| Ignorant Converter Question [message #192900] |
Thu, 13 December 2012 17:29  |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
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Senior Member |
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The house battery was dead and I took it out of the picture (removed it). When I plugged in the converter, it buzzed but output was 0VDC.
I unplugged the converter and temporarily installed a charged battery for the house. I ran the pump and stuff to winterize the plumbing.
I know if I plug in the converter with the charged battery in place, I will have voltage to the house circuits, but it could be coming from the battery, so that doesn't tell me anything.
Do most converters need a battery connected to produce output?
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| Re: [GMCnet] Ignorant Converter Question [message #192907 is a reply to message #192900] |
Thu, 13 December 2012 18:20  |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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Some chargers, and I would imagine some "converters",
require that a battery with some minimum voltage output
be connected for charging to occur. My guess would be
that the voltage required from the battery would be in
the vicinity of 10 Volts.
I suspect this would be far more common with "smart"
chargers and converters.
I have a couple of chargers with ZERO output unless
a battery is connected.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: markbb1@netzero.com
> Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:29:56 -0600
> Subject: [GMCnet] Ignorant Converter Question
>
>
>
> The house battery was dead and I took it out of the picture (removed it). When I plugged in the converter, it buzzed but output was 0VDC.
> I unplugged the converter and temporarily installed a charged battery for the house. I ran the pump and stuff to winterize the plumbing.
> I know if I plug in the converter with the charged battery in place, I will have voltage to the house circuits, but it could be coming from the battery, so that doesn't tell me anything.
>
> Do most converters need a battery connected to produce output?
> --
> '73 23' Sequoia
> UA (Upper Alabama)
> "Time is money. If you use YOUR time, you get to keep YOUR money."
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| Re: Ignorant Converter Question [message #192916 is a reply to message #192900] |
Thu, 13 December 2012 20:15 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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I'd say it depends on the converter and how much logic it has as to the no battery output or no output. May not be a good thing to do on some. You should be able to meter across the house battery and then add AC to the input of the converter. My guess would be something like 12.5V and then about 14V with the converter added. This would "prove" it is working. Or for the really 'dumb it down test' without a meter turn on the hall light and plug in and unplug the AC cord on the converter. You should see a slight brightness increase, the change dependant on the house battery condition of charge. I only run a 30A IOTA as my feeling is it's better to charge a bit more slowly for the longevity of the house battery. A trickle charger would be best but not practical and unable to support the average usage load.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: Ignorant Converter Question [message #192924 is a reply to message #192923] |
Thu, 13 December 2012 21:44 |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
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| WD0AFQ wrote on Thu, 13 December 2012 21:34 |
What I should have said is that some converters will provide your needed current when you put a load on it. I would not want to run my PD with no battery. The original buzz box should provide current with a load placed on it.
Dan
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Dan,
I have a PD converter, not yet installed in the coach, that I am using in the garage to power 12v Christmas lights. I have also used it for landscape lights -- no need for a battery and no ill effects to date.
Dennis
Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
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| Re: Ignorant Converter Question [message #192992 is a reply to message #192900] |
Fri, 14 December 2012 20:43 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| A Hamilto wrote on Thu, 13 December 2012 15:29 |
The house battery was dead and I took it out of the picture (removed it). When I plugged in the converter, it buzzed but output was 0VDC. ...
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I ass-U-me you have the original "buzz box".
If so, you'd be better off just considering it bad and getting a good MODERN converter with some kind of smarts built in to keep it from eating batteries. Over the years, you'll save at least the price of the new converter in batteries not needing replaced... plus it'll be more reliable.
Bite the bullet and replace it.
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: Ignorant Converter Question [message #193291 is a reply to message #192900] |
Tue, 18 December 2012 18:59 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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I'm still amazed that it has quit working. I guess it is possible it was never working when we used it and we were running off the battery but I can't see how the battery would have stayed up for the time we had the coach.
I thought these old buzz boxes were damn near indestructible.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: Ignorant Converter Question [message #193301 is a reply to message #192900] |
Tue, 18 December 2012 21:15 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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It may not be the original but it looks just like the one that is in my 76 parts coach.
We hardly ever started the engine after we drove it home so it didn't get much recharging. I never put a meter on it because it was buzzing and everything appeared to work.....
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: Ignorant Converter Question [message #193314 is a reply to message #193291] |
Wed, 19 December 2012 00:00 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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It doesn't matter if it is working or not. It still makes a great boat anchor which is what most of them use it for.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Ignorant Converter Question [message #193323 is a reply to message #193291] |
Wed, 19 December 2012 06:49 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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They are nearly indesteructible, a simple brute force 12V nominal supply. On mine, however, the fuse block connections are failing mechanically by becoming loose where they are riveted together. Another GMCer gave me the connection block off his old supply. First be sure nothuing's looose where the fuses clip in.
Take your trusty voltmeter, put the power supply on your workbench, and first check the input. Without connecting anything, measure the resistance between the two input terminals. If it isn't a near short, either there's a busted wire or the transformer primary is open. If it's open, chuck the supply - the transformer is the most expensive part in it.
Assuming the primary is good, power the box and set your meter to AC volts and see what's coming out fo the transformer seconday.. should be 12 - 14V AC. If so, it's worth fixing. Alls you got to do is check the individual components and replace the failed one.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: Kerry Pinkerton <Pinkertonk@MCHSI.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 7:59 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Ignorant Converter Question
I'm still amazed that it has quit working. I guess it is possible it was never working when we used it and we were running off the battery but I can't see how the battery would have stayed up for the time we had the coach.
I thought these old buzz boxes were damn near indestructible.
--
Kerry Pinkerton
North Alabama, near Huntsville,
77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
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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: Ignorant Converter Question [message #193326 is a reply to message #193291] |
Wed, 19 December 2012 07:57 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Tue, 18 December 2012 19:59 |
I'm still amazed that it has quit working. I guess it is possible it was never working when we used it and we were running off the battery but I can't see how the battery would have stayed up for the time we had the coach.
I thought these old buzz boxes were damn near indestructible.
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Kerry,
While these things are hard to kill with normal abuse, they do die. They die because the capacitor changes value with age an the system drifts out of resonance. They still make noise, but that is about all they do. (That may better as at least they no longer over charge the house bank.)
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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