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04-03-2012, 05:19 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1971 31' Sovereign
1967 22' Safari
1958 22' World Traveler
Pardeeville
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 569
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What is a Univolt? :-)
I know WHAT a univolt is, I know what they do, and i have a very good idea of HOW they do it. Can someone possibly tell me how a Univolt is different than say, and Astron RS20, 20amp power supply? They seem to me to function exactly the same and serve the same purpose...
__________________
Jay (KB8VMO)
WBCCI #10917
AIR #32349
TAC #WI-2
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04-03-2012, 05:41 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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Ok. Here's an educated guess. The Univolt is more like a battery charger than a power supply. Especially if the power supply is a regulated type. The power supply puts out a constant and fixed voltage up to it's rated capacity. Whereas a battery charger (at least a good one) will vary the voltage depending on the state of the battery being charged.
In my opinion the Univolt is a crude battery charger and is noted for cooking batteries.
The modern converters used in RV's are intelligent to a point. As the converter sees the state of the battery change it adjusts itself accordingly. Whereas a power supply does not have that capability. Typically regulated power supplies are used where a fixed voltage level is required, in electronic circuits for example.
A power supply would not be a good choice for charging a battery.
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04-03-2012, 06:06 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1971 31' Sovereign
1967 22' Safari
1958 22' World Traveler
Pardeeville
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 569
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Thanks that kind of explains it...We're restoring a 67 Safari...Today i removed the univolt and was wondering how it was different than a power supply and different than a battery charger...
__________________
Jay (KB8VMO)
WBCCI #10917
AIR #32349
TAC #WI-2
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04-03-2012, 06:09 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aircooled4
Thanks that kind of explains it...We're restoring a 67 Safari...Today i removed the univolt and was wondering how it was different than a power supply and different than a battery charger...
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After removing the one in my Trade Wind, I would say that a Univolt is more suited to marine use.
It would make a better boat anchor.
__________________
Vaughan
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04-03-2012, 06:20 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,917
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I believe much of the weight is copper.
You may want to recycle.
I didn't think of this until I used my old ones for boat anchors. Oops.
__________________
Ken L 2019 Flying Cloud 27FB
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 6.2L Max Tow Four Corners Unit WBCCI #5783
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04-09-2012, 10:03 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
New Borockton
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aircooled4
They seem to me to function exactly the same and serve the same purpose...
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That couldn't be more true.
__________________
Randy...Converters, Inverters, Trimetric, Surge Protectors, Zamp, Smartplug, AGM Batts
888-828-1893
Bestconverter.com
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04-09-2012, 10:49 PM
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#7
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Maniacal Engineer
1971 25' Tradewind
Lopez Island
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,244
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I believe a Univolt is actually a f erroresonant transformer.
They are old-school technology, but are generally quite robust and resistant to variations in input voltage, power spikes, etc.
They make a fair amount of noise humming; I'm going to use my old one as a 30A battery charger in the garage.
- Bart
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