ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11
THOR MOTOR COACH | MADE TO FIT
141
Battery Charging
It is important to keep the auxiliary battery(ies) in a condi-
tion of full or near-full charge. Doing so will ensure 12-volt
DC energy is available when needed. Battery charging is
accomplished by:
• Automatic charging through the converter or inverter
(shore power or generator);
• With the vehicle engine running, auxiliary battery(ies)
are charged via the chassis alternator (when master
battery switch is ON);
• Auxiliary battery charging via solar charging system
(equipped as standard, optional, or customer installed).
Take time to turn o all lights or other 12-volt accessories
when not in use. Connect the motorhome to a 120-volt AC
external source or run the generator whenever possible.
Doing so will keep the auxiliary battery charged.
Standard auxiliary batteries are a deep-cycle type and are
capable of being deeply discharged and rebound to full capacity
when recharged. Due to their large energy storage capacity, the
auxiliary battery(ies) may take up to 24 hours to completely
recharge.
If for any reason, an auxiliary battery is charged with a charger
or power source other than what was supplied as part of the
motorhome’s original electrical system, make sure to follow
all battery maintenance and safety instructions from the
battery and battery charger manufacturers.
NOTE: The master battery switch must be ON in order
to charge the battery(ies) by any on-board method
described in the following sections.
Charging by the Vehicle's Alternator
e motorhome’s electrical system is wired so that when
the vehicle's engine is running, and the chassis alternator is
properly operating, charging voltage is supplied to both the
chassis and auxiliary battery(ies). e master battery switch
must be ON in order for the auxiliary battery to be charged
by the chassis alternator (see Chassis Alternator and Battery
Isolation Relay Sections).
Charging by the Converter
e Converter is a 12-volt power supply, which operates
on 120-volts AC (see Converter section) and is designed to
power the 12-volt system when the motorhome is connect-
ed to shore power or when the generator is running. e
Converter also provides charging energy for the auxiliary
(house) battery(ies).
If the battery condition is below its full charge, the charger
will begin recharging the auxiliary battery at a rate that reects
the level of discharge. When the battery is fully charged, the
charger drops its charging level back to a maintenance or
trickle level to keep the battery fully charged.
Charging by Solar Energy
TMC motorhomes are typically factory
equipped with a
solar battery charging system. Consisting of a solar charge
controller, along with a roof-mounted solar panel(s). is
system is designed to provide a readily available battery
charging method for the auxiliary (house) battery(ies).
e solar charging system seamlessly integrates with the
motorhome's 12-volt DC power system. The auxiliary
batteries are automatically charged when the solar charge
controller is ON. The solar charge controller provides
monitoring of battery condition, monitoring of the charge
energy being supplied by the solar panel(s), and regulation
of the charging energy.
TMC installs two basic types of solar charge controllers:
• Stand-alone, PWM (pulse width modulated) with a 10
amp input rating. Installed in motorhomes without a
multiplex wiring system.
• RV-C compatible MPPT (Maximum Power Point
Tracking), with either a 10 amp or 30 amp input rating.
Installed in motorhomes with a multiplex wiring system.
Where the stand-alone controller uses a built-in LCD display
and front-panel switches to monitor and make system selec-
tions, the RV-C compatible controller interfaces directly with
the motorhome's multiplex system, allowing monitoring and
settings functions through the multiplex system's touchscreen
display.
Both controller types feature charging parameters that can
be selected for ooded, GEL, AGM, and lithium-ion batteries
that contain an internal battery management system.
TMC-installed solar controllers are always wired on the
“hot” side of the master battery switch, meaning solar
charging is active with or without the battery switch
being turned ON.
NOTICE
Battery type selection on the controller determines
charging parameters that best suit the battery type.
Incorrect battery type selection settings may damage
the battery.
CAUTION
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