Re: [VAC] Re: [VAC]Univolt

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Merry,
 I have 2 different Univolts here that I've not gotten around to
discarding. They are very different units, one having electronic voltage
regulation with a small PCB and a Triac, the other being the more-common
ferro-resonant type. I repaired the latter, finding a broken wire to the
capacitor bank. However, it failed at the end of the season, and it
wasn't the same thing this time.

Moral One: They ain't all the same, and it ain't always the same
problem. And even if you have some electronics knowlege, you might not
be able to fix it.

Moral Two: standard "converters" are a compromise at best. They do a
poor job of charging the battery, yet over-charge the battery(s) if left
connected to power all the time. The only way to use them is to unplug
the cord if you're not using the trailer for a lengthy period. And watch
the battery water level!

From what I've learned over the last year, I'd never bother fixing one
of the old-style converters, but would replace it with a good 3-stage
battery charger. Last year, the Hot Setup was the Statpower charger, but
someone here pointed out the Intellipower converter with Charge Wizard.
The combo is less than $250.00 from Camping World, and is probably
availble at a better price elsewhere if you do some shopping. Just for
comparison, C.W. carries standard converters that cost nearly as much as
the IntelliPower.

That's my opinion, YMMV.

                                           <<Jim>>