smoked converter 1998 thor pinicale 3050

[30more]

Burn up my converter yesterday. While using the slide out and leveling jacks. 55 amp converter. Is that enough to power the hydraulic pump that works slide outs and Jaxs? I only ask because it literally started smoking while I was bringing in slide out. Of course now it's not working. Thinking of replacing it with a 75 amp.

[javelin]

Well I am not familiar with your specific coach but......usually jacks and generator starter are powered from coach batteries......so if you left your batteries disconnected (or use/store not in use; or coach battery disconnect was not turned on; or the coach batteries are not charged, etc) then the converter probably tried to supply the juice for the jack pump motor..... and you "let the smoke out of it". Assuming the OEM converter is toast, check Progressive Dynamics web site to see if they have an equivalent 55 amp converter to replace your old one. You probably don't want (or need) a bigger converter since wiring/fusing limitations could cause you new headaches plus the physical size would likely not fit where your toasted converter now resides. Make sure your coach batteries are fully charged and use/store is on and usually when jacks are deployed it is recommended that the engine is running (alternator charging the coach batteries). Just a suggestion.

[javelin]

30more, I am attaching a generic schematic for the DC connections which “may” be similar to your coach. If it is similar to your coach then for the converter to burn up, I suspect that your use/store was on (latching relay was closed). So then it is likely your coach batteries were either discharged or dead or not connected perhaps, which is normally where the bulk of the current would come from to operate the jack pump motor or to start your generator. Hope this helps you visualize a bit.

[30more]

Originally Posted by javelin

30more, I am attaching a generic schematic for the DC connections which “may” be similar to your coach. If it is similar to your coach then for the converter to burn up, I suspect that your use/store was on (latching relay was closed). So then it is likely your coach batteries were either discharged or dead or not connected perhaps, which is normally where the bulk of the current would come from to operate the jack pump motor or to start your generator. Hope this helps you visualize a bit.

New batteries batteries may have been drained because coach wasn't starting at the time was dealing with a what I now know is a starter solenoid problem.

Old converter cooked batteries acid was leaking out of side.

Replaced with two deep-cycle optima blue top 27 group and one deep cycle dual purpose yellow top 27 degrees

So for converter breaker and wire sizing. The old Waco 55 amp/ 950 watt. So 950w ÷ 55amps - 17.27 amp draw

I was thinking about using a Waco 75 amp/ 1240 watt converter. 1240w ÷ 75a = 17.06 so if I did use this one I should be good I do have extensive electrical background.

The company you mentioned above only carries a 60 amp no 55. And it has two Dc negatives and two positive outputs. I'm assuming this is to charge 2 battery Banks. I'm still scared that this will cook my batteries since. It's not made especially for AMG (gel-filled). DC power in batteries are kind of my specialty. I know this converter is better than the one that came out of it. But I was still thinking about using a precision 3 Bank battery charger. that way I can disconnect all three batteries and charge/maintain them separately. And not use hydraulic for leveling jacks and slide out without engine running again. I just got this thing and I can't find paperwork on it..... I burnt something up with hydraulics. Now it's not engaging. Will make a separate post on that after I get this converter figured out. What do you think? Just buy a better converter and let it charge my thousand-dollar batteries?! Batteries can last for years with a great charger / maintainer. But the ones that were just taken out we're only a year old. And converter cooked them.

[javelin]

Well if the OEM converter cooked the previous batteries then it was probably due for replacement/upgrade......so this may be a blessing in disguise. I think that Progressive Dynamics does have a 55 amp replacement for older converters, but I am not sure if replaces yours specifically or not; nor do I know if it is suitable for AGM or Lithium batteries since I use one for my cheap and dirty wet cell batteries.....going on 7 years now on the original Harris coach batteries (but I don’t boondock very often though). You could try calling PD and see what they say:
https://www.progressivedyn.com/rv/po...r-4600-series/


After reading your original situation again it seems that the hydraulic slide was the final straw for the converter. Many basic converters have an in line re-settable 50 amp breaker in series (or what is appropriate for the converter used) between the converter DC output and the coach batteries.......so you would think if you were drawing more current during the slide event, than the converter could supply, the breaker would have tripped before the converter burned up. Of course an old converter may have had its own issues that caused it to fail; maybe combined with hydraulics that may also be drawing more than they normally would when new (binding; lube; misalignment; motor winding short, etc).
I normally always suggest device replacements that comply with original design to err on the side of safety. If it all worked at one time with a 55 amp converter.....it should continue to do so if the failure cause is resolved. You sound like you have a plan in mind for upgrading the charging system overall so I will leave that one for you to resolve. I hope it works out for you and you get your systems running again. It is a good challenge to keep older coaches running safely and reliably.

[30more]

Originally Posted by javelin

Well if the OEM converter cooked the previous batteries then it was probably due for replacement/upgrade......so this may be a blessing in disguise. I think that Progressive Dynamics does have a 55 amp replacement for older converters, but I am not sure if replaces yours specifically or not; nor do I know if it is suitable for AGM or Lithium batteries since I use one for my cheap and dirty wet cell batteries.....going on 7 years now on the original Harris coach batteries (but I don’t boondock very often though). You could try calling PD and see what they say:
https://www.progressivedyn.com/rv/po...r-4600-series/


After reading your original situation again it seems that the hydraulic slide was the final straw for the converter. Many basic converters have an in line re-settable 50 amp breaker in series (or what is appropriate for the converter used) between the converter DC output and the coach batteries.......so you would think if you were drawing more current during the slide event, than the converter could supply, the breaker would have tripped before the converter burned up. Of course an old converter may have had its own issues that caused it to fail; maybe combined with hydraulics that may also be drawing more than they normally would when new (binding; lube; misalignment; motor winding short, etc).
I normally always suggest device replacements that comply with original design to err on the side of safety. If it all worked at one time with a 55 amp converter.....it should continue to do so if the failure cause is resolved. You sound like you have a plan in mind for upgrading the charging system overall so I will leave that one for you to resolve. I hope it works out for you and you get your systems running again. It is a good challenge to keep older coaches running safely and reliably.

I went with the company you suggested for a converter and they make a 60 amp that is a direct replacement for the Waco 9855. So I will consider this thread closed! On to my next issue...