My original 30AMP ELIXIR Converter went up in smoke after a few months of use when the dealer bypassed the main 30AMP Circuit Breaker and used it to control an optional Air Conditional install.
After all the smoke cleared I replaced the whole thing for WFCO 8900 series Power Distribution Center with a WF8945 Converter/charger unit.
The changeover didnt really take all that long but did have to re-run some 120VAC romex as well as some 12VDC lines that ended up to short to reach the terminal lugs. It really was a blessing as now I have room for five full size 120VAC Circuit breakers which can be divided up to at least one full size and eight additional half size breakers. It also has slots for eleven 12VDC ATC type fused circuits on the 12VDC Distribution side.
Turned everything back on after install and right away found the WF8945 would not go into BOOST Charge mode. I would run my batteries down to 10.5VDC and still would not start up in boost mode. I also of course had already re-wired the BAT cables to 4AWG sizes.
Then I moved two of batteries close to WF8945 (maybe 12-inches away) as someone suggested for a test and still could not get the WF8945 to ever go into boost 14.4VDC charge mode. I did see it go to 14.4VDC for maybe 12 seconds then switch back to 13.6VDC Mode a couple of times.
I finally gave up and purchased a PD9260C 60AMP which I am still using today and it goes into 14.4VDC mode as soon as you turn it on. Even if the batteries are already charged it still starts out in 14.4VDC hen switches back to 13.6VDC. Of course with the pedant I can can force it into any of the smart charge modes.
I originally installed the new PD9260C in 2009 in the same location the WF8945 unit was located but got to thinking since it was a new unit and still put a good steady 13.6VDC all the time why not just keep and let it be a back-up unit. Then I installed the PD9260C inside a cabinet wall as close as I could get it to the battery bank. With the DUAL BATTERY LUGs on the PD9260C made this as easy install just adding it to the 4AWG cable coming from the WF8945 unit connections.
I can turn on either converter now by just flipping ON the right circuit breaker in the WF8900 series AC Distribution Panel.
All of this is what led up to this setup I am using today...
I probably could have finally figured out how to make the WF8945 unit work like it was suppose to but just plum ran out of patience with it. I was considering giving it a big toss out into the woods a couple of times...
Roy Ken
