Moving Univolt & battery in 84 Soveriegn.

[stgerdonly]

I need to move the Univolt and battery to make way for a comfortable sleeper sofa. I want to move them to each side of the sofa where the arms are. Can I just extend wiring and is everything connected inside the fuse panel? Help from anyone who has done such a move is appreciated.

[Steve Bryant]

Originally Posted by stgerdonly

I need to move the Univolt and battery to make way for a comfortable sleeper sofa. I want to move them to each side of the sofa where the arms are. Can I just extend wiring and is everything connected inside the fuse panel? Help from anyone who has done such a move is appreciated.

Could you provide some pictures and/or a diagram to show the change you want to make? Where are the battery and charger located now and where do you propose putting them. If you truly have a Univolt charger/battery eliminator, this will be the time to replace it with a modern three or four stage unit.

[Bill M.]

Have not done such a move. I think you would want to replace the Univolt with a modern converter. The Univolt is just wired to the DC fuse box in the wall behind the sofa. If you move it you will need to run new wires to the DC panel or extend the present wires with proper connectors. There is also a battery use/store switch with several heavy wires behind the sofa to contend with. I would put in a modern converter and maybe just take the use/store switch out. I never use mine.

I think the best place for the batteries would be out on the tongue of the trailer behind the gas bottles. Have seen many trailers with batteries in that area. People build racks either on top of the A frame or down in the box that is often in that area. Flooded cell batteries and AGM batteries need to be in the box like they are now or outside. People put Lithium batteries inside but that is an entirely expensive proposition.

[stgerdonly]

I agree with the placement on battery on the tounge. What inverter do you think is best for that year and make? How hard of a wiring job is it?

[Bill M.]

I ordered a 45 amp Boondocker converter from Best Converter. I have no illusions that it is the "best" converter but it works well and was fairly inexpensive. Easy job but.... The original wires are too short. I took the Univolt apart in place by drilling out the cover rivets and detached the wires inside to gain about 6". Then just hooked up the 2 wires and the ground to the new converter. You will either have to splice on to the existing wires or get new wires (better) to the panel somehow. Plus deal with the store/use switch.

Put your tables up and clear the space in front of the present sofa. Fold the back over to the front. Take out the 4 bolts, 2 on each side, holding the whole bed in place. Not the ones that hold the back to the frame. Then just tip the bed up from the back and pivot 180 and lean agains the wall. Now you can see exactly what you are dealing with in terms of wiring and space.
I would probably do the wiring myself if I were doing this. But.. a professional mobile tech or installer would do a better job and would have the correct crimp tools and connectors and the correct size wire.