Steve,
I got the Bridge Rectifier from a local electrical company today ($12.29 w/tax) and
installed it. The fan came on for 1 second and then the overload protector kicked out
for about 10 to 15 seconds. It just cycled this way until I turned the fan off. The
fan works fine on DC current so I'm going to order the Inteli-Power unit and install it
soon.
In my unit the 120v AC main line goes to a breaker box for the outlets, fridge, and air
conditioner; it must also supply the univolt. I don't have anything else that uses
120v. Also, the univolt is just behind the wheel well on curb side while the battery
is just in front of the same wheel well. I don't see any problem running the charge
line over the wheel well to the battery.
In testing the unit, I found that the univolt supplies low voltage AC (13v) to the
lights and (21v) the fan motor. If one were to just switch out the univolt for the
Intelli-Power, the only difference would be that these appliances would get 12v DC
instead of the low voltage AC. (If anyone sees that I'm wrong here, please correct me
- I can publish the electric diagram again, or send it off list to anyone who wants
another look)
Since the lights and fan are made for 12v DC, there should not be a problem since the
air conditioner, etc. are supplied with 120v AC through a different circuit. Also, the
battery will be charged automatically to keep up with the water pump.
The charging from the tow vehicle is another question; I don't know if it would
interfere with the Inteli-Power unit. Perhaps a switch in the charge line between the
Inteli-Power unit and battery would be prudent, that way, you could disconnect the
Inteli-Power while towing. My wiring is screwed up somewhere between the tow vehicle
plug and battery and I don't get a charge from the tow vehicle. Perhaps I won't fix it
before I go to the Inteli-Power unit and not worry about charging while towing if the
battery is always kept up by the Inteli-Power while on City Power and I'll leave the
campground with close to a full charge.
Pete
'65 Caravel
Steve Hingtgen wrote:
> Peter,
>
> I have the same problem as you...my Univolt supplies 24 volt AC. I've stopped
> using it. I've bought the PD Intelli-Power and I'm now trying to figure out how to
> install it. It is more complicated than you describe because everything that goes
> through it becomes 12 volt DC. So if you have courtesy 120 volt outlets, you'll
> need to split the shore line before it enters. And because it recharges the
> battery from shore (unlike the old Univolts do), you need to connect it to the
> battery as well while preserving the 12 volt charge line going to the battery from
> your tow vehicle.
>
> If anyone can help us think how to do all this, it would be appreciated.
>
> Steve
> http://www.AirstreamDreams.com
>
> Peter E Kaiser wrote:
>
> > Uh-Oh, I must have a bigger problem than I thought then. there is no charge
> > going to the battery and I have AC from the univolt. Maybe it is time to get
> > one of those Progressive Dynamics Intelli-Power 9100's that Steve Hingtgen
> > mentioned. It is only $155.95 + shipping with their Charge Wizard.
> >
> > Does anyone have an idea of how it would be installed in my Caravel? Do I just
> > attach the AC-in line to the unit and the two DC-out lines to it and call it
> > done or is it more complicated?
> >
> > Thanks, Pete
> > '65 Caravel
> >
> > Philip Piper wrote:
> >
> > > Pete,
> > >
> > > If you ever have AC power of any voltage at any DC powered device- light,
> > > fan or whatever, something is wrong. It dosen't matter whether the trailer
> > > is plugged in or not. The univolt supplies DC to recharge the battery while
> > > supplying DC to power your DC devices at the same time.
> > >
> > > Phil
> > >
> > > ----Original Message Follows----
> > > Phil,
> > >
> > > Perhaps I worded my message wrong. I don't have AC power while on the DC
> > > power
> > > setting. Sorry if I misled you and thanks for the warning.
> > >
> > > Pete
> > > '65 Caravel
> > >
> > > Philip Piper wrote:
> > >
> > > > Pete, You have a problem with the wiring. If you see AC at a point where
> > > you
> > > > see usually see DC while not connected to outside power something is
> > > wrong.
> > > > I would be very cautious because AC is "leaking" through and may become
> > > > lethal! Check the voltage at a light and see if it is also AC when
> > > connected
> > > > to outside power and DC while on internal battery power, if so something
> > > is
> > > > very wrong.
> > > > Phil
> > > > ________________________________________________________________________
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> > >
> > > ________________________________________________________________________
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