Adjustable Voltage Boondocker Converter Question

Wow, what a saga.

From reading this thread, if I was looking for a high amperage charger, it sure wouldn't be from this outfit. The lack of accountability on customer returns is especially troubling and, IMO, shows disregard for their customers. They know they have product mislabeling issues but won't pay for return shipping on those chargers discovered as such? Absolute treachery.

If I had to guess--on the bottom line, it's a production issue. Someone at the shop attached a bunch of those 100 amp stickers onto cases that were used on the 75 amp models. Trying to remove the sticker means removing the handle and probably mucking up the case finish so a decision was made to ship them "as is". When shipping gets an order for 100 amp models, someone reads the label and ships the lesser product.

Hope all you guys get made right with your Powermax products.

Errin will be getting the smaller one back.

I do have yet another plot twist though. My uncle ordered a PBMC-100 from amazon, received one like the one Randy sold me but with no adjuster or display.

PMBC-100 from amazon

I haven't brought it over to my house yet to test the output. More to come on that one but it'll be a few weeks more than likely before I'll have time.

Joel

joelabq wrote:
I believe anything that says Boondocker on it would be a Randy thing. I have already taken any future business (and hopefully a few others) elsewhere. I got my replacement from Errin. Randy did not even offer assistance at all and did not engage in any customer service. Errin, on the other hand, has been great!

I have been convinced this is a 75 amp model since I witnessed it on my Victron. I haven't done a battery test with this model yet, however, I know as a power supply it'll add close to 100amps back when I hit my 2000w Inverter with a heavy load. I just fixed up all the wiring with 3/0 for the interconnects and the new inverter, but haven't yet done the charger wiring yet (thats next). I am getting the rated output it seems with the current wiring.

Joel

Don't forget to return the old one to Errin, that's important.

Mr Wiz, yes. You might remember the original PM 100s were a version of the WFCO before PM branched out on their own designs. The regular PM 100s since also do a nice 103 amps or so, steady as a rock, and so does the adjustable version.

I would have no hesitation in getting a PowerMax unit again. IMO choose your converter brand or model by what charging profile you want. Each has its own virtues.

well the voltage on my wfco 98100 is not adjustable
but it will do an honest 100amps

last friday using the clamp on amp meter, i registered 105.6 amps, when i started the genset late in the afternoon, after spending the day on (1) bank while installing the new batteries, making up new cables and arranging the balanced connections

it took a few minutes to settle down at 71amps where it stayed a little while
i think it was reading 13.67v at the batteries at that point

I think we are just guessing as to what is going on behind the scenes regarding Errin and Randy and what products are being sent out with what labelling.

Seems like they never thought anybody would actually use an ammeter on one and test its maximum output. Perhaps it is a genuine mistake, or perhaps it is sinister business practices

We know of three incorrect amperage models mailed out with the correct stickers. How many more out are out there?

FWIW, I ordered 100 amps through randy who is in Idaho, and the 75 amp unit that arrived was sent from Powermax's Florida address

pay for 75 amps, get 45.

Pay for 100 amps, get 75, and have your intelligence insulted and told to roll with it.

I hope it all gets sorted out, and people who choose this manual charging option, receive what they order.

I recommend anybody needing 60 amps or less of adjustable voltage power supply, go with the Meanwell rsp-750-15.

At least this model can do 16V eq voltages.

My MW RSP-500-15 adjusts from 13.12v to 19.23V and upto 40 amps.

With a 10 turn pot and a Watt meter inline on the 8awg output leads, I have full confidence in it.

I believe anything that says Boondocker on it would be a Randy thing. I have already taken any future business (and hopefully a few others) elsewhere. I got my replacement from Errin. Randy did not even offer assistance at all and did not engage in any customer service. Errin, on the other hand, has been great!

I have been convinced this is a 75 amp model since I witnessed it on my Victron. I haven't done a battery test with this model yet, however, I know as a power supply it'll add close to 100amps back when I hit my 2000w Inverter with a heavy load. I just fixed up all the wiring with 3/0 for the interconnects and the new inverter, but haven't yet done the charger wiring yet (thats next). I am getting the rated output it seems with the current wiring.

Joel

yeah, I wasn't sure if powermax was still offering the adjustable option?

Mine must have come from Randy, then. And if that is the case, all the problems are from his end.

jrnymn7 wrote:
Did this 100 amper come from Erinn or Randy??? I thought Randy was the purveyor of all things adjustable, these days?

I'm still confused as to how I received a pm4b-45, labeled as a pm4b-75, after contacting Errin? I honestly don't know where it came from?

The PowerMax units that Errin sells directly are "PM3-xxx" or "PM4-xxx" while the ones Randy sells he calls Boondockers and they have the b in the name, like "PM4b" See the "products" list here, which includes a link to Randy's site.

http://powermaxconverters.com/pm4.html

Errin sells the PMBC which has the adjustable option and goes up to a 120amper. (whee!) Randy sells some sizes of those with his own name for them- BPCM) There are some voltage differences between Randy's and Errin's too including the regular converter models. Check the specs.

Did this 100 amper come from Erinn or Randy??? I thought Randy was the purveyor of all things adjustable, these days?

I'm still confused as to how I received a pm4b-45, labeled as a pm4b-75, after contacting Errin? I honestly don't know where it came from?

Thank you! Well, well. Your pictures show clearly that you got a 75 amper with a 100a label on it, no doubt at all. It is also physically the size of the 75 vs the real 100 that you now have. three fuses vs four too.

Randy's clerks messed up big time putting the wrong sticker on.

Good to see you are now in business with a real 100 amper! Errin saves the day! :)

I'll try to find a photo of my proto-type 100 amper I got in late 2012. It was made up from a PM3-100. ( it is at 15.1 in January where I set it at the time as temp comp equivalent to 14.8)