| Buzz Box is Gone [message #273670] |
Sat, 14 March 2015 08:44  |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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On the last rally of 2014 near Lancaster PA with the GMC Colonial Travelers, my buzz box died. Fortunately I travel with a little 6 amp portable charger and I was able to get get through the weekend on 6 amps.
I ordered a Progressive Dynamics 9260 Inteli-Charger around Christmas time and I finally got around to installing it last night. I used 6 gauge stranded copper wire, red for hot, black for neutral, and green for ground (I'm a bookkeeper, not an electrician). Nice clean install in my 1978 Royale. I have the rear bath with the twin bunks forward of the bath so the charger is located under the passenger side twin. That's my bunk, so my feet can hang over into the entrance door area if needed. I'm 6'7".
The charger came with the remote monitor/control pendant where a flashing light indicates the status of the charger. Wow, what a difference it made in my lighting. I had all the lights on and the coach was lit up nice and bright. I didn't leave it plugged in over night because I wanted to check voltage and amp draw while the battery is charging. I will do that this morning. Now that I have a proper charger I can invest in a better house batteries.
Upgrading the buzz box was on my list but had not reached the top of the list until it failed. It's funny how the priority list changes over time. The next project is flooring in the bathroom and installation of a new toilet. The toilet will cap off my complete black tank and new sewer pluming project. No Macerator pump yet, but that is on the list. Hopefully the weight savings from the buzz box will help offset the weight of the new china bowl toilet.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: Buzz Box is Gone [message #273741 is a reply to message #273670] |
Sun, 15 March 2015 17:33  |
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SeanKidd
Messages: 747
Registered: June 2012
Location: Northern Neck Virginia
Karma: 4
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Hey Steve, my PO had pulled out the buzz box, all I got was a Schumacher battery charger in its place, I installed the same progressive dynamics smart charger and have been happy with it. When my house battery needs replacing, I'll go with the two 6 volt batteries in series. Or perhaps I'll spring for an AGM battery...I'm happy with the red top in my MINI.
Sean and Stephanie
73 Ex-CanyonLands 26' #317 "Oliver"
Hubler 1-Ton, Quad-Bags, Rear Disc, Reaction Arms, P.Huber TBs, 3.70:1 LSD Honda 6500 inverter gen.
Colonial Travelers
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| Re: Buzz Box is Gone [message #273777 is a reply to message #273670] |
Mon, 16 March 2015 08:26 |
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SeanKidd
Messages: 747
Registered: June 2012
Location: Northern Neck Virginia
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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John, I had my kitchen apart and was able to install a new 6AWG to the thick aluminum extrusion, adjacent to the original location on the coach wall(Google noalox and use it, available at HD or Lowes in the electric section) this prevents corrosion between the aluminum and copper...I ran the bonding conductor (chassis of pd9260) to the same location, as well as the bus in the breaker box.... neutral (ac insulated ground) is connected to the bus bar in the breaker panel.
I also ran a new 6AWG up to the negative terminal on the house battery, since my '73 didnt have one. (Or I couldnt find it).
Sean and Stephanie
73 Ex-CanyonLands 26' #317 "Oliver"
Hubler 1-Ton, Quad-Bags, Rear Disc, Reaction Arms, P.Huber TBs, 3.70:1 LSD Honda 6500 inverter gen.
Colonial Travelers
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| Re: Buzz Box is Gone [message #273779 is a reply to message #273777] |
Mon, 16 March 2015 08:41 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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SeanKidd wrote on Mon, 16 March 2015 08:26
I also ran a new 6AWG up to the negative terminal on the house battery, since my '73 didnt have one. (Or I couldnt find it).
Here are some photos of the frame ground connections on my early '74:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6081-frame-ground-connections-2c-1974.html
Not shown is the house battery connection which runs from the battery neg to the frame next to the battery. The engine battery is a cable from the battery neg to the ground bolt on the engine.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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| Re: [GMCnet] Buzz Box is Gone [message #273839 is a reply to message #273777] |
Mon, 16 March 2015 19:49 |
John Olson
Messages: 96
Registered: August 2013
Karma: 0
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Thanks for the info and good advice Sean and Steve. I reused the red and
black wires that went to the old buzz box, but the pd9260 ground lug kind
of threw me, so I attached it to a vertical frame member rather than
stacking the neg, iirc.
John Olson
76 Edgemonte
in AZ traveling westward.
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John Olson
76 Edgemonte
Fulltime traveler
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| Re: Buzz Box is Gone [message #273843 is a reply to message #273670] |
Mon, 16 March 2015 20:13 |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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John, I did the same thing with the ground. I ran it to a a vertical aluminum wall frame piece. I drilled a small hole and then used a self tapping screw and a washer.
Sean, I should upgrade my batteries as well. I am still running the 3 batteries that I picked up at the local U-Pull it for $18 bucks a piece to try and get my coach started before buying it. I was not going to invest in expensive batteries until I got the coach running and had confidence in the motor. I read the date codes on the batteries and only buy them if they are less than a year old. I usually run them for 4 years on the road and then rotate them to one of my garden tractors that do a lot of work but don't leave the property. I will upgrade the house batteries first in order to move to a legitimate deep cycle vs. the standard car batteries.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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