Using an External Battery Charger on TT

Yes PowerMax with a three year warranty operates well and certainly better than the WFCO. Lots of good posts on the PowerMax. I would tend to go a little small with PowerMax as it will drop to normal voltage sooner than others.

time2roll wrote:
WFCO has already failed. If you don't see 14.4 volts into a low battery according to specs then WFCO has failed.

If you have a 30+ amp portable fine but if you are spending money get a new converter. Progressive Dynamics, PowerMax, IOTA are all good.
Take the high road... the view is better.

So the PowerMax is a good brand? I just got one to replace my failed WFCO.

WFCO has already failed. If you don't see 14.4 volts into a low battery according to specs then WFCO has failed.

If you have a 30+ amp portable fine but if you are spending money get a new converter. Progressive Dynamics, PowerMax, IOTA are all good.
Take the high road... the view is better.

I'm sure that my cheap wife will prefer that I let the WCFO converter live it's natural life and replace it when it fails. I do have a generator and portable solar to help with the battery or power the TT when it fails. When it inevitably fails I will replace it with a progressive dynamic converter.


I just returned from a trip to Alaska and back and I wanted to replace the cheap Chinese tires with goodyear endurances before I left. My "frugal" wife talked me into keeping them and I made the 21,000 mile trip without any flats or blowouts. I monitored the pressure frequently and slowed down to around 60mph max.


Frugality has won in our household.

rirish1 wrote:
Would it cause any damage to the onboard converter if I used an external battery charger to charge battery. Should I disconnect the battery when charging? What if the TT is connected to shore power? The WCO converter does not charge very well and I do plan on replacing it but would rather replace it when it breaks.

Damage the on board: NO
Disconnect: Depends on the charger

Suggestion. WFCO converters have a known failure mode that is very common. won't go into BULK.. So they go straight to FLOAT so it takes forever literally and the battery is never really full.

YOu can replace the "GUTS" of an integrated Converter/distribution panel with a Progressive Dynamics 4600 class *match the last two digits as closely as possible to your WFCO's. Ie xx60 use a 4660) or if the converter is not part of the Drstro panel but a stand along go with the 9200. ANother advantage is these are made in Marshall Michigan, USA. not some sweat shop in China. Quality USA made products. The replacement is not that hard.

You can also use a 9200 as your external charger if you wish. No need to disconnect if you do.

I simply turn my WFCO converter off anytime I'd rather use my stand alone CTEK charger that does a proper 14.4 volt bulk charge, a task just about every WFCO on the planet seems incapable of. :R

Replace it now rather than wait, as it will totally fail at the most inopportune time. Our WFCO just quit a couple days ago while traveling. Hopefully the replacement will get here tomorrow and I'll get it installed.

Plus you can buy one online now, rather than pay double the price, or more, if you need it later and have to buy one locally. The exact replacement WFCO is nearly $500 if you have to buy it retail. You can get them online for around $290. I decided to try a PowerMax model so we'll see how that works out. Or was that a bad idea? Should I have stuck with WFCO and replaced it with another?

Consider a solar system and “forget” about recharging your batteries most days...no plug to find, recharging begins at sunup, little to no maintenance.

rirish1,

Welcome to the forums!

LOL WFCO converters come from the factory broken. That said, yes you can use a battery charger in conjunction with the converter.