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Converter just died. Replace or upgrade?

SlowBro
Explorer III
Explorer III
My WFCO 55A 3 stage converter just died. (Believe it's a WF-8855?)

Looking at the market is quite confusing. Any you recommend to replace it with? Keep it the same? Get one with four stages? (Or five+ stages if they have them?) Could I/should I take this opportunity to get one with more amps?

I'd love to boondock and possibly solar in the future but that's not going to happen yet. At the moment we're just using the trailer every few months for regular hookups.

I don't want to buy the best or the very cheapest. Low-to-mid-grade will do, unless there's an opportunity to get more features for about the same price. So am thinking $150-$300 or even $500 if there's a very compelling reason.

I current have a Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C, for what it's worth, if there's an advantage of getting some product that's compatible.
2010 Coachmen Mirada 34BH, class A, 34.75' long, GVWR 22,000 lbs.
2005 Fleetwood Resort TNT 25QB, hybrid, 27.5' long, GVWR 6,600 lbs.
God bless!
15 REPLIES 15

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
Iota with the genius module works well, too.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

starcraft69
Explorer
Explorer
PROGRESSIVE DYNAMICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007 chevy 2500 HD 6.0 longbed
2015 Eagle HT 28.5 5th wheel
tucker the fishing dog

Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Explorer
55 amps will work great for boondocking and charging up to about 4 batteries.

Less than 55 amps, and the generator will need to run more hours to get it charged back up. More than 60 amps (I have a 70 amp charger with 4 golf cart batteries and a 440 AH total capacity) and your charger will never really exceed more than 50 amps output more than a few minutes while the batteries are really low, so it is like having a huge engine in a tiny boat, on a tiny pond, it will really not get you anyplace faster.

My 70 amp charger will start out at around 55 amps but will quickly taper off to only about 45 amps after 30 minutes charging some 50% full Trojan T-105 golf cart batteries.

My suggestion for solar? Get a pair of golf cart batteries and a pair of 140 watt solar panels. More battery is just more weight, and you really no longer need to store more than 36 hours worth of power in the battery once you have a large solar system.

SunElec.com sells a $229 140 watt solar panel with aluminum frame, and 12 volt nominal output (21 volt open circuit). THis can be wired to a low cost PWM controller, and your battery. It will keep the battery full while in storage.

Your loads are about 35 AH daily to run the CO and propane leak detectors, and refrigerator. This is about what one of my 120 watt panels will put out each day.

Good luck,

Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a

Porsche or Country Coach!



If there's a WILL, I want to be in it!



I havn't been everywhere, but it's on my list.

Kangen.com Alkaline water

Escapees.com

SlowBro
Explorer III
Explorer III
As mentioned above a possible future is boondocking and up to 3 batteries for solar. Boondocking you'd want a small amperage but solar you want more amps. So I'm a bit lost how to cast that one.
2010 Coachmen Mirada 34BH, class A, 34.75' long, GVWR 22,000 lbs.
2005 Fleetwood Resort TNT 25QB, hybrid, 27.5' long, GVWR 6,600 lbs.
God bless!

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
No need for more than 45 amps unless you have at least three batteries.
Need to limit to 40 amps if you want to use a small 1000w Honda generator.
For just plugging in that PowerMax is fine. The smaller 35a or 45a PowerMax would be better charging profile for just one or two batteries.

SlowBro
Explorer III
Explorer III
And my other question, should I get more amps?
2010 Coachmen Mirada 34BH, class A, 34.75' long, GVWR 22,000 lbs.
2005 Fleetwood Resort TNT 25QB, hybrid, 27.5' long, GVWR 6,600 lbs.
God bless!

lenr
Explorer III
Explorer III
Research Progressive Dynamics, then buy on Amazon. They make exact size replacements for WFCO.

Bobbo
Explorer II
Explorer II
Anything named Parallax, Magnatek or WFCO needs to be replaced. Get a real converter. I agree, call Randy at Best Converter.
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

BarneyS
Explorer III
Explorer III
I would go with one of the Progressive Dynamics models that have the Charge Wizard built in. I have had their converters in my trailers for the past 25+ years and have never had a problem. They are "smart" chargers and will maintain your battery without overcharging even if left plugged in 24/7 as ours often is.

I suspect that the PD9260C would probably be a perfect match for your rig.
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook Titan 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch (Sold)
Not towing now.
Former tow vehicles were 2016 Ram 2500 CTD, 2002 Ford F250, 7.3 PSD, 1997 Ram 2500 5.9 gas engine

SlowBro
Explorer III
Explorer III
A single group 27 marine. Don't know the AH though. Would like capacity for 2-3 more batteries if I go on solar but I don't know how how much more weight that'd be. Long story short: If it only costs a little bit more for more capacity I'd like to get it.
2010 Coachmen Mirada 34BH, class A, 34.75' long, GVWR 22,000 lbs.
2005 Fleetwood Resort TNT 25QB, hybrid, 27.5' long, GVWR 6,600 lbs.
God bless!

Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Explorer II
You didn't think to tell us what your house bank is. That could matter, but any 4-stage will be better than what you had.

Matt
Matt & Mary Colie
A sailor, his bride and their black dogs (one dear dog is waiting for us at the bridge) going to see some dry places that have Geocaches in a coach made the year we married.

SlowBro
Explorer III
Explorer III
How about this converter? And my other question, should I get more amps?

http://www.bestconverter.com/55-Amp-4-Stage-Main-Board-Replacement_p_522.html
2010 Coachmen Mirada 34BH, class A, 34.75' long, GVWR 22,000 lbs.
2005 Fleetwood Resort TNT 25QB, hybrid, 27.5' long, GVWR 6,600 lbs.
God bless!

azrving
Explorer
Explorer
Progressive dynamics that will go to 14.4 volts. WFCO is too light weight to be a boat anchor, maybe keep it as a door stop.

TucsonJim
Explorer II
Explorer II
I second contacting Best Converter. Here's a website link for you:

Best Converter

Jim
2016 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel SRW 4x4
2017 Grand Design Reflection 297RSTS
2013 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel SRW 4x4 (Destroyed by fire - 8/29/16)
2014 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS (Destroyed by fire - 8/29/16)