Community Forums

jdimas · 02-01-2014, 08:24 AM

We just purchased a new ACE, this is our first motorhome, my question is should the Battery disconnect switch be off or on when traveling on the road? Does this affect charging the coach batteries if it is off when driving or is it just the shore 30 amps and generator that charge the coach batteries?

Gormleys · 02-01-2014, 10:36 AM

The Battery Disconnect inside the door should be on when driving to allow the motor alternator to charge the coach batteries. It also provides 12v DC power to turn on your lights, water pump (for the john) and run your furnace and other appliances if needed. Just remember to turn it off when the MH is not in use for a longer period of time.

jdimas · 02-01-2014, 11:12 AM

I'm a newbie so here is another stupid question, should the Battery Disconnect be on when camping and the shore 30 amps is plugged into the outlet at the camp site? Does this being plugged in also charge the coach batteries?

Gormleys · 02-01-2014, 04:43 PM

Yes, the Battery Disconnect should be on any time that you are using anything in the MH. When attached to shore power or when the generator is running, the inverter will also charge your coach batteries. However, the generator should never be run at the same time that you are attached to shore power. The ACE inverter circuitry will charge the coach batteries and then go to "trickle" so that they are not overcharged.

Welcome to the Forum and don't be afraid to ask any question (though if you search through the forum, you will probably already find an answer to many of them).

Bacoats · 07-29-2014, 03:46 PM

Our new ACE batteries are not charging. The switch is on. Stopped by camping world and they said we might need to jump off the battery but they would not assist. They wanted us to pay for the service even though we were under warranty and have the $$$$extended warranty. Said they were not our place of purchase so we go to the end of the list and wait about 3 days. We are on a trip and the generator is working so we run it while on the road so for the frig.
Has anyone had that happen and had success with a jump.

millwind · 08-01-2014, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bacoats

Our new ACE batteries are not charging. The switch is on. Stopped by camping world and they said we might need to jump off the battery but they would not assist. They wanted us to pay for the service even though we were under warranty and have the $$$$extended warranty. Said they were not our place of purchase so we go to the end of the list and wait about 3 days. We are on a trip and the generator is working so we run it while on the road so for the frig.
Has anyone had that happen and had success with a jump.

Not clear if you merely did not purchase at that particular CW, or another dealer altogether. But if you purchased at any CW that 'wait 3 days' should be total BS according to what CW told us at time of purchase. In fact, we were told we'd be put 1st in line if we were 'on the road' when a problem occurred, and in buying the MH we were also automatically enrolled as CW's Elite members club with added bennies. I would complain to Good Sam directly (assuming your extended contract was with GS). One caveat, your ex. svc. plan may only kick in after the manuf. warranty - in that case I'd likely seek redress with the CW manager. Exasperating sometimes, the treatment after purchase, & they get away with it!! Which GS was it? If you wish to share - understand if you don't. Wish You the best of GOOD LUCK!

Bacoats · 08-02-2014, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millwind

Not clear if you merely did not purchase at that particular CW, or another dealer altogether. But if you purchased at any CW that 'wait 3 days' should be total BS according to what CW told us at time of purchase. In fact, we were told we'd be put 1st in line if we were 'on the road' when a problem occurred, and in buying the MH we were also automatically enrolled as CW's Elite members club with added bennies. I would complain to Good Sam directly (assuming your extended contract was with GS). One caveat, your ex. svc. plan may only kick in after the manuf. warranty - in that case I'd likely seek redress with the CW manager. Exasperating sometimes, the treatment after purchase, & they get away with it!! Which GS was it? If you wish to share - understand if you don't. Wish You the best of GOOD LUCK!

I did purchase at good Sam and did purchase the extended warranty. We are Elite for 3 years. The camping world in Tallahassee was the one that would not help us. MIT would have taken ten minutes to check the battery and give us a jump. In stead we purchased a charger and tried ourselves with no luck. We head back to our cw in Robertsdale on Monday on our way with our trip and hope to resolve this and get the facts about service.

millwind · 08-02-2014, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bacoats

I did purchase at good Sam and did purchase the extended warranty. We are Elite for 3 years. The camping world in Tallahassee was the one that would not help us. MIT would have taken ten minutes to check the battery and give us a jump. In stead we purchased a charger and tried ourselves with no luck. We head back to our cw in Robertsdale on Monday on our way with our trip and hope to resolve this and get the facts about service.

1st off, I meant CW not GS as purchase point - my goof. Anyway, sounds like you have the GS ext. warranty, & regardless (since CW & GS are married organizations) I think I would look into voicing concerns directly to GS's head guy Mr. Lemonis (sp??) as I believe he, and/or staff, is very open to input from customers. Maybe go to GS's web site? Good luck!

tedgard01 · 08-02-2014, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bacoats

Our new ACE batteries are not charging. The switch is on. Stopped by camping world and they said we might need to jump off the battery but they would not assist. They wanted us to pay for the service even though we were under warranty and have the $$$$extended warranty. Said they were not our place of purchase so we go to the end of the list and wait about 3 days. We are on a trip and the generator is working so we run it while on the road so for the frig.
Has anyone had that happen and had success with a jump.

Call Thor directly.

They have Technicians that will help you under their warranty. They can also help to get a repair scheduled for you.

Now, in regard to the batteries not charging, I assume you mean the house batteries, not the coach battery (for starting the engine). If so, you may find that the main house battery fuse has flipped. You will most likely find this fuse in the same area where the house batteries are located. Mine is directly behind the batteries. It is not one of the fuses in the fuse box where most of the appliance fuses are located. It should be hooked into the battery cable and usually attached to the chassis frame. This fuse has a little switch that is most likely at the bottom edge of the fuse. You may need to feel for it versus see it, at least on mine you would need to be under it to see the switch. Once you locate it, simply push the little arm up so that it clicks back in place.

If that is the problem, the batteries should start charging with the engine running. The generator may not start until the house batteries are charged. Be sure that the house battery disconnect switch is set so that the batteries are not disconnected (as the OP was asking about). The disconnect switch should not be set to disconnect the batteries under normal use, just when you are not using the coach as when going into storage for the winter.

Assuming that main fuse is the issue, which it sounds like it is to me, then it will amaze you at the difference after it is reset. After the batteries are charged. An example, you may have had the inverter alarm saying that there is a low battery. So you have been running the generator to keep the refrigerator running, etc. Once you reset that fuse, and the batteries get charged, you should not have that situation happen unless you stop and are running appliances off the inverter for too long without shore power or the generator running.

I hope this information helps.