Back in September while camping I happen to notice the lights on the refrigerator flickered. Then everything seemed normal again. I did some research and think that the flicker may have been caused by AC ripple from the 12v converter which is about 18 years old.Now we are on another 6 week trip and last night while doing dishes my wife commented that the 12v light above the sink seemed unusually bright. I told her that I noticed all the lights in the motorhome were appearing brighter than usual.This morning I got out the voltmeter and measured the voltage at the coach batteries and was not surprised to get a high reading of 15.4 volts.The present 12v converter is rated at 50 amps. I'm thinking about purchasing a 9200 Series Progressive Dynamics converter. One unit is rated at 45 amps and another at 60 amps. Which would you suggest I buy?Also, if I buy the Progressive Dynamic converter here while in Myrtle Beach the unit will cost $322. If I buy the unit online from PPL Motorhomes I can get the same identical unit for $175. It will take one week before I can get the unit by ordering online. So, the question is....would it be safe to wait to replace the unit and continue to use this old converter even though it is putting out 15.4 volts?Thanks in advance for your comments & suggestions.

You can run on the batteries for 12v and not use the converter at all. (you need to turn off its 120v input or 12v output without turning off anything else that matters) You still get your 120v on shore power or gen. You can use any battery charger (getting the 120 to run it from shore power or gen) to recharge your batts as required until your on-line order comes through.The high voltage will cause the lamps to burn out faster than normal. The fridge controls and maybe some other things have an upper limit of about 15.4v so on the edge and that could get worse.

Some converters/charger units do the 15VDC output every so often to desulf the batteries. They only stay at the higher DC Voltage level for just a few minutes...I think the PD 9200 does this every 23 hours for 15 minutes. My PD9260C only goes to 14.4VDC when it does this but others definitely uses a higher DC VoltagePerhaps your converter/charger was in this mode...If you are using a WFCO 8900 series Power distribution Panel I believe both the PD9245 and the PD9260C will both fit in your present Power distribution unit You only need to purchase the Convertor/charger chassis. and keep your present power distribution panel that houses your AC Breakers an 12VC Fuses.. Best Converters site has a list of different converters/charger units that will fit your present converter location area. I did have to make a minor change but was an easy change to make my PD0260C fit the bottom compartment. Then after I made the change I decided it would be better to have my PD9260C closer the the battery bank so I made it stand along inside a cabinet only a few feet away from the Battery bank. Since my WF8945 Converter was still in good working I just put it back into the WFCO 8900 series cabinet for a backup unit. I can flip the required 120VAC circuit breaker to engage which converter/charger unit I want to use.Roy Ken

I would order the 45 amp and save the money. www.bestconverter.comI would also disconnect the existing converter to prevent killing the battery and possibly the various electronic control boards. Reconnect power to the converter until you see 14.5 volts then unplug. Once a day should be enough, but twice a day is fine also.

You might also have your batteries tested. Bad batteries can cause various symptoms.

Bill, I do (or did - before the depression) electrics on performance cruisers (read retired racing keel boats). So, please let me enter some opinions here.Either of the PDs mentioned will serve you well, but without knowing what your house bank is and how you use the coach, there are some guesses that I will cover.If you do a lot of dry camping and frequently have to recover the bank with your own APU (genset) AND the house bank is at least a pair of GC2 (220+aH) then the maybe the 60amp PD is worth it. It will have to be a very short run of heavy (#8) cable to the bank. If the house bank is less than 200aH, the larger will be a waste because the anything less will simply not be able to absorb what the converter/charger can deliver.If you don't have a big house bank and/or your travel is between FHU sites, then you don't need the bigger capacity. Even if you dry camp or Wallydock every once in a while, if your house bank will carry you overnight, you still don't need more converter. In any other case, don't pay extra for what you can't use. Matt

12v Converter Replacement Advice | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Oct 08, 2014
I would order the 45 amp and save the money. www.bestconverter.com

I would also disconnect the existing converter to prevent killing the battery and possibly the various electronic control boards. Reconnect power to the converter until you see 14.5 volts then unplug. Once a day should be enough, but twice a day is fine also.
RoyB
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2014
Some converters/charger units do the 15VDC output every so often to desulf the batteries. They only stay at the higher DC Voltage level for just a few minutes...

I think the PD 9200 does this every 23 hours for 15 minutes. My PD9260C only goes to 14.4VDC when it does this but others definitely uses a higher DC Voltage

Perhaps your converter/charger was in this mode...

If you are using a WFCO 8900 series Power distribution Panel I believe both the PD9245 and the PD9260C will both fit in your present Power distribution unit You only need to purchase the Convertor/charger chassis. and keep your present power distribution panel that houses your AC Breakers an 12VC Fuses..

Best Converters site has a list of different converters/charger units that will fit your present converter location area. I did have to make a minor change but was an easy change to make my PD0260C fit the bottom compartment. Then after I made the change I decided it would be better to have my PD9260C closer the the battery bank so I made it stand along inside a cabinet only a few feet away from the Battery bank.

Since my WF8945 Converter was still in good working I just put it back into the WFCO 8900 series cabinet for a backup unit. I can flip the required 120VAC circuit breaker to engage which converter/charger unit I want to use.

Roy Ken
BFL13
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2014
You can run on the batteries for 12v and not use the converter at all. (you need to turn off its 120v input or 12v output without turning off anything else that matters) You still get your 120v on shore power or gen.

You can use any battery charger (getting the 120 to run it from shore power or gen) to recharge your batts as required until your on-line order comes through.

The high voltage will cause the lamps to burn out faster than normal. The fridge controls and maybe some other things have an upper limit of about 15.4v so on the edge and that could get worse.

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12v Converter Replacement Advice

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