I've just recently purchased a 1970
Caravel and am at the jumping off point on bringing it up to smooth operation. I'm having a ball, but am also a little over my head with electrical systems. So I thought I'd give the forum a try and see what insight might come my way.
When I looked at the
Caravel in the previous owner's driveway it was plugged into 110 and the battery was not in. All the electrical seemed to run smoothly. Once I got it home and had the battery hooked up while it was plugged into 110, it started dimming and surging, like it was switching back and forth between the battery and shore power. Sure enough, the battery check needle goes down and up with the dimming/surging lights. The intervals seem to be about 30 seconds and may be shorter if the battery has a higher charge, but I'm not positive about that. If it's just running off the battery, the power seems to be consistent. Is the univolt a goner? And if so, what would be a good replacement? I hope to eventually go solar, so I'd want something compatible with that longer term goal. Any help is most welcome.
Thanks,
Ben