 4 times and did not know that it was a breaker. So we're in business for the 12v part. Still no radio/backup camera. So on to that next. Thanks to everyone for all the help and advice. I appreciate it.

 

[16ACE27]

Well after days of searching the breaker was located. I searched almost every inch of the wiring both outside and underneath and inside of every cabinet I thought was hiding some wiring. I finally gave up and went to a RV service shop and had them look. I directed the tech to look under the counter shelf in the bathroom. It's the back side of the converter and fuse box. He took one look and said hey there's a breaker right there. He pressed the button and I flipped the disconnect switch. Boom lights on. I had looked at it 3 or 4 times and did not know that it was a breaker. So we're in business for the 12v part. Still no radio/backup camera. So on to that next. Thanks to everyone for all the help and advice. I appreciate it.

If we knew what model 2013 Four Winds you had that would be great info for the next guy looking for that breaker on the same RV.

 

[Chobuck]

If we knew what model 2013 Four Winds you had that would be great info for the next guy looking for that breaker on the same RV.

I would have thought that most models would use the same equipment. What we have is a 2013 Thor Four winds 28Z. The truck portion is registered as a 2014.

 

[16ACE27]

I would have thought that most models would use the same equipment. What we have is a 2013 Thor Four winds 28Z. The truck portion is registered as a 2014.

A lot of the same equipment? Mostly - that breaker is an exception.
And where that equipment is located is the big variable on different models. A 28Z is different than a 31W or a 22B.