Honda 2000i generator amps surging up and down

[1L243]

I'm dry camping in Wyoming for the past 9 days been running on solar with no problems.
Rain today batteries down to 78% so started up the generator.

Solar is turned off to the coach solar charge controller going to batteries.

Converter turned on and I notice generator surging slighly in eco mode. The battery monitor shows the charging amps starting at 30amp then drop one amp at a time till it gets to 0 then back to 30amps and over and over.

If I unplug from the generator no engine surging but cant check generator load..

Trying to figure is this a generator problem or a converter problem?

I have to get the batteries charged so I let it run amps surging or not.
Made sure not to run any appliances during this.

After about an hour the it all started working as it's supposed to like nothing was ever wrong.

Any thoughts?

[bigfootford]

Well now it just might be that the WFCO is thermalling out and shuts down the charge, cools off and starts charging again....

PROBLEM: Converter keeps shutting down.

SOLUTION: Ensure proper ventilation and check for obstructions regarding the cooling fan. WFCO converters are over temperature protected and will shut down.

FACT: Voltage will be present on both sides of the DC fuse terminals due to the LED circuit.

https://wfcoelectronics.com/common-power-products-misconceptions-issues/

I have had my 9260 PD... for over 10 years and it has had lots of use... I installed it into my Magnetic converter cabinet years ago. I only ran two FWC batteries and switched to 1 100ah Lifeline AGM a long time ago.

Jim

[1L243]

Interesting factoid. When I drew the batts down to 73% and plugged in the converter started to cycle. I left it unplugged and checked it again a few times and it still was cycling.

I decided to leave it plugged in for a while even though it is cycling it's still charging a little at a time. I checked it an hour later and the batts now up to 83% and the converter was charging as it should and no longer cycling.

Maybe it's when the converter is charging at it's highest rate of charge is when the problem occurs?

Regardless I think I will be going with the Progressive Dynamics 9260c.

Now I just have to figure where I'm going to get it.from.

[deltabravo]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

If I remember correctly, the Victron monitor does do a Peurkert calculation.

It does

[1L243]

There is no load except for the charging it's self.

Im ready to throw a new converter at it just to see if it works.

[DrewE]

I wouldn't be so quick to assume the converter is bad. Many converters will have their output voltage sag a little bit under heavy load; they aren't perfectly regulated voltage sources, as that's not in the least bit required for this application.

The real question is whether the load is cycling for some reason, causing the converter's output to also vary, or whether the load is constant but the converter's output is varying undesirably. Neither one has been proven at all conclusively, from what I've seen, but it kind of seems to me like a varying load and a reasonably functioning converter.

[Grit_dog]

bigfootford wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
1L243,

DO NOT BUY WFCO

Ditto that!

Jim

Idk what this thread is even about, but can confirm the above
The wfco in our 2017 model camper is a glorious piece of ______.

[bigfootford]

1L243 wrote:
Checked at power distribution panel and the voltage is going up and down a few 10ths of a volt as the converter cycles up and down. Plus the fan goes on and off as the cycle starts at high amps and then goes off as it gets to low amps. Over and over and over

I see Go Power makes a converter smart charger that will fit in the same place as the WFCO charger.

Any reocomendations?

Well that pretty much confirms the issue.... Bad converter.

Many of us recommend the Progressive Dynamics series of converters.

If you have questions you can call them. Randy is the owner and he knows about installing and recommendations.

https://www.bestconverter.com/Progressive-Dynamics-Converters_c_81.html

Jim

[1L243]

Checked at power distribution panel and the voltage is going up and down a few 10ths of a volt as the converter cycles up and down. Plus the fan goes on and off as the cycle starts at high amps and then goes off as it gets to low amps. Over and over and over

I see Go Power makes a converter smart charger that will fit in the same place as the WFCO charger.

Any reocomendations?

[bigfootford]

You need to check the voltage at the converter or power distribution doing the same thing.

That is the only way to really know if the converter is doing it or it is a resetable breaker somewhere in the path to the batteries.

Jim

[bigfootford]

pianotuna wrote:
1L243,

DO NOT BUY WFCO

Ditto that!

Jim

[pianotuna]

1L243,

DO NOT BUY WFCO

[1L243]

I lowered the batteries to 73%. Then I let them rest for an hour and plugged into 110. And the cycling returned. I let it sit for 3 hours just in case there was a heat issue and still cycling.

I tested the battery voltage at the batteries at the same time the battery monitor shows cycling between 44 to .02 amps and the batteries go up and down a few 10ths of a volt at the same time as the cycling?? Clue??

I think my only choice at this point is to replace the Converter with a new one.

Should I go with a direct WFCO 8955 replacement or should I go with a after market?

[bigfootford]

1L243 wrote:

bigfootford wrote:
Sure sounds like you have a restable breaker that is sometimes installed on rv's/campers. It is on the line from the Converter to the batteries. Your converter is putting out enough amps to trip the breaker..
Your solar for most installs bypasses that breaker, depends on how it was installed.

Jim

I replaced all the re settable breakers with manual ones a few months ago.

All is still working as it should. Im going to drain the system down to 80% again to make sure all is still good.

When you do this, using a dvm measure the voltage on the battery as the surge occurs.
If you see the voltage climb then drop there is the clue.

Jim

[1L243]

bigfootford wrote:
Sure sounds like you have a restable breaker that is sometimes installed on rv's/campers. It is on the line from the Converter to the batteries. Your converter is putting out enough amps to trip the breaker..
Your solar for most installs bypasses that breaker, depends on how it was installed.

Jim

I replaced all the re settable breakers with manual ones a few months ago.

All is still working as it should. Im going to drain the system down to 80% again to make sure all is still good.