Newbie Shore power question

[Srmva]

Guys, I have a new Hurricane and reading through the manual it says to turn off main CB at the power center, connect shore power then turn on main CB.
Each time?
My Problem with that is the location Thor put the Power Center on my 34A is at the foot of the bed which will require me to crawl on the floor to access it.

 

[ghnl]

I never do that with our 2015 ACE. Or with our prior MH - 2004 Chateau (class C). But that was then so I don't know if Thor changed things since then.

Does your rig have an easy to access 'Use/Store' switch? Would that be sufficient in that it disconnects the house batteries?

 

[DavidEM]

The reason it is recommended to do it that way is to not make or break high current devices such as the A/C by plugging or unplugging.

But you don’t have to turn it off at the power center. There is usually a breaker at the shorepower outlet. Turning it off before you plug or unplug accomplishes the same thing.

David

 

[ghnl]

That makes sense. I always turn off everything in the motorhome except for a few lights when connecting to shore power.

 

[16ACE27]

Most RVers never do that. They make sure the breaker on the power pole is off when they plug in, then turn that breaker on. No need to mess with breakers in your Power Center unless doing maintenance or troubleshooting.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

Add to your checklist...

Before plugging your shoreline plug into any power pedestal, TURN OFF all the breakers in the pedestal box.

No need to do anything inside your motorhome.

Then plug your shore plug in securely.

Then flip on the appropriate breaker - the breakers are labeled 20A, 30A, 50A. You only need to turn on the one you plugged in to.

When leaving, it's reverse procedure... turn off the breaker, THEN unplug.

The above procedures prevent arcing if you plug into a "hot" outlet.

Although many don't, it's common courtesy to turn off the breakers in the pedestal box when leaving so they're ready for the next user.

 

[ghnl]

Now that I've read the original post again, I think the owner's manual is advising you to do as others have correctly suggested - turn off the circuit breaker of the power source (not the circuit breaker inside your motorhome).

 

[Srmva]

Now that I've read the original post again, I think the owner's manual is advising you to do as others have correctly suggested - turn off the circuit breaker of the power source (not the circuit breaker inside your motorhome).

Copied from Thor.

1. Locate the load center inside your motorhome and turn OFF the main AC circuit breakers. Some panels will have two

We got it. Thanks all for your replies.

 

[dkoldman]

Copied from Thor.

1. Locate the load center inside your motorhome and turn OFF the main AC circuit breakers. Some panels will have two

We got it. Thanks all for your replies.

I feel your pain, I bought some name brand wheel tire extenders off Amazon, when I received and was planning the install the manual said "Not intended for use while tire is moving"

If TMC is reading, they may wish to cut back on the Legal Department and put more emphasis on Managing Dealer Relations with End Consumer

 

[Jimbo56]

I never do that with our 2015 ACE. Or with our prior MH - 2004 Chateau (class C). But that was then so I don't know if Thor changed things since then.

Does your rig have an easy to access 'Use/Store' switch? Would that be sufficient in that it disconnects the house batteries?

If the use/store switch is set to store, and you plug into shore power, pressing the switch again will not close that circuit. You have to be disconnected from shore power for the use/store switch to open and close.

 

[16ACE27]

If the use/store switch is set to store, and you plug into shore power, pressing the switch again will not close that circuit. You have to be disconnected from shore power for the use/store switch to open and close.

Ummm, no. Having the converter energized or not has no effect on the operation of the Battery disconnect latching relay. Most installations get their control power from the House battery bank, so if the house battery bank is dead the state of the disconnect will not change even if connected to SP.

 

[Jimbo56]

Ummm, no. Having the converter energized or not has no effect on the operation of the Battery disconnect latching relay. Most installations get their control power from the House battery bank, so if the house battery bank is dead the state of the disconnect will not change even if connected to SP.

Well Ace, I’ll just have to agree to disagree. If mine is set to store, and plug into shore power, my batteries do not charge. And while plugged into shore power, and punching the switch to use, I still don’t charge the house batteries. I have to unplug from SP, punch switch to use, then plug back into SP to charge the house batteries. And it works the other way around. When plugged into SP, punching the switch from use to store has no effect on anything. So, if I have switch set to store, and plug into SP, then turn switch to use, I’ll get 12v lights from the converter. But it won’t charge my batteries. So it is not an effective on off switch. That is my point. Also my use/store switch has no effect on energizing or not energizing any AC power.

 

[ghnl]

Since TS Debbie moved along and the sun is shining, I went outside with my voltmeter to see what our 2015 ACE does.

Plugged in to a 15amp/120V outlet, switch in Use position the house battery is showing 13.5V
Unplugged from SP, switch in USE position it shows 13V (likely some surface charge but I didn't want to wait for that to dissipate).
Unplugged in Store position, 13V
Unplugged in Use position, 13V
Plugged in to SP, switch in Store position, 13V
Plugged in to SP, switch in USE position, 13.5V

 

[16ACE27]

Well Ace, I’ll just have to agree to disagree. If mine is set to store, and plug into shore power, my batteries do not charge. And while plugged into shore power, and punching the switch to use, I still don’t charge the house batteries. I have to unplug from SP, punch switch to use, then plug back into SP to charge the house batteries. And it works the other way around. When plugged into SP, punching the switch from use to store has no effect on anything. So, if I have switch set to store, and plug into SP, then turn switch to use, I’ll get 12v lights from the converter. But it won’t charge my batteries. So it is not an effective on off switch. That is my point. Also my use/store switch has no effect on energizing or not energizing any AC power.

So if you are saying that you don't hear the battery disconnect latching relay change position (clunk) when plugged into SP, but only hear it change position when not plugged into SP then I would say your coach is mis-wired and different from all other Thor motorhomes. So your experience does not apply in general and certainly has nothing to do with the OP's question.


And the USE/STORE/Main Power switch has never had anything to do with AC power in the coach - it simply controls the house battery bank disconnect.

 

[Beau388]

Guys, I have a new Hurricane and reading through the manual it says to turn off main CB at the power center, connect shore power then turn on main CB.
Each time?
My Problem with that is the location Thor put the Power Center on my 34A is at the foot of the bed which will require me to crawl on the floor to access it.

I have learned, the hard way, best way to connect to shore power. First check the power receptacle you intend to use for voltage, floating neutral and open ground or trust your energy management system. Turn off the pedestal circuit breakers. Ensure everything electrical that you value in your coach is off. Plug in to the pedestal receptacle and try carefully to remove the plug. If the plug not difficult to remove (especially a 50 amp plug) try a different amperage receptacle or move to a different site. The more difficult it is to insert/remove the plug the better the contact (lower resistance).
Turn on the proper pedestal circuit breaker and hope all is well. Immediately go in or have the DW check the EMS for errors, voltage and amperage. If all is well turn on what you need and go back out finish hooking up.


I used a TRC digital monitor for 20 years before switching to a Progressive EMS 8 years ago.

 

[Jimbo56]

So if you are saying that you don't hear the battery disconnect latching relay change position (clunk) when plugged into SP, but only hear it change position when not plugged into SP then I would say your coach is mis-wired and different from all other Thor motorhomes. So your experience does not apply in general and certainly has nothing to do with the OP's question.


And the USE/STORE/Main Power switch has never had anything to do with AC power in the coach - it simply controls the house battery bank disconnect.

That’s correct. No “clunk” when plugged into shore power. I have to be unplugged for the use/store switch to be effective. And that switch has no effect on AC power if plugged in.