Elixir Converter/Charger issues

I replaced the Elixir in my Phoenix with a WFCO because it fit in the space available. The PD was too big. The WFCO was better than the Elixir but it would not go into smart mode.

I was just looking at Best converters site , shopping for a new PD for my fifthwheel and noticed they have some links to how to conversions , also direct replacement for your converter in the column on the left ,here

Thanks for the details.

The PD9100 series and 9200 series have a cord on them to plug into the AC , the 9100 is non built in charge wizard , but can be added on and manually change the charge rates , storage =13.2 , regular=13.6 ,desulfation =14.4
The 9200 series has the wizard built in and the add on part manually can change the charge rate
9100 series has 30&40 amp available 9200 starts at 45 amp and up
The converter you have now is tied to the bus bar of the AC , disconnect it , also disconnect the DC side , or you could leave the DC side ,wont hurt .
I don't know how your inverter is wired , but you want to add a romex to a new or existing breaker that is preferably not powered by the inverter , and put a box and receptacle in it, plug the PD into it
Wire the DC side of the PD with new wire #6 to #2 depending on the size amp PD to a fuse , can be a auto reset type , then to the battery's
You could cut the cord and wire it direct as you say , but you are altering it, the UL listing and such
If your inverter is powering all of your AC ,by having the outlet and the converter pluged into it , you can unplug it when running the inverter
In my old Apex there was plenty of room to mount the PD under the dinette seat where the back of the integrated DC-AC panel is and where the battery box was

Thanks, all. Yes, this is for my Outfitter Apex 8.

Putting in a Xantrex is appealing since I already have a Xantrex pure sine wave inverter. I could swap it out for one with the charger built in. More money and with covered wagon's comments on Xantrex quality now, I could get a lesser-quality unit by doing so.

I think I'll go with the suggestion of okan-star and get a PD9140. I don't quite understand the "....just had to add a AC duplex outlet to plug the stand alone converter into". Help me out there....why not wire it directly? Or are you talking about, in my case, the Xantrex DC-AC converter?

I believe the word 'converter' was coined to make everyone think its something special for an rv's 12 volt system. It is actually just a battery charger and if not a 2/ 3 or 4 stage charger, it is really one the least expensive chargers you can buy (feroresonant type) with higher ac noise levels. Not only bad for batteries because of it's inability to be sensitive for correct battery charging requirements but also very hard on computers that might be hooked up via a 12 volt power plug.

I remember when my tc was new and the convertor had a few days to charge both batteries. Standing near the battery compartment, door locked shut, I could hear both batteries boiling away the electrolyte inside each compartment. That is when I decided that thing, a 'convertor' was taken out. After its removal I tore it down and confirmed it was one of the least expensive/ worse kinds of chargers you could ever have.

I assume this is in your Outfitter ?
When I had my apex 9.5 the board in the converter that was integrated with the DC and AC panels went out , I just disabled the stock converter and put in a Progressive Dynamics PD9140 or PD9145 (cant remember which) with a charge wizard , since the back of the converter section was in the area the battery was in ,it was easy , just had to add a AC duplex outlet to plug the stand alone converter into
Worked way better than the POS that came in it

Depending on the model Progressive dynamics makes a replacement power unit for a relatively easy replacement. Progressive made in the US few complaints, most ever one else country of origin China.

I would avoid WFCO if you can.
Progressive Dynamics, IOTA or PowerMax.

It is a lot of extra work to change out the breakers/ dist. panel. It is not needed.

Just remove the old battery charger below the dist panel, it is a pos, and place a good smart battery charger in there. Those convertors are junk and are great for ruining batteries. A marine charger...... (I like to avoid anything associated with rv quality BTW), Just a good deep cycle 3 stage battery charger that reads what the batteries need.

I put in Xantrax when they were still a good company (previous owner)I wouldn't do that one now after reading some reviews.