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Topic: Upgrade stock charging system 1984 Foretravel (Read 217 times) previous topic - next topic

Upgrade stock charging system 1984 Foretravel

Hello All,
  Many of you have helped me a great deal since I purchased my coach about a year or so ago. I sincerely appreciate all of the advice and help I got with trying to bring this coach back to a useable condition. I have most of the major bugs worked out of it, but in past discussions someone suggested by that I would want to upgrade the built in charger that operates under shore power. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I would guess that someone knows exactly what should be removed, and what to replace that with. Thank you again who helped me, you have saved me countless hours of research and more importantly,  avoiding as many mistakes as possible, and I do appreciate that. Talk to you soon.

Re: Upgrade stock charging system 1984 Foretravel

Reply #1 –
If you go to "My Account" top  right of page, then go to signature and put in your coach information it will help people help you since they will then know what coach you own.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Upgrade stock charging system 1984 Foretravel

Reply #2 –
Very likely you have an old-style/"stupid" converter.

There are a number of smart converters out there. Size (in amps) is somewhat dependent on how you will use the coach.  40 amp is fine for general use.  But, if you do a lot of dry camping and have to run the generator to recharge the batteries, higher output = less generator run time. Another factor on sizing the converter is what size battery bank (amp-hrs @ 12 VDC) and what battery technology (wet cell, gel, AGM or Li) you have.

And, also if you are considering adding an inverter, most inverters are actually inverter/smart chargers.

Give us some guidence on your needs and we can offer more specific suggestions.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Upgrade stock charging system 1984 Foretravel

Reply #3 –
If you wish to pick the brain of a reputable vendor, I would suggest you give Randy at BestConvertor a call.  If you tell him what OEM charging equipment and batteries you have on your coach presently, plus how you plan to use your coach (always plugged in, or dry camping), then he can recommend possible upgrade paths.  When I last talked to him (years ago) he answered my questions honestly, and didn't try to sell me stuff I didn't need.  Randy stocks a diverse line of high quality components, so he can offer choices at several price points.

Note: I have no connection of any kind to BestConvertor, and derive zero personal or monetary benefit from this recommendation.

BestConverter - Converters, Inverters, Electrical Supplies, Electronics

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: Upgrade stock charging system 1984 Foretravel

Reply #4 –
A 84 FTX normally has two 8d open cell batteries in the step well area. And uses a 75? Amp charger in the tank valve area. Heat from the charger helps keep the valves from freezing in cold weather.

40 year later technologies would greatly increase your enjoyment level unless you camp from power pole to power pole.

When these were built campgrounds were mostly available and cheap so why not plug it in.

What exact model do you have?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Upgrade stock charging system 1984 Foretravel

Reply #5 –

To give an educated opinion on your options, you should fill out all the info on your coach as others on this post have done. Year, model, length, floorplan, etc. Look at Bob's post just above mine.

If you have a separate converter/charger with an inverter located in another location, Progressive Dynamics makes an excellent converter/charger as listed here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Dynamics-PD9260CV-Inteli-Power-Converter/dp/B000GASX9O/ref=sr_1_10?crid=15DMZJX6632JM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hsd9VceDqHjzxiX0CNPhuAE1-MX5xZ91D0tCknwGQ35sQ_wc6ePMRS17xtxH8UZkLC43Pv0dmQpe_iSnkkvPUDxFErf-6EvCUY2FgSBmOIXy361xYb2zM6dIpXqRa8_L54C9e6S8TDwl5dWyUq30-YJ9DhH0KC42vIJTwpyLxyCMyGvzKopZXWWxieW5K-wdZ99RECxMtLLXBC6VG6WIUCla1as6JkDXHbNnZKi9FSuu2Ri_nF8cI7O4seYBbsGh2919PpZcRfZ3K5S9bzvYSDYOStOeGBdac0g2GDXirXk.5tJvinnRA0n55qpfIRgR1QBEPgPiiSn96oEr1vu11rQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=rv+converter&qid=1730411717&sprefix=rv+converter%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-10&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS%3AUS_IHI_5M_HARDLINES_AUTOMATED

When our coach is parked at home, our converter/charger is on 24/7 and keeps the voltage almost exactly as advertised year after year.

If you have an older inverter, you will want to change to a sine wave inverter as they are much more efficient and will run your microwave 4 or 5 times as fast or the same speed as one plugged in at home.

I don't like to have a combination inverter/charger as it puts all the eggs in one basket. If one part of the unit fails, you have to replace the whole thing.

For maximum life span, size the inverter so it normal wattage draw is no more than two thirds of it's rated capacity. This is not the startup rating.

Pierce

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Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Upgrade stock charging system 1984 Foretravel

Reply #6 –
I am not sure if this converter is in the area of the dump valves hanging from the ceiling above or if it is under the lift up engine cover under the bed. Some of the early coaches had it there and later years was moved outside due to noise and heat. Definitely need to have a 3 stage converter to keep from boiling the batteries. The 75 amp converters didn't monitor battery voltage and just kept charging like the batteries were low.
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