I tested it for voltage Pryor to putting it back in. 13.1 volts. Attached it to the fuse block. Went to 7.8 volts. Pulled all the fuses. Back to 13.1v. The fuse that drops the voltage is a 15 amp. There are 13 LED lights for a load. Just got in from using my battery charger as a power supply. Same thing. There is no house battery. It has 2 #8 ground wires to the power supply. I switched to the second ground wire. No change. If a wire on the 15 amp fuse went to ground. The fuse would blow. This isn't a complex system. Bob Dunahugh 73 Puzzle Mobile
This is what's up with my buzz box.
- Thread starter Bob Dunahugh
- Start date
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Measure the current. I do not know what the max output is but I would think
15 amps or so.
Why would you want to put the original buzz box back in? From what I have
read they kill batteries.
> I tested it for voltage Pryor to putting it back in. 13.1 volts. Attached
> it to the fuse block. Went to 7.8 volts. Pulled all the fuses. Back to
> 13.1v. The fuse that drops the voltage is a 15 amp. There are 13 LED lights
> for a load. Just got in from using my battery charger as a power supply.
> Same thing. There is no house battery. It has 2 #8 ground wires to the
> power supply. I switched to the second ground wire. No change. If a wire
> on the 15 amp fuse went to ground. The fuse would blow. This isn't a
> complex system. Bob Dunahugh 73 Puzzle Mobile
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
*John Phillips*
15 amps or so.
Why would you want to put the original buzz box back in? From what I have
read they kill batteries.
> I tested it for voltage Pryor to putting it back in. 13.1 volts. Attached
> it to the fuse block. Went to 7.8 volts. Pulled all the fuses. Back to
> 13.1v. The fuse that drops the voltage is a 15 amp. There are 13 LED lights
> for a load. Just got in from using my battery charger as a power supply.
> Same thing. There is no house battery. It has 2 #8 ground wires to the
> power supply. I switched to the second ground wire. No change. If a wire
> on the 15 amp fuse went to ground. The fuse would blow. This isn't a
> complex system. Bob Dunahugh 73 Puzzle Mobile
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
*John Phillips*
John P. I bought this GMC that I'm rebuilding to fix up, and sell. It was too nice to see it become a chicken coop in Iowa. I'm a sucker for neglected GMC's. I'm making it so that it can be driven to either coast in a dependable, and safe way. The buzz box has served us all well for a long time. There's $15000 invested now. And I'm looking to get $20,000 out of it. I'm looking at it as a minim wage at best. Have to stop some where.
We have now put over $42,000 in our 78 Royale that we use all the time. Never even though of having a budget for it. During it's 6 month build from scratch. That 42 amount has NO labor cost included at all. Everything was replaced except the frame, and body shell basically. Love it. Worth every dime plus a lot. I see it as cheep for what we have. Just not interested in building a GMC like ours for someone for free. Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale.
________________________________
From: Bob Dunahugh
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2018 11:33 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: This is what's up with my buzz box.
I tested it for voltage Pryor to putting it back in. 13.1 volts. Attached it to the fuse block. Went to 7.8 volts. Pulled all the fuses. Back to 13.1v. The fuse that drops the voltage is a 15 amp. There are 13 LED lights for a load. Just got in from using my battery charger as a power supply. Same thing. There is no house battery. It has 2 #8 ground wires to the power supply. I switched to the second ground wire. No change. If a wire on the 15 amp fuse went to ground. The fuse would blow. This isn't a complex system. Bob Dunahugh 73 Puzzle Mobile
We have now put over $42,000 in our 78 Royale that we use all the time. Never even though of having a budget for it. During it's 6 month build from scratch. That 42 amount has NO labor cost included at all. Everything was replaced except the frame, and body shell basically. Love it. Worth every dime plus a lot. I see it as cheep for what we have. Just not interested in building a GMC like ours for someone for free. Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale.
________________________________
From: Bob Dunahugh
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2018 11:33 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: This is what's up with my buzz box.
I tested it for voltage Pryor to putting it back in. 13.1 volts. Attached it to the fuse block. Went to 7.8 volts. Pulled all the fuses. Back to 13.1v. The fuse that drops the voltage is a 15 amp. There are 13 LED lights for a load. Just got in from using my battery charger as a power supply. Same thing. There is no house battery. It has 2 #8 ground wires to the power supply. I switched to the second ground wire. No change. If a wire on the 15 amp fuse went to ground. The fuse would blow. This isn't a complex system. Bob Dunahugh 73 Puzzle Mobile
Bob,
When I bought my GMC over 20 years ago, my buzz box didn't work either. Opening it up, I found bad capacitors, possibly damaged by over-voltage
(about the only thing but age that can hurt one of these). So i went to a local electronics store and bought replacements. Remember, you should match
the capacitance marked on your old caps, but you can use HIGHER (not lower) voltage rating replacements. Lacking a local source, just go to Mouser
Electronics or Digikey, online, or even Amazon. They'll have what you need. Replace all of them (3 IIRC). Twenty years later, my old box is still
happily buzzing.
One modification I made was to add a rocker switch to the buzz box so I can easily turn it off when not needed, to remove any chance of
overcharging the house batteries. These old Triad-Utrad Ferroresonant Converters are much underrated. Practically bulletproof, you can even dead
short the output leads without damaging it. Putting out 45 amps @ 12VDC, it is an ideal power supply, although a somewhat slow battery charger.
IIRC, its output voltage is dependent upon the AC frequency, so if the Onan's RPM (and hence frequency) is way off, they may under or over charge. I
like old thing that work. (GMCs, me,....)
HTH
Rick Staples
--
Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
"Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all paths may run ill." -Tolkien
When I bought my GMC over 20 years ago, my buzz box didn't work either. Opening it up, I found bad capacitors, possibly damaged by over-voltage
(about the only thing but age that can hurt one of these). So i went to a local electronics store and bought replacements. Remember, you should match
the capacitance marked on your old caps, but you can use HIGHER (not lower) voltage rating replacements. Lacking a local source, just go to Mouser
Electronics or Digikey, online, or even Amazon. They'll have what you need. Replace all of them (3 IIRC). Twenty years later, my old box is still
happily buzzing.
One modification I made was to add a rocker switch to the buzz box so I can easily turn it off when not needed, to remove any chance of
overcharging the house batteries. These old Triad-Utrad Ferroresonant Converters are much underrated. Practically bulletproof, you can even dead
short the output leads without damaging it. Putting out 45 amps @ 12VDC, it is an ideal power supply, although a somewhat slow battery charger.
IIRC, its output voltage is dependent upon the AC frequency, so if the Onan's RPM (and hence frequency) is way off, they may under or over charge. I
like old thing that work. (GMCs, me,....)
HTH
Rick Staples
--
Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
"Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all paths may run ill." -Tolkien
Back in the 1970's, the best choice for an RV battery charger/eliminator was the buzz box.
Can you kill it? NO
Can it last forever? (with occasional maintenance?). YES.
Does it do a good job of keeping your coach batteries charged? No. Left to it's own devices, it will overcharge the batteries. Just check your water level regularly or else.
Are there newer, better chargers available? Yes.
Buy one. Your batteries will last longer because of better charging techniques, that have been invented since 1980. Upgrade the charger, for the reason of higher performance, lower weight, smaller size. And yes NO NOISE.
>
>
> Bob,
> When I bought my GMC over 20 years ago, my buzz box didn't work either. Opening it up, I found bad capacitors, possibly damaged by over-voltage
> (about the only thing but age that can hurt one of these). So i went to a local electronics store and bought replacements. Remember, you should match
> the capacitance marked on your old caps, but you can use HIGHER (not lower) voltage rating replacements. Lacking a local source, just go to Mouser
> Electronics or Digikey, online, or even Amazon. They'll have what you need. Replace all of them (3 IIRC). Twenty years later, my old box is still
> happily buzzing.
> One modification I made was to add a rocker switch to the buzz box so I can easily turn it off when not needed, to remove any chance of
> overcharging the house batteries. These old Triad-Utrad Ferroresonant Converters are much underrated. Practically bulletproof, you can even dead
> short the output leads without damaging it. Putting out 45 amps @ 12VDC, it is an ideal power supply, although a somewhat slow battery charger.
> IIRC, its output voltage is dependent upon the AC frequency, so if the Onan's RPM (and hence frequency) is way off, they may under or over charge. I
> like old thing that work. (GMCs, me,....)
> HTH
> Rick Staples
> --
> Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
>
> "Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all paths may run ill." -Tolkien
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Can you kill it? NO
Can it last forever? (with occasional maintenance?). YES.
Does it do a good job of keeping your coach batteries charged? No. Left to it's own devices, it will overcharge the batteries. Just check your water level regularly or else.
Are there newer, better chargers available? Yes.
Buy one. Your batteries will last longer because of better charging techniques, that have been invented since 1980. Upgrade the charger, for the reason of higher performance, lower weight, smaller size. And yes NO NOISE.
>
>
> Bob,
> When I bought my GMC over 20 years ago, my buzz box didn't work either. Opening it up, I found bad capacitors, possibly damaged by over-voltage
> (about the only thing but age that can hurt one of these). So i went to a local electronics store and bought replacements. Remember, you should match
> the capacitance marked on your old caps, but you can use HIGHER (not lower) voltage rating replacements. Lacking a local source, just go to Mouser
> Electronics or Digikey, online, or even Amazon. They'll have what you need. Replace all of them (3 IIRC). Twenty years later, my old box is still
> happily buzzing.
> One modification I made was to add a rocker switch to the buzz box so I can easily turn it off when not needed, to remove any chance of
> overcharging the house batteries. These old Triad-Utrad Ferroresonant Converters are much underrated. Practically bulletproof, you can even dead
> short the output leads without damaging it. Putting out 45 amps @ 12VDC, it is an ideal power supply, although a somewhat slow battery charger.
> IIRC, its output voltage is dependent upon the AC frequency, so if the Onan's RPM (and hence frequency) is way off, they may under or over charge. I
> like old thing that work. (GMCs, me,....)
> HTH
> Rick Staples
> --
> Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
>
> "Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all paths may run ill." -Tolkien
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
The new units are desined to sense the load and some to sense the battery
heat.
Most of us just keep it plugged in year around.
On Thu, Aug 23, 2018 at 7:13 PM RICHARD/MARLI SHOOP
wrote:
> Back in the 1970's, the best choice for an RV battery charger/eliminator
> was the buzz box.
>
> Can you kill it? NO
>
> Can it last forever? (with occasional maintenance?). YES.
>
> Does it do a good job of keeping your coach batteries charged? No. Left to
> it's own devices, it will overcharge the batteries. Just check your water
> level regularly or else.
>
> Are there newer, better chargers available? Yes.
> Buy one. Your batteries will last longer because of better charging
> techniques, that have been invented since 1980. Upgrade the charger, for
> the reason of higher performance, lower weight, smaller size. And yes NO
> NOISE.
>
> > On August 23, 2018 at 6:44 PM Richard H Staples
> >
> >
> > Bob,
> > When I bought my GMC over 20 years ago, my buzz box didn't work either.
> Opening it up, I found bad capacitors, possibly damaged by over-voltage
> > (about the only thing but age that can hurt one of these). So i went to
> a local electronics store and bought replacements. Remember, you should
> match
> > the capacitance marked on your old caps, but you can use HIGHER (not
> lower) voltage rating replacements. Lacking a local source, just go to
> Mouser
> > Electronics or Digikey, online, or even Amazon. They'll have what you
> need. Replace all of them (3 IIRC). Twenty years later, my old box is
> still
> > happily buzzing.
> > One modification I made was to add a rocker switch to the buzz box so
> I can easily turn it off when not needed, to remove any chance of
> > overcharging the house batteries. These old Triad-Utrad Ferroresonant
> Converters are much underrated. Practically bulletproof, you can even dead
> > short the output leads without damaging it. Putting out 45 amps @
> 12VDC, it is an ideal power supply, although a somewhat slow battery
> charger.
> > IIRC, its output voltage is dependent upon the AC frequency, so if the
> Onan's RPM (and hence frequency) is way off, they may under or over
> charge. I
> > like old thing that work. (GMCs, me,....)
> > HTH
> > Rick Staples
> > --
> > Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
> >
> > "Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all
> paths may run ill." -Tolkien
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
heat.
Most of us just keep it plugged in year around.
On Thu, Aug 23, 2018 at 7:13 PM RICHARD/MARLI SHOOP
wrote:
> Back in the 1970's, the best choice for an RV battery charger/eliminator
> was the buzz box.
>
> Can you kill it? NO
>
> Can it last forever? (with occasional maintenance?). YES.
>
> Does it do a good job of keeping your coach batteries charged? No. Left to
> it's own devices, it will overcharge the batteries. Just check your water
> level regularly or else.
>
> Are there newer, better chargers available? Yes.
> Buy one. Your batteries will last longer because of better charging
> techniques, that have been invented since 1980. Upgrade the charger, for
> the reason of higher performance, lower weight, smaller size. And yes NO
> NOISE.
>
> > On August 23, 2018 at 6:44 PM Richard H Staples
> >
> >
> > Bob,
> > When I bought my GMC over 20 years ago, my buzz box didn't work either.
> Opening it up, I found bad capacitors, possibly damaged by over-voltage
> > (about the only thing but age that can hurt one of these). So i went to
> a local electronics store and bought replacements. Remember, you should
> match
> > the capacitance marked on your old caps, but you can use HIGHER (not
> lower) voltage rating replacements. Lacking a local source, just go to
> Mouser
> > Electronics or Digikey, online, or even Amazon. They'll have what you
> need. Replace all of them (3 IIRC). Twenty years later, my old box is
> still
> > happily buzzing.
> > One modification I made was to add a rocker switch to the buzz box so
> I can easily turn it off when not needed, to remove any chance of
> > overcharging the house batteries. These old Triad-Utrad Ferroresonant
> Converters are much underrated. Practically bulletproof, you can even dead
> > short the output leads without damaging it. Putting out 45 amps @
> 12VDC, it is an ideal power supply, although a somewhat slow battery
> charger.
> > IIRC, its output voltage is dependent upon the AC frequency, so if the
> Onan's RPM (and hence frequency) is way off, they may under or over
> charge. I
> > like old thing that work. (GMCs, me,....)
> > HTH
> > Rick Staples
> > --
> > Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
> >
> > "Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all
> paths may run ill." -Tolkien
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Rick,
The “Buzz Box” was never a great charger and was actually an unregulated unit. It would boil batteries dry, ask me how I know! When we got our first coach in 1998 (77 Eleganzi II) it had a buzz box OEM installed. The first check of the batteries (2 6 VDC golf cart) right after we brought it home they were almost dry in each cell. Refilled them back to proper level with distilled water. I had read that the Buzz Box would overcharge the batteries and damage them. I know of a number of people that put timers on the power feed to the box to run it for several hours and shut it off. Ended changes the battery out at the Spring 1999 GMCMI convention and put interstate 6v golf cart batteries and those batteries lasted over 7 years with the TruCharge unit.
I went looking for a new charger/converter to replace the buzz box. The internet is your friend when searching for items and our GMC suppliers can also provide units at a reasonable price too! Statpower Tech Corp now Xantrex used to sell refurbished unit online in 1998 and several years after that. They had a Statpower Trucharge 40 priced at $125 + S&H (it was $250+) and I ordered one, I still have that unit installed in the stretch coach today. Made the comment on the early version of the GMCnet and within 2 weeks they raise the price somewhat. A number of net members got on and ordered the units. The Statpower unit are a smart charge unit and protects the batteries using a must-step charging process. The other very good converter/charger are the Progressive Dynamic, Inc units. The PD9200 Series RV Converter/Chargers with the Charge Wizard is very good.
The bottom line is that the old “Buzz Box” is a great power supply, some have used it as a battery charger with a timer, I use mine to run all my 12VDC yard lights.
J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 30’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan
The “Buzz Box” was never a great charger and was actually an unregulated unit. It would boil batteries dry, ask me how I know! When we got our first coach in 1998 (77 Eleganzi II) it had a buzz box OEM installed. The first check of the batteries (2 6 VDC golf cart) right after we brought it home they were almost dry in each cell. Refilled them back to proper level with distilled water. I had read that the Buzz Box would overcharge the batteries and damage them. I know of a number of people that put timers on the power feed to the box to run it for several hours and shut it off. Ended changes the battery out at the Spring 1999 GMCMI convention and put interstate 6v golf cart batteries and those batteries lasted over 7 years with the TruCharge unit.
I went looking for a new charger/converter to replace the buzz box. The internet is your friend when searching for items and our GMC suppliers can also provide units at a reasonable price too! Statpower Tech Corp now Xantrex used to sell refurbished unit online in 1998 and several years after that. They had a Statpower Trucharge 40 priced at $125 + S&H (it was $250+) and I ordered one, I still have that unit installed in the stretch coach today. Made the comment on the early version of the GMCnet and within 2 weeks they raise the price somewhat. A number of net members got on and ordered the units. The Statpower unit are a smart charge unit and protects the batteries using a must-step charging process. The other very good converter/charger are the Progressive Dynamic, Inc units. The PD9200 Series RV Converter/Chargers with the Charge Wizard is very good.
The bottom line is that the old “Buzz Box” is a great power supply, some have used it as a battery charger with a timer, I use mine to run all my 12VDC yard lights.
J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 30’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan
Bob, dop you still need an original? I might be able to get my Tripp-Lite out of the Norris up to the Amana convention. Lemme know.
--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
There is a Parallax Electronic RV Converter Battery Charger 55 Amp 7455 on
Ebay.com
On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 8:05 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <
> Bob, dop you still need an original? I might be able to get my Tripp-Lite
> out of the Norris up to the Amana convention. Lemme know.
>
> --johnny
> --
> 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> "I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
*John Phillips*
Ebay.com
On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 8:05 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <
> Bob, dop you still need an original? I might be able to get my Tripp-Lite
> out of the Norris up to the Amana convention. Lemme know.
>
> --johnny
> --
> 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> "I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
*John Phillips*
Does it have a flux capacitor? (Grin)
Jim Hupy (it's 5:58 A.M. and still quite dark here)
On Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 11:17 PM John Phillips
wrote:
> There is a Parallax Electronic RV Converter Battery Charger 55 Amp 7455 on
> Ebay.com
>
> On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 8:05 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <
>
> > Bob, dop you still need an original? I might be able to get my
> Tripp-Lite
> > out of the Norris up to the Amana convention. Lemme know.
> >
> > --johnny
> > --
> > 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> > Braselton, Ga.
> > "I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to
> me
> > in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
>
>
> --
>
> *John Phillips*
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
Jim Hupy (it's 5:58 A.M. and still quite dark here)
On Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 11:17 PM John Phillips
wrote:
> There is a Parallax Electronic RV Converter Battery Charger 55 Amp 7455 on
> Ebay.com
>
> On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 8:05 AM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <
>
> > Bob, dop you still need an original? I might be able to get my
> Tripp-Lite
> > out of the Norris up to the Amana convention. Lemme know.
> >
> > --johnny
> > --
> > 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> > Braselton, Ga.
> > "I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to
> me
> > in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
>
>
> --
>
> *John Phillips*
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
