RV Repair: Transistor, wound resistor, fuse panel


Question
I recently purchased a 1997 Dutchmen Aristocrat 26 foot travel trailer.

The power converter was tripping the AC input circuit breaker.

After removing the converter I found both high current diodes were shorted.  I have crossed referenced these to a replacement.

I also found a transistor shorted that I can not find a replacement for.  This transistor is used as a diode (the collector lead is not used) and one lead is hard wired in series with a 0.3 ohm 10 watt wire wound resistor and what appears to be a thermal over current protector.  The other transistor lead is connected via a yellow wire to the regulator circuit board.  The other end of the over current protector has two red wires connected to it.  One connects to a switching relay and the other connects to the regulator circuit board.

The transistor has the identifying number S 325 and the logo of an inverted lamba symbol.  It also is in a TO-220 package.  

I can not tell if it is a PNP or NPN type, nor Si or Ge.  Therefore, I can not determine in circuit polarity.

I emailed Magnetek, asking for a schematic.  They will not respond.

Magnetek Power Center (Power Converter) 45 Amp. with battery charger.
Model 6345
Series 6300A
Option Code 1045  

Answer
Tasco, This converter you are trying to repair is an older series converter. They have an upgraded one that you should install. The reason for this is because the upgraded one doesn't split the way that power comes out like the one you have. You should really get the upgraded one. You will need to swap out the fuse panel as well as the new one comes with one. The new one slides in right where the old one came out from and takes about an hour or so to replace. The new one would be the 7345 RU converter. If you still want to repair the one you have  I might go to a repair shop and have someone look at the one you have. It has been my experience that at most shops they don't repair older ones because they can't give any warranty with it. Remember that the one you have is always charging when you are plugged in and the newer version has a switch mode that works when the batteries are charged. Thanks, Bill