heres a new one,

[crushers]

i have a customer showing up here shortly where his radio died so he followed the currant back to the solar converter. he opens it up and out pour water, that is right water pours out. he has not been water up to his hood. the silicon seal is still good. so how did the water get in? , i want to find out since i am warrenting the converter...
any ideas? i am baffled..
cheers

 

[2badfjs]

condensation build up

maybe

 

[Deny]

Maybe he just wanted a new one, so he took a seringe, and through a pinhole, injected a bunch of water? ;p
Cheers,
Deny

 

[lshobie]

Did he power spray his engine compartment? he says he didnt go in the water, but did he?

Regards

 

[crushers]

nah, this guy is a straight shooter, if he was a shady character i would never have sold him the truck.
i removed the cover and out came about a teaspoon of water and the circit board was shorted out so in went a new converter. i was considering condensation but man that is a lot of water... it seemed to be sealed tight and no seringe marks were noted.
<scratching head on this one>

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

nah, this guy is a straight shooter, if he was a shady character i would never have sold him the truck.
i removed the cover and out came about a teaspoon of water and the circit board was shorted out so in went a new converter. i was considering condensation but man that is a lot of water... it seemed to be sealed tight and no seringe marks were noted.
<scratching head on this one>

I would go along with the condensation theory. a t-spoon isn't that much-condensation could produce much more.
condensation would however imply an exchange of air in and out of the converter, and strong temperature changes would accelerate it.
is the converter close to the engine and goes through extreme temp changes?
also, it might seal cold but not hot, have you tested whether it warps under heat, and therefore seals worse?
jan

 

[Stone]

Wayne: How do you know that the silicone seal is "good"? Was it a visual assessment or did you try and pour water into the opening and see if any leaks inside? Was the cover on tightly, and did the foam inside the cover properly seal off the lip?

Seems like a lot of water in there. I've had mine installed for over a year, and inside is still bone dry. I even have a hole in the body of my converter (on the actual NEMA-4 enclosure) that is covered by duct tape, and it's still dry. I'm thinking power washing...but it's a head scratcher for sure.

 

[Greg_B]

I don't buy the condensation theory. These things are used in remote stations, on solar powered house systems, RV applications, and only in the last 3 or so years in 24v LandCruisers. I have never pulled a cover and seen condensation in one.

How was it mounted? How long has it been on the truck? Was the cover taken off during install and not put back on tight?

Is this one I have supplied you? If so, good for doing the right thing. If it is, send it my way, and replacement will be sent to you, and I will send it to the manufacturer to checking.

Thanks

gb

 

[Stone]

Would you be able to post up a picture of where/how this unit was mounted, Wayne? Thanks.

 

[crushers]

the converter was installed about 6" forward of the LH side of the engine compartment just below the lip at the hood level. wire side up. i did notice the hood hinge was quite wet as well. it was TIGHT when i opened it up. this time i installed it wire side down in the same location.
Greg, thanks for the offer, i will shoot it back to you in the next few days. good thing i stock a few of these. this is the first time i have had any real concerns.
cheers

 

[V6 Bundy]

wire side up

Theres your problem....

You can't honestly say the entry where the cabling goes thru is 100% sealed.

 

[crushers]

the unit was sealed by manufacturer... no modification by me...

 

[V6 Bundy]

I don't know what exact inverter you are talking about,but the ones I often install never are perfectly sealed when it comes to the power cables etc. The rubber grommets that alot of manufactures use around the wiring doesn't give a firm enough seal in my opinion

 

[crushers]

it is the Solar converter sold by g&scruiserparts. i have install quite a few and they all were fine, this one is flawed somehow. the wires are siliconed shut at the factory...
i am suspecting an "ooops" in manufacturing...
cheers

 

[V6 Bundy]

I'm thinking you are on the money with that one

 

[tlcruiserman]

Wayne,

I will check mine to see about the water. Are you sure it is water? could it be the fluid from a popped capaciter? (just a thought).

Cheers,

Michael

 

[Stone]

I've had my Solar Converter mounted in the following manner for at least the past year:

That's a bracket on the left fender wall in front of the battery banks and behind the left headlight assembly. It's the area that would have the reservoir for the headlight washer if you have that option. As you can probably guess, there's a lot of moisture that goes through there. I've never had any moisture inside my Solar Converter...and I even have a hole in my casing that's covered with duct tape from a previous modification that I changed my mind on. I've even Power Washed my engine compartment once. I've also installed it the same way in Greg B.'s BJ74, and several other Cruisers and haven't heard of moisture failure yet.

So, I'm thinking also that this is a rare failure that must be due to something else other than product engineering.

 

[crushers]

Stoney,
although ihave not tested it yet, the only way in would be down the wires. it has been a monsoon here for the last few days and with the amount of water sitting on the hinge right behind the location it seems to be plusable.

don't get me wrong, i am not suggesting the solar converter is a POC, i am saying there might have been an "ooops" this time around...

 

[Stone]

Gotcha.

 

[Island Moose]

I'm looking at Stone's picture and I can see lots of ways for water to get in. That wiring harness would be impossible to waterproof, especially with wire loom coverings. Each one of those screw holes is another source for water instrusion as are the threads for the fitting on top.

It's not poorly made, I just know from years or fixing old fiberglass sailboats that water will find a way or wait until something degrades or cracks and then find a way.

That unit really should be mounted inside the cabin, maybe on the firewall or kick panel. My 24-12 convertor sits under the passenger seat like a CD changer.