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07-10-2003, 05:47 PM
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#1
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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After the inaugural trip
Hi again.
We had a successful july 4th outing in the "new" trailer.
I only had a couple of problems, and only one seems to be an " Airstream" thing. The univolt quit charging or putting out voltage of any kind on day 2. I got into the closet where it is located, and found a screw had burned off on the inside of the case. It started working again when I gently pushed on the screw head with an insulated screwdriver. Has anyone had any success taking these things apart and repairing them, or am I better off to just buy another one?
The other problem wqas the toilet ran (dribbled) all weekend and the black water tank overflowed. Yuck!
Terry
(in Florida)
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07-10-2003, 07:14 PM
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#2
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Problems
If I had a Univolt that old and with problems, I would replace it with a modern converter. The new converters are quiet, reliable, and put out a much cleaner DC voltage. I wouldn't bother replacing it with a Univolt.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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07-10-2003, 08:59 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 84
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My 76 overlander has a replacement charger and it's called a Magnatek. I just discovered it a few days ago and was sorry it wasn't a "univolt". Should I be?
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07-11-2003, 08:09 AM
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#4
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by overlander76
My 76 overlander has a replacement charger and it's called a Magnatek. I just discovered it a few days ago and was sorry it wasn't a "univolt". Should I be?
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IMHO, No. Magnatek is a good state of the art converter. There is nothing magic about Univolt.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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07-11-2003, 04:31 PM
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#5
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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the univolt-less
Okay, I guess I am going to be ripping out my Univolt, and going "in search of" this weekend.
Right after I fix the toilet...
Thanks for the advice.
Terry
(in Florida)
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07-11-2003, 06:07 PM
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#6
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Retired Moderator
1992 29' Excella
madison
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,644
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magnatek is a univolt
Quote:
Originally posted by overlander76
My 76 overlander has a replacement charger and it's called a Magnatek. I just discovered it a few days ago and was sorry it wasn't a "univolt". Should I be?
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my '92 has a magnatek as standard equipment.
therefore it is a "univolt" according to my manual.
it is a fine unit and works as intended.
just check your water levels every four weeks or so...
john
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07-11-2003, 06:10 PM
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#7
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Retired Moderator
1992 29' Excella
madison
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,644
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Re: After the inaugural trip
Quote:
Originally posted by argosy20
Hi again.
We had a successful july 4th outing in the "new" trailer.
I only had a couple of problems, and only one seems to be an " Airstream" thing. The univolt quit charging or putting out voltage of any kind on day 2. I got into the closet where it is located, and found a screw had burned off on the inside of the case. It started working again when I gently pushed on the screw head with an insulated screwdriver. Has anyone had any success taking these things apart and repairing them, or am I better off to just buy another one?
The other problem wqas the toilet ran (dribbled) all weekend and the black water tank overflowed. Yuck!
Terry
(in Florida)
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if all you have is a bad terminal you can repair it.
i'll dig up the tread!
john
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07-11-2003, 06:13 PM
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#8
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Retired Moderator
1992 29' Excella
madison
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,644
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07-13-2003, 08:21 AM
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#9
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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The Univolt (Triad)
I pulled my Univolt out yesterday, and it turned out it was made by a company called Triad. It has a 30 amp rating, and was riveted together (kind of like our trailers).
Anyway, I was going to head out to my local dealer to pick one up, and decided to open it up and see what had happened to it.
It turned out that the 12v+ lead had either been not tightened enough at the factory, or had worked loose through vibration.
The resulting loose connection had acted like an arc welder, and burned the end of the lead off. I replaced the lead, installed a new bolt, riveted the thing back together, and re-installed it in the trailer. It is now happily humming away in the bathroom closet again.
Sometimes, you get the bear. Sometimes the bear gets you. This time, I got the bear.
If and when it finally does take the big crappolla, I can use it as an anchor for my boat. Man, is it heavy!
Thanks for all the info, I am glad I didn't need to replace it though. Now I can continue saving that cash for a new axle.
Terry
(in Florida)
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07-13-2003, 08:42 AM
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#10
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Univolt Weight
Quote:
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If and when it finally does take the big crappolla, I can use it as an anchor for my boat. Man, is it heavy!
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That is one advantage of the current generation of converters. Not only do they put out a much better DC level, but they also weigh a fraction of what the old ones weighed.
Many things with solid-state rcuit boards (TVs, refrigerators, etc.) may work better with the new converters because of a lot less ripple on the DC voltage.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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