Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] This is what's up with my buzz box.
| [GMCnet] This is what's up with my buzz box. [message #336244] |
Tue, 21 August 2018 11:33  |
BobDunahugh
Messages: 2465
Registered: October 2010
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Karma: 11
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I tested it for voltage Pryor to putting it back in. 13.1 volts. Attached it to the fuse block. Went to 7.8 volts. Pulled all the fuses. Back to 13.1v. The fuse that drops the voltage is a 15 amp. There are 13 LED lights for a load. Just got in from using my battery charger as a power supply. Same thing. There is no house battery. It has 2 #8 ground wires to the power supply. I switched to the second ground wire. No change. If a wire on the 15 amp fuse went to ground. The fuse would blow. This isn't a complex system. Bob Dunahugh 73 Puzzle Mobile
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| Re: [GMCnet] This is what's up with my buzz box. [message #336334 is a reply to message #336244] |
Thu, 23 August 2018 20:44  |
Rick Staples
Messages: 126
Registered: May 2014
Location: Johnstown, Colorado, USA
Karma: -1
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Bob,
When I bought my GMC over 20 years ago, my buzz box didn't work either. Opening it up, I found bad capacitors, possibly damaged by over-voltage (about the only thing but age that can hurt one of these). So i went to a local electronics store and bought replacements. Remember, you should match the capacitance marked on your old caps, but you can use HIGHER (not lower) voltage rating replacements. Lacking a local source, just go to Mouser Electronics or Digikey, online, or even Amazon. They'll have what you need. Replace all of them (3 IIRC). Twenty years later, my old box is still happily buzzing.
One modification I made was to add a rocker switch to the buzz box so I can easily turn it off when not needed, to remove any chance of overcharging the house batteries. These old Triad-Utrad Ferroresonant Converters are much underrated. Practically bulletproof, you can even dead short the output leads without damaging it. Putting out 45 amps @ 12VDC, it is an ideal power supply, although a somewhat slow battery charger. IIRC, its output voltage is dependent upon the AC frequency, so if the Onan's RPM (and hence frequency) is way off, they may under or over charge. I like old thing that work. (GMCs, me,....)
HTH
Rick Staples
Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
"Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all paths may run ill." -Tolkien
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| Re: [GMCnet] This is what's up with my buzz box. [message #336336 is a reply to message #336334] |
Thu, 23 August 2018 21:12 |
richshoop
Messages: 190
Registered: April 2017
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Back in the 1970's, the best choice for an RV battery charger/eliminator was the buzz box.
Can you kill it? NO
Can it last forever? (with occasional maintenance?). YES.
Does it do a good job of keeping your coach batteries charged? No. Left to it's own devices, it will overcharge the batteries. Just check your water level regularly or else.
Are there newer, better chargers available? Yes.
Buy one. Your batteries will last longer because of better charging techniques, that have been invented since 1980. Upgrade the charger, for the reason of higher performance, lower weight, smaller size. And yes NO NOISE.
> On August 23, 2018 at 6:44 PM Richard H Staples wrote:
>
>
> Bob,
> When I bought my GMC over 20 years ago, my buzz box didn't work either. Opening it up, I found bad capacitors, possibly damaged by over-voltage
> (about the only thing but age that can hurt one of these). So i went to a local electronics store and bought replacements. Remember, you should match
> the capacitance marked on your old caps, but you can use HIGHER (not lower) voltage rating replacements. Lacking a local source, just go to Mouser
> Electronics or Digikey, online, or even Amazon. They'll have what you need. Replace all of them (3 IIRC). Twenty years later, my old box is still
> happily buzzing.
> One modification I made was to add a rocker switch to the buzz box so I can easily turn it off when not needed, to remove any chance of
> overcharging the house batteries. These old Triad-Utrad Ferroresonant Converters are much underrated. Practically bulletproof, you can even dead
> short the output leads without damaging it. Putting out 45 amps @ 12VDC, it is an ideal power supply, although a somewhat slow battery charger.
> IIRC, its output voltage is dependent upon the AC frequency, so if the Onan's RPM (and hence frequency) is way off, they may under or over charge. I
> like old thing that work. (GMCs, me,....)
> HTH
> Rick Staples
> --
> Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
>
> "Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all paths may run ill." -Tolkien
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] This is what's up with my buzz box. [message #336339 is a reply to message #336336] |
Thu, 23 August 2018 22:34 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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The new units are desined to sense the load and some to sense the battery
heat.
Most of us just keep it plugged in year around.
On Thu, Aug 23, 2018 at 7:13 PM RICHARD/MARLI SHOOP
wrote:
> Back in the 1970's, the best choice for an RV battery charger/eliminator
> was the buzz box.
>
> Can you kill it? NO
>
> Can it last forever? (with occasional maintenance?). YES.
>
> Does it do a good job of keeping your coach batteries charged? No. Left to
> it's own devices, it will overcharge the batteries. Just check your water
> level regularly or else.
>
> Are there newer, better chargers available? Yes.
> Buy one. Your batteries will last longer because of better charging
> techniques, that have been invented since 1980. Upgrade the charger, for
> the reason of higher performance, lower weight, smaller size. And yes NO
> NOISE.
>
>> On August 23, 2018 at 6:44 PM Richard H Staples
> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Bob,
>> When I bought my GMC over 20 years ago, my buzz box didn't work either.
> Opening it up, I found bad capacitors, possibly damaged by over-voltage
>> (about the only thing but age that can hurt one of these). So i went to
> a local electronics store and bought replacements. Remember, you should
> match
>> the capacitance marked on your old caps, but you can use HIGHER (not
> lower) voltage rating replacements. Lacking a local source, just go to
> Mouser
>> Electronics or Digikey, online, or even Amazon. They'll have what you
> need. Replace all of them (3 IIRC). Twenty years later, my old box is
> still
>> happily buzzing.
>> One modification I made was to add a rocker switch to the buzz box so
> I can easily turn it off when not needed, to remove any chance of
>> overcharging the house batteries. These old Triad-Utrad Ferroresonant
> Converters are much underrated. Practically bulletproof, you can even dead
>> short the output leads without damaging it. Putting out 45 amps @
> 12VDC, it is an ideal power supply, although a somewhat slow battery
> charger.
>> IIRC, its output voltage is dependent upon the AC frequency, so if the
> Onan's RPM (and hence frequency) is way off, they may under or over
> charge. I
>> like old thing that work. (GMCs, me,....)
>> HTH
>> Rick Staples
>> --
>> Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
>>
>> "Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all
> paths may run ill." -Tolkien
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] This is what's up with my buzz box. [message #336410 is a reply to message #336244] |
Mon, 27 August 2018 10:01 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Bob, dop you still need an original? I might be able to get my Tripp-Lite out of the Norris up to the Amana convention. Lemme know.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] This is what's up with my buzz box. [message #336456 is a reply to message #336410] |
Tue, 28 August 2018 01:19 |
johnd01
Messages: 354
Registered: July 2017
Location: Sacrameot
Karma: -1
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Senior Member |
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There is a Parallax Electronic RV Converter Battery Charger 55 Amp 7455 on
Ebay.com
On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 8:05 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> Bob, dop you still need an original? I might be able to get my Tripp-Lite
> out of the Norris up to the Amana convention. Lemme know.
>
> --johnny
> --
> 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> "I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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--
*John Phillips*
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Johnd01
John Phillips
Avion A2600 TZE064V101164
Rancho Cordova, CA (Sacramento)
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| Re: [GMCnet] This is what's up with my buzz box. [message #336461 is a reply to message #336456] |
Tue, 28 August 2018 08:03 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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Does it have a flux capacitor? (Grin)
Jim Hupy (it's 5:58 A.M. and still quite dark here)
On Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 11:17 PM John Phillips
wrote:
> There is a Parallax Electronic RV Converter Battery Charger 55 Amp 7455 on
> Ebay.com
>
> On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 8:05 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
>
>> Bob, dop you still need an original? I might be able to get my
> Tripp-Lite
>> out of the Norris up to the Amana convention. Lemme know.
>>
>> --johnny
>> --
>> 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
>> Braselton, Ga.
>> "I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to
> me
>> in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
>
> --
>
> *John Phillips*
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] This is what's up with my buzz box. [message #336462 is a reply to message #336244] |
Tue, 28 August 2018 08:11 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Yeh. Mine's free and George Z says he'll carry it if Bob needs it.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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