Hi all. I'm trying to replace the old charger/converter in my 97 class B van. I removed the original charger from the back of the distribution panel and wired up the new charger in its place. The positive lead from the charger goes to a relay that appears to switch between battery power or charger power when there is power coming from the charger, IE when you are on shore power. I'm not sure the point of this, what is wrong with leaving the 12v devices on battery power all the time and just having the charger charge the batteries when you are on shore power? At the moment when I am on shore power the new charger powers all the 12v devices but DOES NOT CHARGE the battery. I'm assuming this is because this relay is disconnecting the battery... So I think I just need to remove that relay and wire everything to the charger? Will that still give me power when the charger is wired in line with everything else but not on shore power? I've included some pictures below thanks!
Trying to install a new charger/converter and very confused
- Thread starter Jonny360
- Start date
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Gary RV_Wizard
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I'm guessing you had one of the old Magnetek or similar converters that had separate wires for battery charging and 12v house power. The relay switched between battery and the house power mode. If you replaced it with a modern deck-mount converter/charger, it probably uses the same pair off wires for both charging and house power, so you wouldn't need the relay in the circuit. To eliminate the relay, just couple the new charger output wire to both the 12v bus (fuse panel) lead and the battery charging lead. Without knowing more about your previous converter & charger wiring, I'm reluctant to say more than that.
John From Detroit
Well-known member
The old magnetek chargers did indeed have a relay such as you describe.
There was also a RED wire and a BLUE wire coming off the converter.
I think if your lights work on the existing converter but the battery does not charge measure the voltage where the blue wire connected. And where the red. As I RECALL (And this means I am not sure of this so TEST) the blue wire should be about the same volatge as you would measure at the battery and the red is the COnverter's output voltage (Power on)
IF this is the case and the new converter is somethign like a Progressive Dynamics 4600.. Connect the red and blue and you should be good.
There was also a RED wire and a BLUE wire coming off the converter.
I think if your lights work on the existing converter but the battery does not charge measure the voltage where the blue wire connected. And where the red. As I RECALL (And this means I am not sure of this so TEST) the blue wire should be about the same volatge as you would measure at the battery and the red is the COnverter's output voltage (Power on)
IF this is the case and the new converter is somethign like a Progressive Dynamics 4600.. Connect the red and blue and you should be good.
grashley
Well-known member
Welcome to the Forum!
I recently had to replace my converter. In my 10 year old FW, the converter wires go directly to the fuse panel. The battery goes directly to the fuse panel and the two (battery and converter +) are joined at the panel. Neg too! ;D The fuse panel gets power from either / both battery and converter any time I have 120V to the converter. Battery feeds the panel without 120V. I suspect this is how the new converter wants to be wired.
Gary and John described how the old one was probably wired.
I recently had to replace my converter. In my 10 year old FW, the converter wires go directly to the fuse panel. The battery goes directly to the fuse panel and the two (battery and converter +) are joined at the panel. Neg too! ;D The fuse panel gets power from either / both battery and converter any time I have 120V to the converter. Battery feeds the panel without 120V. I suspect this is how the new converter wants to be wired.
Gary and John described how the old one was probably wired.
grashley
Well-known member
Thanks for letting us know how it was solved!
