Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] power converter.
| [GMCnet] power converter. [message #110852] |
Tue, 04 January 2011 22:36  |
john arbuckle
Messages: 122
Registered: March 2010
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Anyone out there with any info? I have pulled out the old stock power
coverter. I have heard about a few other options one that was yellow and
black. Has anyone used a product that was reasonable and did the job well or
exceptionally well. Oh yeah and how well does the stock unit work if
functioning? Thanks everyone
John Arbuckle
1976 Palm beach
Tucson AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #110882 is a reply to message #110878] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 07:22  |
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Tom Lins
Messages: 372
Registered: February 2004
Location: St Augustine, FL
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| Hardie Johnson wrote on Wed, 05 January 2011 08:05 |
| Richard Denney wrote on Tue, 04 January 2011 23:47 |
On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 11:36 PM, john arbuckle <jarbuckle1209@gmail.com>wrote:Anyone out there with any info? I have pulled out the old stock power coverter.
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Also replace the diode bridge with the Yandina 100 amp combiner:
http://www.yandina.com./NewCatalog.htm
On the fuse block, there is a radio shack ATC blade type fuse holder that works well. Put a 50 amp in the first position and wire the converter to that.
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Or a 150 amp combiner
http://tinyurl.com/2629n8d
Tom Lins
St Augustine, FL
77 GM Rear Twin, Dry Bath, 455, Aluminum Radiator Quad-Bag Suspension Solar Panel
Manuals on DVD
YOUTUBE Channel: GMC Dealer Training Tapes
http://www.bdub.net/tomlins/
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #110899 is a reply to message #110878] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 08:26 |
Richard Denney
Messages: 920
Registered: April 2010
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On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 8:05 AM, Hardie Johnson <hardie.j@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Also replace the diode bridge with the Yandina 100 amp combiner:
> http://www.yandina.com./NewCatalog.htm
> On the fuse block, there is a radio shack ATC blade type fuse holder that
> works well. Put a 50 amp in the first position and wire the converter to
> that.
>
>
I bought a BlueSea marine fuse block that has a separate grounding bus and a
nice cover. It was not expensive like most marine stuff.
Picture here:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=26978&title=house-12-volt-wiring-panel-2c-2008&cat=3677
I used a separate breaker between the converter and the house battery. The
converter also has fuses in both positive and negative terminals for
catastrophic failures.
And, Bob, the PD unit only makes noise when the cooling fan is running, and
that only happens during high current usage such as during the initial
charge of a depleted battery, or when running high-current 12-volt
appliances. I've never heard that fan at times when silence was important,
such as during sleep. No slam against Iota products, of course, which work
well--just clarifying your comments. The refurb PD units are quite a bit
cheaper when they are available.
Rick "who protects both ends of the battery charging cable" Denney
--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #110907 is a reply to message #110852] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 09:27 |
zhagrieb
Messages: 676
Registered: August 2009
Location: Portland Oregon
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Help me understand why we need a converter. The batteries run the 12V stuff and a good charger keeps the batteries up.
Glenn Giere, Portland OR, K7GAG
'73 "Moby the Motorhome" 26'
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #110908 is a reply to message #110852] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 09:29 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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| john arbuckle wrote on Tue, 04 January 2011 21:36 |
Anyone out there with any info? I have pulled out the old stock power
coverter. I have heard about a few other options one that was yellow and
black. Has anyone used a product that was reasonable and did the job well or
exceptionally well. Oh yeah and how well does the stock unit work if
functioning? Thanks everyone
John Arbuckle
1976 Palm beach
Tucson AZ
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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John,
One of the first things I did to my coach was to replace the "buzz box" converter with a Progressive Dynamics PD9245 charger/converter. It has a "charge wizard" that automatically controls the charge rate from a boost charge down to a maintenance charge. I have never heard the cooling fan make any noise. This was the unit that Jim Bounds recommended and I bought it from him. He said he likes them because they are "plug and play"
The converter was wired to the 12-V fuse block with a 6 gauge wire and then to the battery cable terminal (in the back of the electrical cabinet) with about a 10 or 12 gauge wire. There was evidence of the small wire getting very hot at some point (melted plastic conduit) so I just replaced it with another 6 gauge. I'm confident this will carry the load to the batteries and allow them to take a charge at a higher rate than the old set-up I actually ran a 6 gauge to the batt terminal and then another 6 gauge to the fuse block from there.
So far I have been very happy with the PD9245 and have not had the battery issues that the coach came to me with. Even in hot dry Tucson, I only have to add water to the batteries once in a while, depending on the season.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #110914 is a reply to message #110907] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 10:16 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Glenn Giere wrote on Wed, 05 January 2011 07:27 |
Help me understand why we need a converter. The batteries run the 12V stuff and a good charger keeps the batteries up.
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A converter _IS_ a battery charger that is DESIGNED for this use. It also provides 12vdc power for lighting and other uses when you have 115vac. (Plugged in or running the generator.) Good converters have circuitry that will very the output to the level needed, including proper multi-stage battery charging.
Note: An INVERTER takes 12vdc and makes 115vac. Many people use small ones to run computers and stuff when they do not have 115vac.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #110916 is a reply to message #110907] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 10:24 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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| Glenn Giere wrote on Wed, 05 January 2011 10:27 |
Help me understand why we need a converter. The batteries run the 12V stuff and a good charger keeps the batteries up.
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Glenn,
The proper name for the device is a converter/charger. The reason for this nomenclature is that a Charger will charge batteries with little concern for the 12V devices that may be online at the same time. Chargers are also not designed with the expectation of continues service with shore power and a battery bank connected. A Converter will supply 12VDC to run those devices that require same, but as it is a supply, it is not designed with the capability to bring up a discharged battery. This is not as simple as it may sound.
I have been fighting this stuff for decades (mostly at other peoples expense) and the recent improvements are amazing. Before the PD and Iota devices became available, I built more than a few devices that were bags better than other things available, but still not on a par with the off the shelf converter/chargers of today.
If you still have the factory buzz box, remove it and keep it around as a 12V power supply. If you try to put a parts store grade charger, even a good automatic version, you may find it to be electrically noisy and not have the capacity to bring the house bank back in a timely fashion.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #110962 is a reply to message #110899] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 19:32 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Rick,
Being electrically challenged I got Jim B to do this last summer:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=36567
You can see the PD Wizard attached to the CB panel and the wire going under
the wooden shelf. The PD charger/convertor (thanks Matt!) is located under
that shelf. It is a PD 9160 mounted to the inside surface of the wheel well
liner; so far no problems with overheating or water leaks.
As far as locating all these components under the bathroom sink goes I
figger'd since Avion located the CB panel there I would follow suit.
I did make one mistake, I took out the connector that the Onan plugs into
out in the box on the side of the coach, I should have left it in there
wired in parallel to the Iota. Now if the Iota fails I'm screwed!
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Richard Denney
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 1:27 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] power converter.
I bought a BlueSea marine fuse block that has a separate grounding bus and a
nice cover. It was not expensive like most marine stuff.
Picture here:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=26978&title=house-12-v
olt-wiring-panel-2c-2008&cat=3677
I used a separate breaker between the converter and the house battery. The
converter also has fuses in both positive and negative terminals for
catastrophic failures.
Rick "who protects both ends of the battery charging cable" Denney
--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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GMCnet mailing list
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #110997 is a reply to message #110962] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 22:28 |
john arbuckle
Messages: 122
Registered: March 2010
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Hey thanks for the info. I as well am electrically challenged. So you seem
to have a Iota, do you like it and are they any better than PD products. I
also want a new fuseblock so I can use the newer fuses. What would you
recommend? If you would recommend yours what products did you purchase, help
would be greatly appreciated.
JOHN ARBUCKLE
1976 Palm beach
On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 5:32 PM, Rob Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au> wrote:
> Rick,
>
> Being electrically challenged I got Jim B to do this last summer:
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=36567
>
> You can see the PD Wizard attached to the CB panel and the wire going under
> the wooden shelf. The PD charger/convertor (thanks Matt!) is located under
> that shelf. It is a PD 9160 mounted to the inside surface of the wheel well
> liner; so far no problems with overheating or water leaks.
>
> As far as locating all these components under the bathroom sink goes I
> figger'd since Avion located the CB panel there I would follow suit.
>
> I did make one mistake, I took out the connector that the Onan plugs into
> out in the box on the side of the coach, I should have left it in there
> wired in parallel to the Iota. Now if the Iota fails I'm screwed!
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
> USAussie - Downunder
> AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
> [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Richard Denney
> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 1:27 AM
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] power converter.
>
> I bought a BlueSea marine fuse block that has a separate grounding bus and
> a
> nice cover. It was not expensive like most marine stuff.
>
> Picture here:
>
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=26978&title=house-12-v
> olt-wiring-panel-2c-2008&cat=3677
>
> I used a separate breaker between the converter and the house battery. The
> converter also has fuses in both positive and negative terminals for
> catastrophic failures.
>
>
> Rick "who protects both ends of the battery charging cable" Denney
>
> --
> '73 230 "Jaws"
> Northern Virginia
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #111003 is a reply to message #110997] |
Wed, 05 January 2011 22:52 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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John,
The Iota is an automated power transfer switching device, it is not the
charger/convertor. It automatically senses where the power being supplied to
the coach comes from (shore, Onan, inverter) and supplies it to the coach.
You do not need this device.
I got the Iota transfer switch (ITS-50R), Blue Sea fuse panel, and
Professional Dynamics charger/convertor (PD-9160) off eBay.
I do not remember what I paid for them.
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of john arbuckle
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 3:28 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] power converter.
Hey thanks for the info. I as well am electrically challenged. So you seem
to have a Iota, do you like it and are they any better than PD products. I
also want a new fuseblock so I can use the newer fuses. What would you
recommend? If you would recommend yours what products did you purchase, help
would be greatly appreciated.
JOHN ARBUCKLE
1976 Palm beach
On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 5:32 PM, Rob Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au> wrote:
> Rick,
>
> Being electrically challenged I got Jim B to do this last summer:
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=36567
>
> You can see the PD Wizard attached to the CB panel and the wire going
under
> the wooden shelf. The PD charger/convertor (thanks Matt!) is located under
> that shelf. It is a PD 9160 mounted to the inside surface of the wheel
well
> liner; so far no problems with overheating or water leaks.
>
> As far as locating all these components under the bathroom sink goes I
> figger'd since Avion located the CB panel there I would follow suit.
>
> I did make one mistake, I took out the connector that the Onan plugs into
> out in the box on the side of the coach, I should have left it in there
> wired in parallel to the Iota. Now if the Iota fails I'm screwed!
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
> USAussie - Downunder
> AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
>
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] power converter. [message #111039 is a reply to message #110997] |
Thu, 06 January 2011 09:36 |
Richard Denney
Messages: 920
Registered: April 2010
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 11:28 PM, john arbuckle <jarbuckle1209@gmail.com>wrote:
> Hey thanks for the info. I as well am electrically challenged. So you seem
> to have a Iota, do you like it and are they any better than PD products. I
> also want a new fuseblock so I can use the newer fuses. What would you
> recommend? If you would recommend yours what products did you purchase,
> help
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
Here is the fuse block that I used:
http://www.northeastmarineelectronics.com/bluesea5026stbladefusebl12circuitwnegbus.aspx
(I just googled it--it's available through most any online marine source,
though I could not find it on my favorite, which is Defender).
Like Rob, I have an Iota 50R transfer switch, but that is not related to
this discussion and is more of a luxury than a necessity. It lives entirely
upstream of the 120VAC panel, not downstream of it like the
converter/charger and 12-volt house system does.
Here is the circuit breaker I used between the converter/charger's output
and the house battery (which is up front on my coach):
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|328|296553|299262|825431&id=589919
At 40 amps, it is designed to protect within the capabilities of the wiring
between the converter/charger and the battery, which uses 10-gauge wire. It
has the advantage of being switchable, but it is not self-resetting.
Here's what I used up front, to protect the battery and the coach in case of
a short in the wire from the battery to the converter:
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/80-amp-circuit-breaker/7187
It is not switchable, but it is self-resetting. I see that Camping World no
longer sells it, but there must be something like that out there. It's sized
large--it's purpose is to prevent the wire from becoming a welding electrode
and setting the coach on fire if its insulation gets rubbed off somewhere.
All wires directly connected to the positive terminal of a battery need this
sort of care, unless they are mounted carefully to minimize that risk (as in
the case of the starter cable).
With the Progressive Dynamics stuff, the cheapest source is Progressive
Dynamics themselves when they have a refurbished model for sale. For
example, the PD9245, which is a good replacement for our coaches (and a
newer version of the one I own), is now on sale for $149.
http://www.progressivedyn.com/hotdeals.html
Finally, the combiner that many of us use is the Yandina C100 (the newer
version of the C50), and Yandina has them on sale for $65 here:
http://www.yandina.com/
I agree with Gene--just wire it across the battery terminals on the isolator
and be done with it. It allows the converter/charger to maintain both house
and chassis batteries, which the existing system does not do. I also use a
second combiner to allow the converter/charger to charge and maintain my
generator battery, which is separate from the house battery on my early
coach.
Rick "throwing out some bread crumbs" Denney
--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
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