philclouse wrote: thanks everyone for your input. It looks like I will be looking for a PD converter and distribution panel.
I got my Power Max Boondocker the same place Joe did. Great to work with! Here is the link to the Avion Rebuild thread where I am retrofitting my 1966 Avion with the new inverter and a new distribution center. Avion Thread
And halfway down this page is my electrical distribution panel. I went with round glass type fuses for now because I already had the fuse block, and my boat uses the same fuses, so kept the same.
Hope this helps, and good luck with the Resto. Mine is still in progress too, but we have already taken the maiden voyage, and are anxious to go out again!
Garry in AK
Garry K
Wife + 4 kids
Retired Military Family.... Alway's on the move....
2002 F350 CCSB 5.4 6spd 4x4 in AK
1966 Avion C-10 Truck Camper
nice looking job garryk6. I have owned my camper since 1995, used it quite alot until 2001, camping with the kids at the lake, when they were young. In 2001 I divorced, and the camper was one of the few things I got to keep. I let it set, using it for storage, until this past October, as I had sold the Truck I used to carry it on, years ago. After spending three nights in a tent during October deer season, I found the ground is harder and colder than it was when I was younger, so I decided to restore the camper for future trips.
sundowners wrote: Hi Steve
our standard converter/charger was charging at a very low rate----so when wild camping (boondocking) and using the genny to recharge the camper battery it would take 3 weeks (nearly) to re-charge--------so I fitted a 25 amp 'C-Tech' charger,this charges much quicker than the old one (which I have left connected) and our little 1 kva Honda is quite happy supplying.-----The only downside is that you would have to switch from charge to direct supply-----I just leave ours on charge and run off the battery, it seems very happy like this. It seems to run very quietly (but I am a bit deaf !)
Look up the C-tech chargers on-line, they do seem good for our purpose.
BTW--we are going to miss Morocco this winter and are soon going back to Portugal---we LOVE it there,
Nigel & Pamala-----Spain
Thanks Nigel - I see they do this one... for marine use, which sounds like it would be suitable and cover any upgrade we did in future. A bit pricey. The problem I noticed if I used my domestic 3-way charger is that when I switch any devices on in the camper the current draw from the battery of these devices then confuses the charger and it decides the battery must be broken, so switches itself off. I wonder how well these in-line chargers cope with that situation?
Have a good time in Portugal (we've booked the Bilbao ferry for October).
Steve.
'07 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab diesel + '91 Shadow Cruiser - Sky Cruiser 1
'92 Suzuki Samurai 4x4 1.6
'09 Fiat Panda 1.2
'10 Citroen DS3 1.6 turbo
My next question is, I know that a converter , converts 120v to 12v, but in my camper what is its real use, other than being a $250.00 battery charger? In my 1974 Red Dale, all lights have both 120v and 12v bulbs, with the exception of the overhead bunk light which is 12v only. Unless I am thinking wrong, all the converter is doing, is keeping the battery charged when I have shore power?
I am a bit confused, where are you seeing a " $250.00 battery charger"? With all due respect, I think you should do a little research on three stage chargers. Other than charging a battery and/or supplying 12-volts to your needs, what do you expect the charger to do?
ok, maybe I am wrong. The converter is approximately $145.00 and a distribution box about $90.00. A Battery will provide 12v, which I need to add to that cost anyway to make the system complete. So it seems to me the converter is there to charge the battery. my question is, why a converter? There are on board chargers available that are permately mounted, Most bass boats have them built in. So why not just use one of those?
hi Steve
we have the MXS 25-----it is dearer but fully auto and 25 amp-------one advantage of one of these over a US one is that it runs of 220v----which saves having to drop the volts first (run straight off EHU or genny.)------ask the opinion of the guys on FUN--a lot of them have RVs, so would have more experience than me (I know some have bought an upgrade charger/converter direct from the 'States)
you are planning early------we will be back next winter, and plan to get to Morocco----yes I know, we had planned to go THIS winter!!!!!! We have no idea when we will leave UK yet----thats a long way off
We should be able to cross paths sometime during the Summer!!!
(then, maybe you can teach us how to do a bit more on THIS forum--- (post pics/quote a post I can't even work out how to use smilies !!!!)
Nigel & Pamala----Spain
EDIT
I have managed the smilies !!!!
If you intend on mounting a flooded wet cell battery in the TC, you definitely should use a sealed box with external, outside the TC, venting. Add that cost to your system. This is not needed with an AGM, in my opinion.
I went with an AGM battery and no venting. It has worked just fine for over seven years. There are people that are of the belief you have to vent the AGMs. I am not one of them.
philclouse wrote: So it seems to me the converter is there to charge the battery. my question is, why a converter?
A converter is not there to charge the battery, they only do one thing, convert 120-volts to 12-volts. Many of the older TCs had converters, without charging capabilities. They will destroy a battery real quick.
philclouse wrote: There are on board chargers available that are permately mounted, Most bass boats have them built in. So why not just use one of those?
I am unfamiliar with what the Bass Boats have, could be a Charger, Converter, or a Converter/Charger.
I am not knowledgeable enough to say why you should, or should not, use a Battery Charger to convert 120-volts to 12-volts. I do know not all Battery Chargers are three stage Smart Chargers.
The bottom line is, the modern day RVs typically use a Converter/Charger. The higher quality RVs use a Three Stage Smart Charger/Converter. They are often referred to as simply a "Converter". They are designed to allow being plugged in (continuous) to 120-volt (typical), convert 120v to 12v, and smart enough to charge the battery if it needs charging.
In most cases dedicates does nothing else battery chargers do not filter their output so the wave pattern of the 12 volt is extremely dirty and can damage electronics.
And for the rest of my answer, I shall quote Wayne:
Reddog1 wrote:
The bottom line is, the modern day RVs typically use a Converter/Charger. The higher quality RVs use a Three Stage Smart Charger/Converter. They are often referred to as simply a "Converter". They are designed to allow being plugged in (continuous) to 120-volt (typical), convert 120v to 12v, and smart enough to charge the battery if it needs charging.
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