Carson converter rebuild.

[Davie B]

My Carson converter has been buzzing ever since I bought the LiteHouse and recently the hilt-in GFCI fell apart. I started looking for a replacement but had a problem finding anything that fit. Instead, I drilled out the pop rivets and went to work.

I added a ground buss bar to the back. The blue on the screws is Loctite.

[Davie B]

I replaced the broken GFCI with a GFCI outlet but had to modify the bezel.

[Davie B]

I labeled (curse of owning a label maker), loomed and taped everything. The distribution box is just a terminal strip used to breakout the two 12 v circuits from the inverter. It replaces wire nuts.









This is the back of a volt meter. The round thing next to it is a switch to turn off the red glow at night.





The meter is supplied from thais fuse box. The box gets power in from two 12 v batteries on the tongue. The converter is supplied from this fuse box which also collects power from the solar panel and from the hitch harness.

The buzz is still there in the inverter despite shellacking the transformer and tightening everything up. It may be a little tiny bit less annoying but i'm probably just fooling myself.

We have plenty of battery to run the lights and fan, so I'm just going to turn off the ac at night and fall asleep to the sound of the night critters.

[Davie B]

Finished project. The inverter still needs replacing but that's a job for another day.

[Donna D.]

WOW. Reuse and reclaim seems to be your motto. I like the fact you labeled everything. I know in my case I always say "I'll remember," then a month (or less) later... promptly forget

Nice job!

[Tom Hansen NM USA]

Where did you get a panel mount volt meter ?? I've looked at camper stores and didn't find anything.

[Davie B]

It was 6$s on eBay; shipped direct from China.

[Davie B]

I have a family history of memory issues so I'm trying to be prepared. I really need to replace the converter. I just can't find one small enough.

[David Tilston]

Converter, (120VAC to 12VDC) or inverter, (12VDC to 120VAC)? If it is a converter you are looking for, this may work. It is a replacement unit, but may even work with your panel.

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ter-48962.html

[Davie B]

Sorry - my bad. Yes, it's a converter buzzing away in my trailer. Now that I have two batteries, I hardly ever use the converter. A 60 amp unit is over kill but I'm keeping my eyes open for something smaller.

[David Tilston]

Perhaps you missed the link in the string. The converter that I thought you sould look at is:
Upgrade or Replacement RV Converter/Charger with built-in CHARGE WIZARD
It is available in 35, 45, and 55 amp versions. These are DC amps, so a 35 amp converter is only 420 watts.

[Davie B]

Thanks David. I don't think that this will fit into the available space behind my sink, but I'm thinking I could mount one remotely (under the seat), remove the existing buzzing transformer and diodes, but continue to use the existing panel as a 12 volt distribution system.

[fusedlight]

Davie... nice labeling. I don't know how many times I've rooted around in some wiring I did month ago and say... gee...what's THAT???

I doubt that the diodes are buzzing, it's probably a loose plate in the core of the beast. If it's of a certain vintage you might have screws on the corners of the transformer that go through it. See if those are tight. If not... probably time for a new transformer.

We're lucky here in the Twin Cities with Axeman Surplus. Tons of weird transformers for just about every need. I bet the unit has a 110V:12V transformer on it....look for something from the Good Old tube radio days.

[Davie B]

Thanks - Yeah - having a label machine has changed my life and I need all the help I can get. When I had the converter out and apart, I painted some shellac on the plates and tightened everything up. It still buzzes. I'm thinking that going solid state is the best route.

I'm guessing that the big pieces of sheet metal pop riveted to a big flat piece of fiberglass help amplify the buzzing.

Originally Posted by fusedlight

Davie... nice labeling. I don't know how many times I've rooted around in some wiring I did month ago and say... gee...what's THAT???

I doubt that the diodes are buzzing, it's probably a loose plate in the core of the beast. If it's of a certain vintage you might have screws on the corners of the transformer that go through it. See if those are tight. If not... probably time for a new transformer.

We're lucky here in the Twin Cities with Axeman Surplus. Tons of weird transformers for just about every need. I bet the unit has a 110V:12V transformer on it....look for something from the Good Old tube radio days.

[fusedlight]

Originally Posted by Davie B

<snip> I'm thinking that going solid state is the best route.

Yup... solid state would be the best route. More efficient, and all that... cripes this got me thinking. In my Junk Box of All Stuff I've even got some old selenium rectifiers! You know... those things with the big place?

[Bob Miller]

With old converters the best route to go is to junque them and install an updated converter-power center like the Progressive Dynmics 4045. You get safe a/c distribution, lots of DC circuits and a 3 stage battery charger. Out with the junque, in with 2012.