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Topic: converter charger or inverter charger (Read 1400 times) previous topic - next topic

converter charger or inverter charger

I'm working on a 1991 Foretravel that is not charging right it's off and on and found a Taytronics model 1-1500 Inverter, But It's not a inverter/charger only a inverter? where is the Converter that charges batts?  Coach is a 1991 U225
Art
1997 Prevost 40'
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Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #1 –
On our '93 U280, the inverter is mounted in the front storage bay, directly behind the entry steps.  The converter/charger is located in the center (large) storage bay, on the driver-side back wall, close to a large fuse panel which is covered by a white fiberglass cover.  Pictures below show the converter/charger that came on our coach (may not have been original), and the PowerMax replacement that I installed.  Should give you an idea where to look, and what it might look like.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #2 –
My '90 U280 36' had a magnum-2512 that quit working.  Don't know if it was original.  Replaced it with Xantrex Freedom 458 -25.
The Magnum was hung on the rear wall of the storage bay, driver side.  The Xantrex had to be mounted on a shelf, so I built a shelf for it.  I'd send pictures but it's ugly and not finished yet.
Both the MAGNUM and the XANTREX are inverter/chargers.  Inverter generates 110/220, charger charges batteries.
Don't need a convert to make 12V, just run off batteries for 12V.
36' 1990 U280 GV

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #3 –
Art,
The OEM setup on '91's is a converter mounted to the ceiling of the utility bay compartment.  Stump recently posted a picture of his:
91 converter
The large cables with a braided jacket are the 12 volts lines.  The red one is usually bleached out to the point you can only see a little bit or red here and there.
Full post: 30/50 Amp Question?
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #4 –
Here is my new one I put in the other weekend
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #5 –
My 1990 U280 36' Unihome with Cat 3208T had a 1500 watt inverter mounted next to the AC air compressor in the forward passenger side storage bay.  The converter charger was mounted in the wet bay with the batteries, and was the old ferro resonate type.  I changed out the obsolete charger with a modern micro processor smart charger--- much better for the batteries.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #6 –
This coach has a Tytronics Mod# 1-1500 Inverter in bay behind entrance door, door is mid way down , inverter has 110v power out and large cables to battery no 110v incoming so it's not a charger also, so there must be a charger in coach some where, I need to find out model of coach it has short bay doors . 
Coach is a 1991 U225 Unihome
Art
1997 Prevost 40'
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Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #7 –
This was what my original battery charger looked like.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #8 –
yep, same as my 1990, ferro resonate charger, heavy, and they will boil batteries in a heart beat.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #9 –
My old one was a 75 amp unit and my new one is 80 amp. All existing wire sizes were good for the application The plug on the new one is a 20 amp sideways blade plug and I had to replace the receptacle with a 20 amp style. Wire size to receptacle was 12 ga on mine so  That was ok. amp draw on new unit is .3 amp more  than old but still within specs for wire size etc. New unit is working great so far and has no annoying hum.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #10 –
Quote from: prevostart –
This coach has a Tytronics Mod# 1-1500 Inverter in bay behind entrance door, door is mid way down , inverter has 110v power out and large cables to battery no 110v incoming so it's not a charger also, so there must be a charger in coach some where, I need to find out model of coach it has short bay doors
Sorry, I was thinking it was a U300 or U280.  Short bay doors means it's a U225, U240 or an ORED.  Yes, there should be a converter somewhere, but I couldn't tell you where.
Does anyone else know?
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #11 –
The converter should be located in the wet bay/ battery compartment, mounted on an aluminum plate attached to the tank supports--- above the battery box.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #12 –
You should find the converter charger in the front storage  bay that you have to access from the drivers side, If I remember correctly it is close to where the steps go into the coach. There have been several posts about changing the converter on this model of coach.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #13 –
On our '93 U225 the original battery-boiler was mounted on the bulkhead inboard of the entry stairs facing towards the driver's side bay door. We opened the  bay door and slid out the roller-floor and the DW laid on that. My job was to slide the floor in and out and hand her tools through the little cubby-side compartment inside the fuel bay door (curb side) just aft of the fuel tank. That leads directly into the coach with access to whoever is re-wiring that converter.

My next inverter will have a charger/converter built in. But for now this works and does not boil out the batteries.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #14 –
Our 93 U300 had a pair of MagneTek converter/charger units mounted on the rear wall of the big bay. The Taytronics inverter was located in the small bay below the steps. All three units have been replaced.

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #15 –
The converter/charger on my '91 U225 was mounted the same as Craig's '93. I could not get my DW to change mine out, so I had to work my fat butt into the bay, pushing to tools and thought I would need and the new converter/charger. I too had the battery boiler and replaced it with a PROGRESSIVE DYNAMICS  45 AMP, model # PD9245C. I bought it off e-Bay for $139. I haven't had a battery issue since I installed it. I do have the original if anyone wants to pay the shipping. I guess it would make a good battery charger or an excellent boat anchor.
Jerry
'91 U240 GV / 36'
CAT 3208 w/Allison MT 643  4 speed
'10 Ford Flex

Growing old is mandatory
Growing up is optional

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #16 –
They actually make excellent "garage" chargers--- they are 75 amp, and do a great job as long as you don't leave them on the batteries full time.  Just charge the battery then disconnect.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: converter charger or inverter charger

Reply #17 –
The original unit in my 92 U240 looked like the one Stump posted.  It was mounted on the backside of the entry steps accessible from the drivers side bay.  Had to crawl in across the coach.  Changed it to the PD smart charger/converter.  The stock unit will cook your battery.
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060