Hummmmmmmmmm.......

[SteveH]

Is there a way to stop the incessant hum of the inverter, besides unpluging the shore power?

[lewster]

Steve,

If it the 'Univolt' converter that you are referring to (PM me if you would like an exlaination of the difference between a converter and an inverter),that is what they do best......HMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

The best way to get rid of the hum is to REPLACE THE UNIVOLT. Talk to Randy (68 Overlander) at BestConverter - Converters, Inverters, Electrical Supplies, Electronics and he will fix you up with a suitable replacement for that old device (it makes a nice boat anchor I'm told!)

[SteveH]

Yes, sorry slip of the tongue, or keys, it's the converter.

[Wayne&Sam]

The converter in my old SOB made an annoying buzzing sound. I had to periodically nudge the toroid inductor (?) (the magnetic doughnut with copper wire wrapped around it) with a pencil to get it to stop. A few bumps down the road and it would start buzzing again. Fortunately i don't have that with the Safari. So if you don't want to deal with it, maybe an newer converter is the answer.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by SteveH

Is there a way to stop the incessant hum of the inverter, besides unpluging the shore power?

Steve.

What is the make and model of your univolt?

A previous owner may have changed it to something other than original.

"IF" you have the original, you can remove the transformer and "repot" it.

Repoting costs the price of a quart of clear enamel paint.

Andy

[centennialman]

I agree.....a new converter is in order.

The new ones don't hum like the old Univolt's

Good luck!

[Janet H]

Pitch out the old battery boiler - the new ones will improve your battery life and run dead silent as well.

[overlander63]

Why do Univolts hum?

Because they don't know the words!...

Seriously, you can use Inland Andy's fix for the Univolt, a can of paint is certainly less money than a new converter.
If you want to replace the Univolt while you have it in your hands, you can get an Intellipower converter (or almost any other "modern" converter) to replace the Univolt/buzzbox/boat anchor (choose any nickname). I like the Intellipower, but there are other brands to choose from.

[CanoeStream]

A new converter will partly pay for itself in fewer batteries used up. Batteries are still a challenge to get a full life out of. Trying to do that with a Univolt only compounds the problem. It's a dinosaur sledgehammer of a solution and what was available 40 years ago.. Janet is right -- leave it plugged in for any significant time and it can boil the batteries dry. Replacing it is simple, fairly inexpensive and an effective fix for more questions than you asked. WFCO or Intellipower uses the mantra, "Ommm..." -- not "HummmmMMMMMMM!"

[Royce]

Sounds like repotting may still be an option for you. Our old Univolt quit last summer at Sand Dunes Colorado. It responded to percussive repair and worked for the rest of the trip. I replaced it with a 4455TC ParaMode converter with battery tempature checker when we got back. There are several good options for modern converters. The paraMode is dead silent except for when the cooling fan kicks on then you get a little fan noise. I gave the old Univolt to a local Ham operator. He repaired it, added some magic electronics and uses it to power a portable ham shack.

[Fyrzowt]

The new ones don't hum like the old Univolt's

Pitch out the old battery boiler - the new ones will improve your battery life and run dead silent as well.

I don't know what qualifies as new. My 1998 Safari had a noticable hummm.
Dave

[Wayne&Sam]

Don't confuse a fairly loud, buzzing hum with the barely audible sound of the cooling fan.

[Skater]

Originally Posted by Royce

It responded to percussive repair and worked for the rest of the trip.

I'm going to use that one.

[Fyrzowt]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

Don't confuse a fairly loud, buzzing hum with the barely audible sound of the cooling fan.

This would be a hum unlike any fan I've heard. It was quite unlike a "barely audible sound of a cooling fan".