Forum Discussion

DiskDoctr's avatar
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Mar 23, 2017

New converter charger options?

We have WF-8955an converter charger in our new to us TT. What is a good replacement for it that includes 3-stage charging and "regulated" 12v output to lights- to protect 12v LEDs and such when the battery is charging at higher voltage?

Although we do want to save money where we can, this is going to be our Long Term camper for extended trips of about a month or so at a time.

Some factors.

1. We do have a generator: Champion 3100 wireless remote start with 30 amp receptacle

2. Roof mount, ducted 13,500 AC

3. Likely upgrading to dual 6v golf cart batteries

4. Possibly a *little* solar in the next year or so

5. Charging line from Ford Excursion 7.3L Diesel through the 7 pin, or possibly a separate connector in the near future

6. 2 slides. Apparently these things "eat" power. Manuals say shore power might not be enough to operate them if your battery is low (!)

7. We're switching our lights over to LEDs

8. We have an upcoming WEEK without electrical hookups in June. We'll have the generator for an hour or so in the am and the eve.

9. Possible inverter in our future for short 120v usage (big maybe)


I asked similar questions for our Hybrid a few weeks ago, but we've upgraded to this 2005 Cougar 304BHS and will upgrade it instead.

Edit to add link to previous thread: earlier thread

Thanks for any help and suggestions.
  • DiskDoctr's avatar
    DiskDoctr
    Explorer
    Mar 23, 2017
    Isn't there a problem with the Boondockers going into boost mode or something?

    Yeah, I'm pretty much convinced that we have to BUY a charging system of some sort after you guys reporting problems with the 8955.

    time2roll- I'm catching up with the suggestions. I may be a little slow, but I'll get there! Love the 'try it if you want, then come back after you're sick of the trouble' comments. Wife looks at me strange when I chuckle at the keyboard :)
  • ADK_Camper's avatar
    ADK_Camper
    Explorer
    Mar 23, 2017
    As others have said it's hard to get a WFCO to go into Boost Mode. I have tried and tried; as far as I am able to determine my WFCO has NEVER gone to Boost Mode for as long as I have owned my camper. It always charges in Adsorption Mode which can literally take DAYS to recharge a moderately discharged battery. My solution is fairly straightforward. I use an inexpensive Harbor Freight manual battery charger connected directly to the battery. In just a couple of hours I can bring a moderately discharged battery back to nearly full charge.
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Mar 23, 2017
    horton333 wrote:
    This is what I replaced mine with (I used the 75 Amp model).
    There are 2 wires in (AC), 2 wires out (DC) and one ground. 2 Screws - and videos as noted but it is real simple to replace.
    The voltage is 14.6 max which is a shade higher than most, that should not hurt LED lights.

    The algorithm it uses is simple, and better than most units. If it determines the batteries need charging when AC is first applied it goes to 14.6 (max, current limit may prevent that at first) for 4 hours.

    Note officially the unit you have is three stage. Some people with large battery banks and very short wires claim to have even seen it go into boost. Few people manage to actually see that as it has a terrible algorithm for deciding when to boost the voltage. I could not get mine to go into boost even with the battery hooked directly to the bus bar and with a near dead battery (12.1 volts).


    x2. it looks at charger output voltage AFTER it applies full current and if it is above a very low level, it drops to 13.6V.
    The PD looks at converter voltage before it applies full current and if it below a reasonably high voltage it goes into boost mode.

    myself and 4 others never could get a WFCO to go into boost mode, and we all went with a PD unit. Now we are happy
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Mar 23, 2017
    DiskDoctr wrote:
    According to this specs page, it is already a 3-stage charger. Maybe I do not have to replace it?

    WF-8955 specs page
    Give it a go if you like. If working properly to charge low batteries you should see voltage steadily climb above 14.2 volts and hold for four hours. Good luck.

    When you realize the WFCO is a fail I recommend this one: PD9260-14.8

    The PD4655 is fine also at 14.4 volts if you are worried about the LEDs. Although most good ones I see are good from about 9 to 30 volts.

    IOTA is also an excellent converter.

    I would stay away from Boondocker. While it always starts in boost mode, boondocker cuts down to normal mode too soon. Depending on rating, wire connection, and battery boondocker drops voltage at about 75 percent charged. Then it is just a trickle to 90+ percent.
  • horton333's avatar
    horton333
    Explorer
    Mar 23, 2017
    This is what I replaced mine with (I used the 75 Amp model).
    There are 2 wires in (AC), 2 wires out (DC) and one ground. 2 Screws - and videos as noted but it is real simple to replace.
    The voltage is 14.6 max which is a shade higher than most, that should not hurt LED lights.

    The algorithm it uses is simple, and better than most units. If it determines the batteries need charging when AC is first applied it goes to 14.6 (max, current limit may prevent that at first) for 4 hours.

    Note officially the unit you have is three stage. Some people with large battery banks and very short wires claim to have even seen it go into boost. Few people manage to actually see that as it has a terrible algorithm for deciding when to boost the voltage. I could not get mine to go into boost even with the battery hooked directly to the bus bar and with a near dead battery (12.1 volts).
  • DiskDoctr's avatar
    DiskDoctr
    Explorer
    Mar 23, 2017
    afidel wrote:
    It's 3 stage but it's very weak and will not stay at 14.4V bulk charging for long even if it happens to get there. There's little chance that you'll be able to replenish your batteries in 2 hours a day with it unless you're in extreme conservation mode (no direct experience here but it's been a big topic of research for me)


    Thanks for your post.

    Two questions come to mind then.

    1. Should I plan on replacing the charger portion with something like PD 9260C

    2. What about my un-regulated 12v LEDs? Will the converter hurt them, or does "filtered" mean also regulated?

    Sorry for the amateur questions
  • mbopp's avatar
    mbopp
    Explorer
    Mar 23, 2017
    I supplement my WFCO with a deck-mount IOTA-55 w/ charge controller. It's mounted in the pass-through and wired w/6ga (short run) welding cable. The WFCO is on it's own breaker and turned off, so I'm just using it as a DC distribution center. An hour a day on the generator keeps the batteries up.
  • afidel's avatar
    afidel
    Explorer II
    Mar 23, 2017
    It's 3 stage but it's very weak and will not stay at 14.4V bulk charging for long even if it happens to get there. There's little chance that you'll be able to replenish your batteries in 2 hours a day with it unless you're in extreme conservation mode (no direct experience here but it's been a big topic of research for me)

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