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Old 04-27-2017, 03:36 PM   #1
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1976 27' Overlander
Johnson City , Tennessee
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What runs the interior lights?

Hello - I'm a new learner with a 1976 27'Overlander. The (?) which takes the charge from the battery and operates the interior lights on our Airstream has gone bad. I have been operating on the assumption that this is an inverter. The battery was new, we have had it attached to the "inverter" and also a trickle charge. this system worked for about 2 months of scattered use. Then the battery died. - actually it was killed. So what do I replace? Is it an inverter? or a converter? I wish my someone could just tell me what to go buy lol.
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Old 04-27-2017, 04:36 PM   #2
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The batteries run the interior lights in your trailer. The converter is plugged into a 120V plug and converts 120v to 12v to charge your batteries. The old converters did not have a 3 stage charge like the new ones and in most cases boilled your batteries when plugged in to shore power for an extended period of time and using none or little 12v. Any time you are plugged into shore power (120v) the converter is charging your batteries. If you were on shore power and had a battery charger connected to your batteries they were getting a real jolt. I have replaced my converters in both my 1976 and 1994 with a Progressive Dynamics PD9245 with very good results and a modest cost. Installation is easy and the instructions that come with the unit are very good. Others on the forum have used this brand and as well as others with good results. By getting rid of the old converter your rig will shed about 50 lb. as well!! Good luck, Chris
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Old 04-27-2017, 08:34 PM   #3
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X2 on the PD 9245.
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Old 04-27-2017, 08:35 PM   #4
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1976 27' Overlander
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thank you!
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Old 04-27-2017, 08:36 PM   #5
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1976 27' Overlander
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thank you so much!. Will I still need the trickle charge once we replace the converter?
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Old 04-27-2017, 09:58 PM   #6
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I have an IOTA 55 (I believe) and it is a 3 stage converter. It charges the batteries based upon the charge level. When low it charges at a high rate, as the batteries get charged it will step down to a medium level and when they are fully charged it goes into a trickle mode. This is the idea even though my description is not the best.

The idea here is that you could leave your trailer hooked to 110V and not damage your batteries.

As I understand it, your converter converts 110V AC to 12V DC which runs all of your 12 volt appliances. What is left over goes to charge your batteries. You don't really need to have house batteries when plugged in. I don't think this is the best idea but the converter will take care of things.
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Old 04-28-2017, 07:21 AM   #7
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No need for a trickle charger if you have a modern converter.
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Old 04-28-2017, 09:39 AM   #8
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Your lights receive 12VDC from a DC buss which in turn receives power from two different sources. They are the battery when it's connected, and your converter when there is shore power on the trailer.

As mentioned above, a modern converter that has the ability to go to a float/maintenance charge once the batteries are at 100% is worth it.
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Old 04-28-2017, 12:15 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CFA happy View Post
thank you so much!. Will I still need the trickle charge once we replace the converter?
If you replace the convertor with a modern one it will have the trickle charger in it. Look at Progressive 9000 series
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