Community Forums

tcopeland · 07-02-2014, 11:11 PM

On the 4th week of our westward trip. Have experienced a battery charge issue that I need some help with.

Twice while on the road the batteries have lost charge in less than four hours. The inverter panel shows in red "! LOW BATTERY".
We were on shore power for three days prior with the panel showing "FLOAT CHARGE" which I assume means the batteries are charged.
Only item on is the frig on inverter power while underway.
Called THOR. Tech said I probably had some bad batteries. Will check tomorrow.

Any ideas ?????

Skip426 · 07-03-2014, 12:31 AM

Does your battery monitor system register , voltage at the house batteries while the engine is running. If not I'd be tempted to get out a voltmeter and make sure your getting alternator out put volts to both the chassis & coach batteries while the engine is running.
JMHO: You need to test both batteries and charge system.

vsheetz · 07-03-2014, 02:40 AM

Wet batteries? Got water?
Ensure alternator and converter actually charging?

BoDu · 07-03-2014, 08:51 AM

Tom--Elkhart changed out my BIRD and Solenoid because the alternator is supposed to keep the charge up on the house batteries while underway but mine was not doing so on an intermittent basis. Thor tech recommended that I have a spare solenoid. However with yours going bad in just 4 hours it does sound like it may be a battery issue.

Luvrkds · 07-03-2014, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcopeland

On the 4th week of our westward trip. Have experienced a battery charge issue that I need some help with.

Twice while on the road the batteries have lost charge in less than four hours. The inverter panel shows in red "! LOW BATTERY".
We were on shore power for three days prior with the panel showing "FLOAT CHARGE" which I assume means the batteries are charged.
Only item on is the frig on inverter power while underway.
Called THOR. Tech said I probably had some bad batteries. Will check tomorrow.

Any ideas ?????

Hello Tom,
A Happy 4th to you and family.

In the past 15 months I had the Bird, solenoid and lastly the inverter itself replaced.
Just completed a 6 Week (3500 miles) trip . Started at rally in Myrtle Beach, then graduation at LSU followed by northern Michigan and to Elkhart and Back home for another graduation.

It was a good (everything working) trip.

Good luck with your issue and safe travels back to home base

Bill & Dot

tcopeland · 07-03-2014, 01:33 PM

Yep, batteries are serviced up.

tcopeland · 07-03-2014, 01:35 PM

Have another month on the road. Would love to get this figured out.
It's the pits.

User1011 · 07-03-2014, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcopeland

Have another month on the road. Would love to get this figured out.
It's the pits.

Could be the solenoid - a bigger solenoid is recommended.

tcopeland · 07-03-2014, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2LT

Could be the solenoid - a bigger solenoid is recommended.

What solenoid would that be? I'm not an auto electrician.
A picture would help i.d. the part.

**TonyDi** · 07-03-2014, 08:25 PM

Any good truck repair facility near you would be able to check your charging system and the condition of your batteries. With your coach only being a 2013 batteries should not be the problem unless they went dead and you didn't get them charged up right away. Like sitting the winter dead. Good luck with the fix, keep us posted.

User1011 · 07-04-2014, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcopeland

What solenoid would that be? I'm not an auto electrician.
A picture would help i.d. the part.

The solenoid is in the inverter compartment bay. It is located just to the left of the Magnum Inverter. The solenoid is black and kind of a silvery metal. It is round in shape with two large electrical cables connected to one end and two small wires connected to the other end. It should say "Intellitec" (sp?) on the label.

Redridge · 07-04-2014, 06:35 AM

its the jigamajig that is really hot to the touch in the inverter bay.

HappyCamper7 · 07-04-2014, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoDu

Tom--Elkhart changed out my BIRD and Solenoid because the alternator is supposed to keep the charge up on the house batteries while underway but mine was not doing so on an intermittent basis. Thor tech recommended that I have a spare solenoid. However with yours going bad in just 4 hours it does sound like it may be a battery issue.

I just had to replace my solenoid too. Our coach is only six months old. Do any of you have any theories about why so many of us are experiencing this problem? Thanks.

User1011 · 07-04-2014, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyCamper7

I just had to replace my solenoid too. Our coach is only six months old. Do any of you have any theories about why so many of us are experiencing this problem? Thanks.

Replaced under warranty? What solenoid product was your replacement?

We've been told the original solenoid used during production is too small -?