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KevSchofield's avatar
KevSchofield
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014

Need to replace bad converter.. Can I do this?

Hello..

I have a Coleman Caravan from 2001 that the converter just went bad on while camping this past weekend..

Hissing, fizzling..then dead.. no fans, no battery charging.

Spent Friday through Monday with a battery charger hooked up to the campsite power, then
to my battery and ran the trailer off that for the weekend using as little power as possible.
We had lights, and the ignitors for the heat, hot water and fridge worked fine..

Now I'm home, and need to leave again in 8 days for Lime Rock Park in Connecticut for 6 days of dry camping there..
I have a generator, but I really need to take care of this bad converter prior to leaving..


Current converter is original to the camper.. Centurion CS4500
From what I read, they were never any good.. and there aren't any parts
around for them anymore anyways..








I'm looking at this one.. has one less breaker, but I'm assuming I can move one over from the bad unit?

45 amp converter WFCO


Amazon has the 55 amp version for $151 and change.. any advantage to going that route?

Does anyone see any issue with just systematically moving each wire from the old to the new
and adding the extra breaker?

I've never worked on RV power before, but it seems straight forward..
I can't get a service appt. for at least 2 weeks so I kinda need to tackle this on my own..

edit: I should also mention I'm trying to be frugal in the repair as we don't plan
on keeping the camper too much longer.. maybe thorugh next season when we are
hoping to move up to a 5th wheel..

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