Univolt removal help needed

[Skamper1]

Got my new univolt (yay) and now am trying to remove the old/original unit. Service manual says to remove screws to take off cover to disconnect the wires. There are no screws, but alot of rivets. Did manage to get four screws anchoring the old univolt out, but wires are too short and attached to remove the old unit. Help!!! Thanks. Jack

[BIGED52]

Get a sharp metal chisel or a 1/8th inch drill bit & drill and get those pesky rivets removed. It will most likely be a chisel job as finding enough room to do the drilling may be an issue. Once the cover is loose disconnect the wires and keep the 12 volt fuse box from the Univolt, you may need it! Make sure the Univolt is un-plugged. Ed

[Skamper1]

Sorry no pics at this point. Got cover off after drilling rivets. Turned off power. There are three wires. 2 big and black and 1 small white. Got ready to cut one of the big wires and thunder/ lightning kaboomed! Glad I had reinstalled the toilet. Someone forgot to tell me to disconnect the battery. Small spark. How do I tell which is positive and which is negative? What do I do with the white wire? There was no 12 volt fuse box with the univolt. There is a 12 v fuse box mounted to the front wall. Thanks for any guidance. Jack

[BIGED52]

Jack, You should've checked the battery leads before you tired to disconnect the leads anyway... Afterall the Univolt charges the battery! Now that being done already... Lets get to the other question you came up with. The positive lead from the battery was the one that sparked. Mark it with a piece of masking tape and put a plus sign on the tape. To verify this get a volt meter and switch it to continuity. Check from the cut end of the wire by the Univolt to the + battery terminal clamp. If you have continuity you have proved it to be the positive lead. Same applies to the other lead only it should be the - negative one. The white wire should be the neutral lead. That one should tie into all the neutral wires for the trailer. Perhaps in the battery box as mine does, but it also could be located in a circuit breaker panel box or some type of juction box. Ed

[Skamper1]

Will get out my trusty voltmeter. The white wire appears to be coming from the 12 v fuse box. Thought someone had mentioned that I would lose the "AC power" light on the control panel when I change out converters. Guess I should take off the cover of the fuse box and see if in fact this wire goes to the 4 amp fuse. If it indeed does go there, what should I do with the wire and fuse? Thanks. Jack

[Jammer]

Glad you weren't hurt.