Engine Battery

[GAM-THOR]

I have a 2016 Thor Chateau 26A. When plugged into Shore Power does the converter charge & maintain the engine battery?

 

[GrandRover]

I have a 2016 Thor Chateau 26A. When plugged into Shore Power does the converter charge the engine battery?

I don't know about your RV but my 2023 Thor Axis 24.1 charges all the batteries when on shore power. I am pretty sure that is how the converter works on all.

 

[16ACE27]

I have a 2016 Thor Chateau 26A. When plugged into Shore Power does the converter charge & maintain the engine battery?

Maybe.

On a Ford or Chevy chassis? Probably
On a Sprinter chassis? No

Create an account at the Thor Owners Resource Website with your VIN to access all documentation for your RV.

 

[rudyhehn]

I'm not sure on your rig, but on my Palazzo the chassis and house batteries both charge when I am plugged into shore power. You can check it yourself with a voltmeter. First check the chassis battery voltage when you are not plugged in. It should be around 12.5. Then plug into shore power, wait 5 minutes because there may be a delay on the charging cycle, and then recheck your chassis battery voltage. If you are charging it should be around 13.

 

[2Uncorked]

16Ace27 is correct for Sprinter

 

[willis-THOR]

We have a 2018 Quantum WS 31 and the engine battery does NOT charge on shore power. Hope this helps.

 

[2whlzstan]

We have a Thor Chateau 27R and the chassis battery does NOT charge on shore power. I run a trickle charger to the chassis battery during extended stays.

 

[16ACE27]

We have a 2018 Quantum WS 31 and the engine battery does NOT charge on shore power. Hope this helps.

We have a Thor Chateau 27R and the chassis battery does NOT charge on shore power. I run a trickle charger to the chassis battery during extended stays.

Does the house battery charge from the alternator?

 

[willis-THOR]

Yes it does.

 

[dkoldman]

Yes it does.

FWIW, even if House battery charges from Alternator, it depends on the design of the system if the Converter will charge the Chassis battery when plugged in and on SP. Mine does not, I have a Ford F-53 and SOB (WBGO 29ve)

Even so, I have NEVER had an issue with Chassis battery being low. I can go months. Technically everyone should as long as they have a good battery. The real issue is parasitic draw. Some RVs are designed with 0 draw like mine thus I would view a charge on my Chassis battery with SP as more dangerous. If for some extreme rare scenario and my Chassis battery was actually down, I could simply engage my Emergency start from House Batteries that are with 100% SOC if on SP.

For same reason above, it is one point why all don't need Solar or Trickle charges. I have no solar. I would only need solar if I had no SP and planned to go several weeks or months away from any kind of power sources.

 

[willis-THOR]

On our Quantum the chassis battery has quite a draw off of it. The radio, rear camera and others draw off it even with the key off so you have to watch it. I know that Thor wires all coaches different so it all depends. On ours the refrigerator and the two inside tvs run off the inverter with no breaker on them. You can turn all breakers off and unplug and they are still hot and working. So be sure to check everything before working on it.

 

[dkoldman]

On our Quantum the chassis battery has quite a draw off of it. The radio, rear camera and others draw off it even with the key off so you have to watch it. I know that Thor wires all coaches different so it all depends. On ours the refrigerator and the two inside tvs run off the inverter with no breaker on them. You can turn all breakers off and unplug and they are still hot and working. So be sure to check everything before working on it.

I have a switch to turn my radio on without the key, but when off and no key or accessory the only draw is memory settings which basically is no draw. I would have the wiring rechecked if my camera had power with key off. Did you buy new or did someone else wire?

Similar goes for the inverter. If it is OEM and includes the Fridge you would think that would not pass RVIA guidelines? Unless you have a DC fridge, one would think you run off SP with no inverter needed? And if so, that breaker should have been installed. In my case, I have a pass through, so if I do have Inverter On, it will use SP any way if it is plugged in. I have one breaker that controls everything that can be additionally powered by the Inverter. It is 15 amps. It one reason why I sized my new inverter to be 2200 watts, from OEM of 1000 watts. I am never gonna need to run more than 15 amps off my batteries. I can run Microwave & Fridge at the same time plus TVs and lights with about 11amps

 

[willis-THOR]

Bought it new. Thor support said some were wired straight through so no breakers. Found out when inverter went bad week before we were leaving so bypassed it till we get back home then will have to replace it. Support said we were lucky it lasted that long. They no longer use that brand Eaton.