We upgraded our last 2008 Tahoe because the Parallax converter would take a day to charge 2 6-volt batteries. We went with a Progressive Dynamics 4-stage that worked really well. We are getting ready to pick up our 2018 GD Imagine 2800BH and it has a WD-8955PEC. The website says it’s a 3-stage that charges at 14.4 volts. I would think that would be adequate for dry camping. Any experiences with these units? Thanks.

It's a WFCO WF-8955PEC.Try it and see how well it maintains/charges batteries and IF it ever goes to 14.4V DC 'BULK' chargeIt's a 2018 model so maybe WFCO has finally got it right

Mine was stuck at 13.6 volts. IT SHOULD work well. But most everyone here has found that they don't work as advertised. Junk

Old-Biscuit wrote:It's a WFCO WF-8955PEC.Try it and see how well it maintains/charges batteries and IF it ever goes to 14.4V DC 'BULK' chargeIt's a 2018 model so maybe WFCO has finally got it rightThey haven't. If your lucky a WFCO may go to bulk charge and cook off the electrolyte. It gives you a great reason to purchase new batteries.

WFCO's 8955 is no different than it's ever been, mine never charges beyond ~ 13.7 volts, turned it off and instead use a stand alone CTEK charger that does a proper 14.4 volt bulk charge.

I have a Parallax 4455. No problems, charges the batteries just fine.just FWIW

Is a converter upgrade necessary anymore? | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

philh
Explorer III
Jul 18, 2019
mine was replaced with the MBA wildkat within a couple of months on a brand new trailer
Atlee
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2019
sgfrye wrote:
SoundGuy wrote:
WFCO's 8955 is no different than it's ever been, mine never charges beyond ~ 13.7 volts, turned it off and instead use a stand alone CTEK charger that does a proper 14.4 volt bulk charge.

yep our wfco 8955 never charges past 13.7 either. when it dies i will upgrade but because we don't boondock or dry camp it has served us and the 2 cheapo wally world 12v deep cycle batteries ok... our fridge is residential so xantrex freedom inverter and the 2 12 volts have been all we needed on longer road trips.

I didn't wait for my WFCO converter to die. I replaced it less than a year after I bought my 2017 J Flight 23RB new. Replaced it with the Wildkat 4655L M(ain)B(oard)A(ssembly). The L means it has a jumper so you can charge Li-on batteries. It's powered by Progressive Dynamics and is an easy replacement kit. Got it from Best Converters. It comes with the pendant that shows, at a glance, at which level it's charging, Boost, Normal, Maintenance, and De-sulfication. It retains use of the OEM AC breakers and the DC fuse panel. $213 for the kit, as I type.

Kept the one replaced and carry it with me in the trailer. Should for some strange reason, the PD die, I could do "surgery" in the field until a permanent correction was made.
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Jul 16, 2019
deltabravo wrote:
DB Cooper wrote:
..... our 2018 GD Imagine 2800BH and it has a WD-8955PEC. The website says it’s a 3-stage that charges at 14.4 volts. I would think that would be adequate for dry camping. Any experiences with these units? Thanks.

Only way to truly know what a converter is doing is to buy an amp hour meter to monitor the battery.

I prefer the Victron BMV712

I’ve never seen our WFCO go above 13.6V.
deltabravo
Nomad
Jul 16, 2019
DB Cooper wrote:
..... our 2018 GD Imagine 2800BH and it has a WD-8955PEC. The website says it’s a 3-stage that charges at 14.4 volts. I would think that would be adequate for dry camping. Any experiences with these units? Thanks.

Only way to truly know what a converter is doing is to buy an amp hour meter to monitor the battery.

I prefer the Victron BMV712
memilanuk
Explorer II
Jul 16, 2019
time2roll wrote:
PD is among the best for off-grid camping. Consider the PD9260-14.8 if you do a lot of charging with the generator. The PD4655 MBA is probably the most direct replacement for the WFCO.

Been searching threads looking for info on upgrading the OEM converter in my TT... I was wondering if you (or anyone else) would be willing to answer the following:

Functionally, what's the difference between the two PD converters listed (besides the higher voltage on the one for certain types/brands of batteries)? Is the 46xx series just a 'drop-in' version of the 92xx, or is there something fundamentally different about when you'd pick one vs. the other?
time2roll
Nomad
Jun 24, 2019
DB Cooper wrote:
With my two new 6v batteries drained down to 11.2 volts, the charger didn’t go above 13.5v. Time for a converter - is the PD4655 still the one to buy or is there something new that I don’t know about? I will probably order from bestconverter.com again unless I find a deal somewhere.
PD is among the best for off-grid camping. Consider the PD9260-14.8 if you do a lot of charging with the generator. The PD4655 MBA is probably the most direct replacement for the WFCO.
Huntindog
Explorer
Jun 24, 2019
DB Cooper wrote:
time2roll wrote:
DB Cooper wrote:
The website says it’s a 3-stage that charges at 14.4 volts.
Bring your voltmeter to verify.
Please post the results.
With my two new 6v batteries drained down to 11.2 volts, the charger didn’t go above 13.5v. Time for a converter - is the PD4655 still the one to buy or is there something new that I don’t know about? I will probably order from bestconverter.com again unless I find a deal somewhere.
I like the Boondocker. I can fit in the WFCO housing for a neat install.
DB_Cooper
Explorer
Jun 23, 2019
time2roll wrote:
DB Cooper wrote:
The website says it’s a 3-stage that charges at 14.4 volts.
Bring your voltmeter to verify.
Please post the results.
With my two new 6v batteries drained down to 11.2 volts, the charger didn’t go above 13.5v. Time for a converter - is the PD4655 still the one to buy or is there something new that I don’t know about? I will probably order from bestconverter.com again unless I find a deal somewhere.
allen8106
Explorer
Oct 18, 2018
DB Cooper wrote:
allen8106 wrote:
If it were me and I was considering changing the charger out I would step up and install an inverter/charger of 1000 watts or more. With a remote display you can adjust the charge settings that best fit your batteries to ensure proper charge. This way if you ever install any solar panels the inverter/charger is already in place.
I am planning to add an inverter at some point. Is the unit you're describing separate from the converter? Do you have examples of name brands that I could research? Thanks.

I have a Magnum MMS1012 which is a 1000 watts, they make units with higher watt capacity also. The MMS1012 is an inverter/charger. I have the output of the inverter wired to three circuits in my camper to power the outlets, except for the microwave and AC's.
deltabravo
Nomad
Oct 18, 2018
A full on converter REPLACEMENT is the best option.

This is what I'm using