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Old 04-04-2016, 05:00 PM   #1
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Converter replacement

So the fan in my 16 year old Tetons converter is giving up. It's rated at 55 amp. I'm looking to replace with a 60 amp. PD 9260C 60 Amp RV Converter/Charger
What advantages would there be if I bought the 70 amp one ? I do know my R/R pocket would be lighter.
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Old 04-04-2016, 07:39 PM   #2
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Hi Mike,


You may get a faster charge. Couple of things to look out for. First make sure the wiring going from the converter to the distribution panel and battery are able to carry the extra amps. Second, look at the distribution block in the battery compartment and see if there is a breaker on the connection from the converter. I replaced my 75 amp with a 100 amp and found that the breaker from the converter was only 30 amps and would pop if the battery needed a heavy draw. The converter manufacture recommended not having any break between the converter and the battery. I ended up putting in a 50 amp breaker since my 6 gauge wire was borderline for 100 amps. I don't think the battery would pull that much, but didn't want to take a chance.
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Old 04-04-2016, 11:05 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertRat View Post
So the fan in my 16 year old Tetons converter is giving up. It's rated at 55 amp. I'm looking to replace with a 60 amp. PD 9260C 60 Amp RV Converter/Charger
What advantages would there be if I bought the 70 amp one ? I do know my R/R pocket would be lighter.
Man what a POS that Teton is... that converter should have lasted at least 20 years!

Personally I would go with the 60 amp, probably an almost even swap. I am sure the electronics have improved a bit over the 16 years and it will be an improvement.

Aaron
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Old 04-04-2016, 11:46 PM   #4
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Does a converter that is rated at 55, 60,70 amps or whatever deliver those amps at a 100% duty cycle or is the rating the maximum output of the unit?
I'm thinking of things that have amperage ratings that can deliver the posted rating when needed to do so but don't do that 100% at a time. An automobile alternator rated at 300 amps doesn't feed 300 amps into a battery but could if needed to. A residence may have a 250 amp service at the meter but there aren't 250 amps at an outlet but if all outlets were in use and all lamp fixtures were maxed out and the rest of the electrical load was activated then 250 would be available to service those devices.


So then, would a 70 amp converter actually push 70 amps or only be capable of doing so when needed? Would a normal RV require 70 amps of DC voltage?
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Old 04-05-2016, 12:06 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
Does a converter that is rated at 55, 60,70 amps or whatever deliver those amps at a 100% duty cycle or is the rating the maximum output of the unit?
I'm thinking of things that have amperage ratings that can deliver the posted rating when needed to do so but don't do that 100% at a time. An automobile alternator rated at 300 amps doesn't feed 300 amps into a battery but could if needed to. A residence may have a 250 amp service at the meter but there aren't 250 amps at an outlet but if all outlets were in use and all lamp fixtures were maxed out and the rest of the electrical load was activated then 250 would be available to service those devices.


So then, would a 70 amp converter actually push 70 amps or only be capable of doing so when needed? Would a normal RV require 70 amps of DC voltage?
The amp rating is the total amount of power that is converted from 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC. The amount going to the batteries varies a bit by manufacturer as well how much other power is being pulled from the converter. One advantage of going to a larger converter is the ability to be able to add more 12 volt circuits and pull more 12 volt amps to the devices as compared to a lower amp rated unit.

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Old 04-05-2016, 12:15 AM   #6
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That begs the question as to what one could add that would need more DC amps. Most of us have swapped incandescent lamps to LEDs, the furnace blower is the largest draw I think, landing gears and hydraulic pumps are used only when setup or tear down so I can't imagine what DC device that we don't already have would necessitate a larger converter.
I'm just thinking out loud here, why spend the extra money for something larger that will probably not be utilized to the fullest extent?
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Old 04-05-2016, 12:50 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
That begs the question as to what one could add that would need more DC amps. Most of us have swapped incandescent lamps to LEDs, the furnace blower is the largest draw I think, landing gears and hydraulic pumps are used only when setup or tear down so I can't imagine what DC device that we don't already have would necessitate a larger converter.
I'm just thinking out loud here, why spend the extra money for something larger that will probably not be utilized to the fullest extent?
Televisions, DVD/DVR players, charge lines for phones, tablets, etc. Fantastic Vents, etc, etc.

Blows my mind all the "stuff" that has been added over the years.

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Old 04-05-2016, 03:16 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
Man what a POS that Teton is... that converter should have lasted at least 20 years!

Personally I would go with the 60 amp, probably an almost even swap. I am sure the electronics have improved a bit over the 16 years and it will be an improvement.
Aaron
Yea I know what you mean. I did have to replace the water pump on it about 10 years ago. I'll take a picture of the 12v. wire panel & post it tomorrow. Wait till you see how well it is marked & the workmanship. I guess that's why it cost more in 03 then my 2014 Voltage did, and I have the smallest, cheapest Teton they made.
I have changed out all the halogen bulbs for led's. Main inside lights are fluorescent. Old tube TV is now a flat screen. 40,000 btu heater which is the main 12v draw. (2) 6v golf cart batteries & factory wired for solar panels.
Click image for larger version

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This is what it looked like when I bought it.
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Last time we used it at the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
Daughter stayed in it for six months last summer in Phoenix.
In-laws just stayed in it at our home for the last six months.
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Old 04-06-2016, 03:11 PM   #9
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This should give you a idea of how well layed out the 12v system is on my Teton.
Click image for larger version

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Top left in the picture is the converter

Click image for larger version

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The batteries and the converter have there own 60 amp breaker.
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Old 04-06-2016, 03:55 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertRat View Post
This should give you a idea of how well layed out the 12v system is on my Teton.
Attachment 3092
Top left in the picture is the converter

Attachment 3093

The batteries and the converter have there own 60 amp breaker.
And that's the type of workmanship Dutchmen sees.

In their dreams.
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Old 04-06-2016, 10:16 PM   #11
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And that's the type of workmanship Dutchmen sees.

In their dreams.
They can't even dream that good.

Aaron
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