Shore power/ charge batteries

[Just2Gypsies]

Hey there Travelers!
We have questions about a shore power switch…
We have a 2015 Thor chateau.
Is there a switch for shore power that must be engaged in order to charge the house batteries while hooked up to shore power? If so we’re is it located? Thank you again.

 

[16ACE27]

Yes, your USE/STORE switch must be switched to USE in order for SP to charge the batteries.

 

[16ACE27]

Gentleman!!
Thank you very much for your help.
After plugging in to “shore “ power for a while we have successfully charged our batteries and can now turn on our generator without the emergency switch!

I thought you were good to go. What's happened since Wednesday?

 

[Just2Gypsies]

I thought you were good to go. What's happened since Wednesday?

So .. we plugged into shore power and we didn’t do anything else. At the time we were not aware that there was a switch that needed to be set in order to charge the batteries. Because after a night of being plugged in we tried the generator and it turned on.

because of that we just assumed our house batteries charged. However we checked the level of the batteries and it’s saying 1/3. Very strange because we had it hooked to SP all night.

I have a very limited understanding about this stuff, but I assumed that once the battery got below the point of being able to crank over the generator that battery was no good.

One of our friends asked if there was a switch for the batteries… and also that came up when trying to diagnose the problem before.

I’m not sure how our battery was charged to begin with if we are supposed to press the switch in order to charge our battery.. so that leaves me to believe that it might be a wiring issue…?

Hence, why I’m here lol I do not know.

 

[16ACE27]

Your house batteries an be charged by either the converter when SP is used or the generator is running IF the USE/STORE switch is in USE. Have you found this switch? Have you pressed it towards USE?

They may also be able to be charged from the alternator when the engine is running regardless of the position of the USE/STORE switch.

If you are plugged into SP and your battery test indicators only show 1/3 level then you may have a problem with the converter. The battery test is only accurate when not plugged into SP AND the engine AND generator are not running. It should always read FULL when plugged into SP regardless of the position of the USE/STORE switch.

To lower you confusion and frustration level I recommend you go to Wally World or Harbor Freight and get a cheap multimeter. Then go to YouTube University to learn how to use the basic functions like measuring DC voltage. Then you can measure the voltage at the house batteries for better information and less guessing.

It will also come in handy for troubleshooting other issues down the road.

 

[Just2Gypsies]

Your house batteries an be charged by either the converter when SP is used or the generator is running IF the USE/STORE switch is in USE. Have you found this switch? Have you pressed it towards USE?

They may also be able to be charged from the alternator when the engine is running regardless of the position of the USE/STORE switch.

If you are plugged into SP and your battery test indicators only show 1/3 level then you may have a problem with the converter. The battery test is only accurate when not plugged into SP AND the engine AND generator are not running. It should always read FULL when plugged into SP regardless of the position of the USE/STORE switch.

To lower you confusion and frustration level I recommend you go to Wally World or Harbor Freight and get a cheap multimeter. Then go to YouTube University to learn how to use the basic functions like measuring DC voltage. Then you can measure the voltage at the house batteries for better information and less guessing.

It will also come in handy for troubleshooting other issues down the road.

Thank you ace for the clarification. I have yet to find the USE/STORE that is on the task list now that I know for sure that there is one , and as far as the multimeter I’m going to grab one and get to UNI and get acquainted , I appreciate your help.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

Most class C motorhomes have a rotary knob switch on the side of a cabinet in the entry stairwell. It's referred to by different names... battery disconnect switch; use/store switch, etc. But they all simply connect/disconnect the battery from the main power center (fuse/breaker box).

Factory stock installed ones are usually black.

 

[Bob Nodine]

Thank you ace for the clarification. I have yet to find the USE/STORE that is on the task list now that I know for sure that there is one , and as far as the multimeter I’m going to grab one and get to UNI and get acquainted , I appreciate your help.

Here is video you might find informative: