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Looking for the inverter

February 18, 2012, 10:13:33 pm

I purchased a 1989 Foretravel Unihome Grandvilla in September of last year. Have wanted one of these due to their quality reputation, but could only afford one that needed work. Well go one and mostly just learning and this spring will start the heavy work on it. I have been learning the electrical. My coaches build number is 3431. The DC print that I have is A-3440. It is close but not exact. First, I can't find the inverter that is on the print and states it is "near entry step" Is that really where the inverter is? Second, the print is missing one actual piece that I want clarification. There is a relay that has no markings in the battery compartment, but not on the print. Any ideas?

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Re: Looking for the inverter

Reply #1 – February 18, 2012, 10:23:55 pm

You probably don't have an inverter unless it was installed as an aftermarket item, but rather a converter to change 110V AC electricity to 12V DC. If it is like my former 1993, U225 Grand Villa it is in the compartment that is under the entry steps. It is accessed from the basement bay door on the drivers side. You have to crawl all of the way into the bay to work on or replace the converter. If it is the original, it should be a silver colored aluminum box about 10" X 12" X 14". It will have a 110V wire that is plugged in to an outlet in the bay and a black and red 12V cable running to it.

If it is the original converter, I would suggest you replace it with a Smart Charger type converter as soon as financially possible. The old chargers typically shorten the life of the batteries by over charging. 

By the way, welcome to the world of Foretravel and the ForeForum. 

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Re: Looking for the inverter

Reply #2 – February 18, 2012, 10:43:07 pm

I will be looking for it in the morning. Thanks a million. Love your ride. I hope to have a ride half as nice as yours. I am an oddball, so I hope to paint My Travelin' home the same color as my orange Jeep Scrambler. Yes Orange! You just never want to get lost in a crowd.

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Re: Looking for the inverter

Reply #3 – February 19, 2012, 12:10:24 am

if its the same as mine its in the bay with the holding tank dump valve

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Re: Looking for the inverter

Reply #4 – February 19, 2012, 09:53:13 am

Curtis, I recalled seeing a photo of a converter in the Dump Bay as Mike suggested. Here is a link to that thread. Some More Identification Help Benji has since sold his (1989 I think) Grand Villa and moved to 1995. You might send him a personal message, the pink icon under your avatar, if you have other specific questions. He did quite a bit of work on his.

If yours is in that bay you are lucky. It will be much easier to get to. If you do upgrade to a new Smart Converter or Inverter/Charger, I would however relocate the new one to a dryer bay.

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Re: Looking for the inverter

Reply #5 – February 19, 2012, 10:01:16 am

Kent,

Thank you so much. I will contact Benji. It helps to have this network of people that can help. It shortens the learning curve immeasurably. 

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Re: Looking for the inverter

Reply #6 – February 19, 2012, 12:04:27 pm

If your coach has the inverter that was used from the factory, there should be a panel that is mounted on the wall somewhere near the refrigerator. It will be about 4 inches by 8 inches and the inverter would be located in the compartment behind the electrical panel which is accessed by raising the bed. That brand has been obsolete for quite some time, so if you have one I would hope that it worked. Good luck with your project

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Re: Looking for the inverter

Reply #7 – February 19, 2012, 12:24:13 pm

I guess that I was having a senior moment. The brand would be a Pac and the box under the bed is just the control box, the inverter would be mounted behind the steps which is accessed from the storage bay. It would be a big black box if my memory serves me correct. I used to work on this vintage of coach when they were new, and not very many had the inverter. Good luck

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Reply #8 – February 19, 2012, 02:05:21 pm

Red,

I found the inverter, but found no 4 x 8 panel near the frig. It was in the compartment as was claimed and it is a PAC. I am not going to assume anything. Does this kick on when I am going down the road an not "plugged in" and demanding 120v? There is a panel under the bed that is from GTO electronics, a RP2L Dual line manual transfer switch. Again, not assuming. Can you tell me what this box's purpose? Last question, for now. There is a 120v receptacle that is behind the passenger seat and mounted in the little table/stand. Where is its source voltage? It is dead, but all others are hot.  Is it at the main 120v panel at the foot of the bed? If unknown I will track it down the long way. Thanks. Just trying to shorten my learning curve as short as possible.

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Re: Looking for the inverter

Reply #9 – February 19, 2012, 04:27:40 pm

Curtis,
The box under the bed is an automatic switch - there's a couple relays inside that switch your outlets and/or microwave from shore power to the inverter power.  As a user of the inverter you don't need to mess with anything in this box.

The inverter gets powered up from a control panel that you still need to find.  I should be someplace convenient to reach  - like in the kitchen area.  Here's a picture of mine before I replaced it out a few years ago.  It has a toggle on top to select between "outlets" and "microwave", a "on/off" push button toggle switch on the lower left and a "reset" momentary button on the lower right of the panel.  You have to always hit the reset when first powering on the inverter.  I think there is also an "overload" light as well.  When you want the inverter on, you do need to select between outlets and microwave, turn the switch "on" and then hit the "reset" button.  The microwave will sound a little funny when it runs on the inverter and will take almost double to time to heat up food - at least that's what I experienced on mine.

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Re: Looking for the inverter

Reply #10 – February 19, 2012, 05:31:49 pm

Thank you John. Found it. Tried it out. Everything works. As I have said before, you folks are a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. My father always told me, "No one person is as smart as all of us." The ForeForums should be included with every new and used Foretravel. Thanks again to everyone for answering my questions. Even the ones I didn't ask.

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