Intermittent failure to start.
I'm looking for ideas - I have a 2018 Thor Chateau C class 28E motorhome. On three occasions the engine has failed to start due to what appears to be a dead battery. This happens after the rig is in...
Forum Discussion
My original thought was a bad solenoid if you have one installed. If you do not have one, install one. I was under the impression that Ford's had solenoids but I might be wrong. I always had to add one in GM's.
A solenoid will allow the camper (coach) battery to operate the camper while blocking draw off the truck battery.
From how you describe it, it seems like the camper is drawing down all batteries and the campers converter is only charging the camper (coach) battery.
Its common on TT's and TC's where the 7 way plug is left plugged in while parked overnight, allowing the rv to also draw off the trucks battery. By adding a solenoid it acts as if you were unplugging that 7 way power cord, isolating the truck battery.
Test the 'truck (chassis) battery' using an amp meter to see how much is drawing when its parked . Do not plug the camper into shore power while testing.
When the truck is off the amp meter might only read the radio memory from the truck radio. That's fine and is normal.
Have someone start turning on lights and fans in the camper and see how many amps you are using (if any) while you are monitoring things on your amp meter off the truck battery. See if the camper is actually drawing off the truck battery.
If you desire, your rv can be wired so the converter will charge all batteries while plugged in but only draw off the coach batteries, that's how mine came thru from the factory.
A solenoid will allow the camper (coach) battery to operate the camper while blocking draw off the truck battery.
From how you describe it, it seems like the camper is drawing down all batteries and the campers converter is only charging the camper (coach) battery.
Its common on TT's and TC's where the 7 way plug is left plugged in while parked overnight, allowing the rv to also draw off the trucks battery. By adding a solenoid it acts as if you were unplugging that 7 way power cord, isolating the truck battery.
Test the 'truck (chassis) battery' using an amp meter to see how much is drawing when its parked . Do not plug the camper into shore power while testing.
When the truck is off the amp meter might only read the radio memory from the truck radio. That's fine and is normal.
Have someone start turning on lights and fans in the camper and see how many amps you are using (if any) while you are monitoring things on your amp meter off the truck battery. See if the camper is actually drawing off the truck battery.
If you desire, your rv can be wired so the converter will charge all batteries while plugged in but only draw off the coach batteries, that's how mine came thru from the factory.
