Replacing AC/DC converter

[R0ughhab1tz]

Hello RV world!!! I'm replacing my dinosaur of a converter to this new PD and I need to know what these wires are for.

One side of the transformer is AC in. And the other has 2 white wires. Is that a stone age way of battery in? They are fused together to the transformer. Thinking of it if they are together is it just ground?

The two red wires are lugged to their own independent wires going to the RV. Would I give them their own independent DC circuit or are they obsolete with the converter? The one red wire has its own fuse separate from the box itself.

The two white wires are lugged together to one single white wire.

Thanks for all the help! It's the only part I'm stuck on. The rest is pretty straight forward.

[ArtJoyce]

DO you have the installation manual for the new PD?

[R0ughhab1tz]

Originally Posted by ArtJoyce

DO you have the installation manual for the new PD?

Yes I do. I know how to wire up the rest of it. It's just these last 4 wires from the old converter. Of course nothing was labeled on the old unit except for the AC and DC which is vague to say the least. I taped and labeled everything one by one while removing from the old unit.

I'm leaning on these red wires are going to the house battery compartment because of how they were ran to the 12v system on the old converter. And there's nothing else indicating battery wires from the RV. **The wires from the house battery compartment did work as well**.

The white wires were soldered together on the transformer and they both lead to a single wire that goes to the abyss of the RV.

[Persistent]

Meter the mystery wires.
Are they 12 volts?

I suspect the white wires are 120 volt AC.
Are they to loads or to shore supply?

Cut the 12 volt red wires. If they go to the battery, they will still be hot after cutting.

The 120 volt white wires probably go to a circuit breaker. Meter for voltage and trip breakers until you get disconnect. Cut them and reset breaker. If wires are still hot, they are source. If not, check transformer ends. If hot, that is the source.

Not having make and model of the old system leads to guesses.

Transformer could be 120 volts to 12 volts. Then there would be rectification circuits.

Some old systems had a separate converter and battery charger. It can get complicated.

I would trace the wires even if that is difficult. Decide where whatever is on the other end needs to be connected in the new system.

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!

[R0ughhab1tz]

Originally Posted by Persistent

Meter the mystery wires.
Are they 12 volts?

I suspect the white wires are 120 volt AC.
Are they to loads or to shore supply?

Cut the 12 volt red wires. If they go to the battery, they will still be hot after cutting.

The 120 volt white wires probably go to a circuit breaker. Meter for voltage and trip breakers until you get disconnect. Cut them and reset breaker. If wires are still hot, they are source. If not, check transformer ends. If hot, that is the source.

Not having make and model of the old system leads to guesses.

Transformer could be 120 volts to 12 volts. Then there would be rectification circuits.

Some old systems had a separate converter and battery charger. It can get complicated.

I would trace the wires even if that is difficult. Decide where whatever is on the other end needs to be connected in the new system.

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!

Ok here are the pictures of the unit. Hopefully this helps some. The one side of the transformer(black/white) goes to a breaker and with the new PD that is what I have to do to get shore power into the converter to power my DC components.

The other side has two white wires mangled together onto the transformer and they lead to a single white wire going into the RV somewhere.

As far as I know the old unit did charge the house battery. To the best of my abilities I couldn't find any wires(in the house battery compartment) tracing to the front of the vehicle where the alternator is.

[Persistent]

Always include make and model of appliances you need help with. There are so many variations that just guessing is a very bad option. Your picture shows you have an Allanson D40-BRA-E converter charger.

The device in question apparently has two functions. One is an "AC Panel Board". The other is 120 volt AC to 12 volt DC 40 amp converter. As far as I can tell it does not have a 120 volt output. It does have a 120 volt input. That input probably comes from a 15 or 20 amp branch breaker in the old circuit breaker panel.

The pair of red wires could be 12 volts to battery and 12 volts to fuse panel. Varifiy before assuming.

The mystery white wires may be the 120 volt input to the old Allanson converter. Verify before assuming. Mistakes can be jolting.

What is the PD model you are planning to install? PD makes many models with many different configurations. Some PD’s have a 120 volt circuit breaker panel and a 12 volt fuse panel. Some do not.

One of your pictures shows a newer device with a circuit breaker panel. Does it also have fuse panel.

What is the current rating for the 12 volt DC output of “this PD”?

Your description leaves me a bit confused. Giving good advice is therefore a little risky. Use my advice with due caution.

Metering the wires while circuits were live was the best way to guess what they do. You may have cut the system out already and now metering is not a reliable option. You can still meter the wires and see if either has 12 volts or 120 volts on them when disconnected.

A battery wire should have 12 volts supplied by the battery even if the old Allanson has been removed.

You know you need a wire from the “This PD” to the battery bank. It must be 12 volts. It should be at least 8 gauge for 40 amps or less. This should be good for up to 20 feet. The pair of red wires looks inadequate even if they both go to the battery.

I don’t know what the new “this PD” converter outputs. 8 gauge wire is good for 50 amps up to 16 feet.

You also need a 12 volt output to a 12 volt fuse panel. Do you plan to use the old fuse panel or does “this PD” have its own fuse panel?

The old and new 120 volt AC circuit breaker panels need a shore power input and branch circuit outputs. Where ever the old panel got its 120 volts main would be the same as for the new.

[Persistent]

Every electrician at least has a Multimeter. An inexpensive $15 digital meter from your local hardware store is good enough for most RV electrical work.

Always verify your assumptions before touching wires or making connections. This rule will help you to live long and prosper.

[R0ughhab1tz]

Originally Posted by Persistent

Always include make and model of appliances you need help with. There are so many variations that just guessing is a very bad option. Your picture shows you have an Allanson D40-BRA-E converter charger.

Sorry for the inaccuracies. It's been a hectic week.. I eventually contacted Allanson directly to get the manual for the converter.

I supplied the PDF to the community in this thread.

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/the-...ng-585166.html