BMPro (battery?) seems to be failing

[DavidEM]

My 2021 Thor Axis was winterized and put away for the winter in early October. At that time the BMPro was working fine. For the prior two winters the BMPro would take 5-10 minutes to power up and come on after the winter storage but after that it worked fine during the season.

This time when I went down to the storage yard to excercise the generator after sitting for a couple of months the BMPro didn’t come on after I turned on the DC. I wasn’t too concerned and after ten minutes the BMPro logo flashed on for about ten seconds and then off for 30 seconds. It kept doing this for the next 20 minutes until I shut off DC power.

So, is this a sign of a failing internal battery. I bought a replacement battery a few years ago but didn’t install it then, so I have it and can deal with the delicate soldering.

David

 

[DavidEM]

One other point. I removed the BMPro from its mounting and it looks nothing like Mark’s pictures he posted a year or so. There is a circuit board about 3” tall along the bottom that houses all of the hard switches: ret, ext, etc. Above that looks like a simple Android tablet. The battery is not immmediately obvious. Sorry I should have taken some pics.

David

 

[MCP-THOR]

One other point. I removed the BMPro from its mounting and it looks nothing like Mark’s pictures he posted a year or so. There is a circuit board about 3” tall along the bottom that houses all of the hard switches: ret, ext, etc. Above that looks like a simple Android tablet. The battery is not immmediately obvious. Sorry I should have taken some pics.

David

Battery is in the android tablet. I just replaced the battery a few weeks ago. Mine was acting up and as I recall not waking from sleep mode. Sorry, don’t have any pics handy.

 

[GrandRover]

Battery is in the android tablet. I just replaced the battery a few weeks ago. Mine was acting up and as I recall not waking from sleep mode. Sorry, don’t have any pics handy.

FWIW, BMPRO no longer makes the model with the battery so if you ever need to replace your BMPRO you will get their newest model that has no battery.

My BMPRO was recently replaced under warranty and the new model was what I received. BMPRO gad already told me via phone that they no longer make the model with the battery.

In any case see attached manuals that might be helpful.

 

[GrandRover]

One more attachment. It is on the control panel itself.

BMPRO phone number is 574-322-4934

 

[MCP-THOR]

FWIW, BMPRO no longer makes the model with the battery so if you ever need to replace your BMPRO you will get their newest model that has no battery.

My BMPRO was recently replaced under warranty and the new model was what I received. BMPRO gad already told me via phone that they no longer make the model with the battery.

In any case see attached manuals that might be helpful.

I’m confused (not unusual). When you say the newest model “has no battery” do you mean no battery other than the one in the android tablet? I believe the battery replacement attachment you provided was on the previous model which did not (I believe) use a standard 7” android tablet, as they now do. Unless of course they have an even newer model, but in looking at their website the displays look the same as my 2 year old model with the inserted android.

 

[GrandRover]

I’m confused (not unusual). When you say the newest model “has no battery” do you mean no battery other than the one in the android tablet? I believe the battery replacement attachment you provided was on the previous model which did not (I believe) use a standard 7” android tablet, as they now do. Unless of course they have an even newer model, but in looking at their website the displays look the same as my 2 year old model with the inserted android.

I meant that there is no longer a battery in the tablet. The old model is 101 and the new model with no battery is 201. The link below does not say no battery in the model 201 but that is the case, at least for Thor coaches.

https://teambmpro.com/products/spareparts-bmproconnect-controller/

The following link refers to Jayco owners but, to my knowledge, it applies to Thor as well.

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f34/new-no-battery-jaycommand-bmpro-106758.html

 

[Mark54]

One other point. I removed the BMPro from its mounting and it looks nothing like Mark’s pictures he posted a year or so. There is a circuit board about 3” tall along the bottom that houses all of the hard switches: ret, ext, etc. Above that looks like a simple Android tablet. The battery is not immmediately obvious. Sorry I should have taken some pics.

David

Need some pics- my tablet was in a housing along with the PC board and ribbon cable- needs to be separated and then pretend to be a hungry otter and pry the tablet case apart, starting at the bottom. Once apart, there should be a battery inside. If not- they have changed many things since 2022...
See page 3 of the pdf attached.

 

[MCP-THOR]

I meant that there is no longer a battery in the tablet. The old model is 101 and the new model with no battery is 201. The link below does not say no battery in the model 201 but that is the case, at least for Thor coaches.

https://teambmpro.com/products/spareparts-bmproconnect-controller/

The following link refers to Jayco owners but, to my knowledge, it applies to Thor as well.

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f34/new-no-battery-jaycommand-bmpro-106758.html

Interesting! Thanks. Mine indeed is the 101B model. I wonder if the newer one is a modified android (minus battery) and they somehow jump from the usb input directly to the android circuitry. Maybe some additional electronics beyond my comprehension.

Thanks again.

 

[DavidEM]

I get it now. I did not realize that Mark was actually splitting the enclosed tablet. Mine looks the same, so I will try replacing the battery next time I go down to the storage area to excercise the generator.

David

 

[Mark54]

I get it now. I did not realize that Mark was actually splitting the enclosed tablet. Mine looks the same, so I will try replacing the battery next time I go down to the storage area to excercise the generator.

David

Do like you otter... keep the tablet indoors if you are not storing in a heated space.

 

[blingo]

Bmpro

Great info from everyone. I have same problem. Just finished charging, had to remove, for 12-15 hours. Plugged back in without attaching. Worked ok. Keeping it inside until we head south after holidays. Used phone charger.

 

[Robert H.]

BM PRo

I had a similar experience and replaced the internal battery.
The company was no help.

When the battery ran down the USB power supply in the mount could not bring it back.

I found that keeping power on all the time prevented the tablet battery from discharging.

Good luck

 

[Kvrgvr]

Thanks to Mark

Do like you otter... keep the tablet indoors if you are not storing in a heated space.

Best support ever. Thanks to Mark's help, I did mine this summer.
The new ones are powered by the motorhome power, so they don't need to replace batteries and only work when MH is powered up.
Lithium batteries don't charge in freezing situations. Thanks to Mark, mine is now in the house and I plug it in once a month to charge back to 100%. Then it goes back in my warm house.
So...listen to Mark, and good luck everyone.
GvR

 

[Mark54]

Best support ever. Thanks to Mark's help, I did mine this summer.
The new ones are powered by the motorhome power, so they don't need to replace batteries and only work when MH is powered up.
Lithium batteries don't charge in freezing situations. Thanks to Mark, mine is now in the house and I plug it in once a month to charge back to 100%. Then it goes back in my warm house.
So...listen to Mark, and good luck everyone.
GvR

You're very kind- thanks!!
I did do one more thing to mine tho- cut away the case so could plug in my old phone charger (or any with that fitting) to cycle once every 3 months on my desk.
I used an Xacto razor saw, and CAREFULLY made two vertical cuts, and then scored the long edge at the 'front' of the case between the cuts and flexed the piece until it broke off- smoothed the cut edges with a small file (fingernail files/ sanders, aka emory boards also work) and now don't have to use the RV source or have to remove the tablet from the case to charge!
Pic shows PC board connector removed and proper fitting charge cable to attach. I must have every phone charger ever made in my home... Might also be a charge cord for my back up battery pack too...

 

[Kvrgvr]

You're very kind- thanks!!
I did do one more thing to mine tho- cut away the case so could plug in my old phone charger (or any with that fitting) to cycle once every 3 months on my desk.
I used an Xacto razor saw, and CAREFULLY made two vertical cuts, and then scored the long edge at the 'front' of the case between the cuts and flexed the piece until it broke off- smoothed the cut edges with a small file (fingernail files/ sanders, aka emory boards also work) and now don't have to use the RV source or have to remove the tablet from the case to charge!
Pic shows PC board connector removed and proper fitting charge cable to attach. I must have every phone charger ever made in my home... Might also be a charge cord for my back up battery pack too...

I considered doing something like that but was afraid I couldn't make it look nice. So I opted out. Our MH stays hear at home so I can just walk out, plug it in and get it back in a couple of hours.

I tried to explain your battery change with your pictures on a forum my wife follows. The guy never answered back so I don't know if I helped him. He was complaining about the price through Thor. Hope I helped. Thanks again.
GvR

 

[Mark54]

I considered doing something like that but was afraid I couldn't make it look nice. So I opted out. Our MH stays hear at home so I can just walk out, plug it in and get it back in a couple of hours.

I tried to explain your battery change with your pictures on a forum my wife follows. The guy never answered back so I don't know if I helped him. He was complaining about the price through Thor. Hope I helped. Thanks again.
GvR

Battery is about $10-20, BMPro from dealer is $800. I can send a pdf to him if you like-

 

[Kvrgvr]

Can't drag a horse.

Battery is about $10-20, BMPro from dealer is $800. I can send a pdf to him if you like-

Thanks but no need.
Conversations are like a game of catch. If they don't toss the ball back, the game is over. He quite playing.
Not everyone is polite. "I" appreciate all help. Even if I know most it already. Always looking for that last puzzle piece.
Thanks Mark
GvR

 

[DavidEM]

I replaced the battery and it works fine now. Some tips:

I spoke with BMPro tech support first, but they will not comment on any battery replacement issues other than to say they got a bad batch of batteries during Covid and since my Thor Axis was built during that period, that could be the problem. They did say they could sell me a new controller, plug and play, with no battery required for $315.

So with that in hand I decided to tear into it, what did I have to lose and I already had a new battery in hand. FWIW it read about 4 V and the old battery read 3.5. I have a very imprecise meter, but the 0.5V difference is significant. It means the old battery was dead or nearly so.

So I pried the controller off of the wall and disconnected the 4 or is it 6 pin connector. I then unscrewed 2 screws and pulled the circuit board off. In the process I disconnected a multi pin ribbon cable due to my ham handedness. More about that later.

I then was able to pop out the tablet. At first it looked like there was no seam at the edges to pry apart. But with a devil may care attitude I forced a knife point into the plastic and it popped apart a little. I then kept pushing and prying until it separated. Finally it looked like Mark’s pics with the flat battery looking up at me.

The battery was held in place with a layer of stiff caulk. So with the devil may care attitude I started slicing and prying. Again I was ham handed but finally got it off but with s some heavy scratches on the back of the display. Turns out the display wasn’t harmed.

Unsoldering the old battery and soldering the new one was easy, but it does take a fine tipped soldering iron.

I then reassembled it. The ribbon connector was tricky. You have to fit the ribbon just right, then fold down a tiny snap in piece to hold it in place. The final step was to attach the 4/6 pin connector and snap the whole thing into the wall.

It immediately powered up and after a minute to boot up it showed the tank level display. Everything seemed to work including the buttons and arrows at the bottom.

Hurray!!!

If I can get another 4 years of useful life out of this battery I will be very happy.

David