Palazzo Not Charging from Engine Alternator

[JamesWillard]

Just picked up my 2013 Thor Palazzo from LazyDays last week. All the way home and since, the Control Panel CHARGER will not turn on with engine running. Normal with Shore Power and Generator. Use/Store switch is good. Replaced the BIRD and Trombetta - No help. Noticed that the Trombetta is ALWAYS energized. When I disconnect the "RELAY" wire at the BIRD, the Trombetta de-energizes. Control Panel CHARGE will never come on with Engine Alternator, no matter the status of the Trombetta Contactor. With the BIRD out of the circuit, the Aux Start switch energizes the Trombetta normally. Still no CHARGE at the control panel with engine running. Chassis batteries charge normally.

Help!!

[rgatijnet1]

On my charging system, there is an isolator circuit that switches where the charge goes from the engine alternator. It is sent to either the house or chassis batteries, or both.
It sort of sounds like your alternator output is all directed to the "control panel". If that is the case, perhaps you need to look for a fuse or circuit breaker that has tripped within the control panel.

[Sam_Spade]

JamesWillard wrote:
Now, however, the CHG feature will not operate with the Engine Alternator . . . and the battery voltage just keeps dropping.

To repeat, worded a bit differently:

The two battery strings are NOT normally connected together so charging (or discharging) one will not affect the other.

When the engine is running, something triggers a relay (solenoid) to close and make a connection so both will charge.

Unless there is a loose connection, something has failed in the circuitry that makes that connection when the engine is running. The most common thing to fail is the solenoid relay itself.

(Note: Oddly enough, my Damon Outlaw seems to charge the chassis battery too any time that AC power is present.)

[JamesWillard]

The control panel inside the Thor Palazzo has a CHG function that indicates Charging Status, whether Shore Power or Generator or while Driving (engine alternator). It normally indicates (while driving) "Bulk Charging xx.x Volts" or Absorb Charging, etc). Now, however, the CHG feature will not operate with the Engine Alternator . . . and the battery voltage just keeps dropping.

[tropical36]

sch911 wrote:
When you say Control Panel CHARGER are you talking about your Inverter/Charger unit? That will only operate when the generator or shore power is present. This does not mean that the house batteries are not being charged by the engine alternator though. Check the house battery voltage with and without the engine running to tell.

X2 and if not, check to see if your coach even has this capability of charging the house batteries, with the alternator. Some don't or didn't use to, even though ours does as did our old one.

[Sam_Spade]

sch911 wrote:
Check the house battery voltage with and without the engine running to tell.

This.

And try to get OUT of the habit of changing out parts based only on a wild guess. There is some kind of a test for almost everything.

House batteries not charging with the engine running is most often a sign of a failed battery solenoid (relay) or loose connections.

[sch911]

When you say Control Panel CHARGER are you talking about your Inverter/Charger unit? That will only operate when the generator or shore power is present. This does not mean that the house batteries are not being charged by the engine alternator though. Check the house battery voltage with and without the engine running to tell.