I'm having an issue with myinside lights. They ramdomly go from dim to bright. I have a WFCO 55 amp charger, that goes from 14.3 to 13.2, on a 1 minute cycle. I'm on 50 amp shore power at a campground, my EMS tells me that I'm drawing 118-120 volts and about 10 amps on each leg. Other than the coach lights, furnace and etc. I have a 12V electric cooler in the basement for DW's insulin. I think the charger is going further south then I am, thinking about replacing it, should I go to a 65 amp or larger? This is a keystone cougar 2011 326MKS I got used last May. I have 2 12V batteries that run everything for over 4 hrs when I turn the converter off. Should I stay with WFCO ? Whats better, any help would be great. Thanks, DanSorry for so long !!!

I have 2 12V batteries that run everything for over 4 hrs when I turn the converter off. .....:HTwo 12V should last 2 days.not 4 hours.WFCOs are NOT the best but I would pull batteries and have them load tested first.Lights getting bright then going dim and converter output fluctuating sounds like a converter going bad BUT could also be bad battery cell(s)

Disconnect the battery and see if the voltage continues to fluctuate.WFCO will run the Rv just fine with no battery... if it is working correctly.

Thanks for the replies, I'm north of Oceanside ca. Where or who could load test batteries, I have to take a wall down to get to the converter to check it out. Thanks again, Dan

Any auto parts store can load test batteries. Be sure the batteries are fully charged first, even if you have to put a stand alone battery charger on them.Heck, if you were in TN, I would tell you to bring them to my house. I have a 500 amp carbon pile load tester.

Bobbo your HF carbon pile is better than a La Z Boy cheese grater tinker toy tester. An impedance handheld tester would suffice.Shut off yhe breaker for the WhiffCo. If the lights remain constant the converter needs to go to China. Big converter chargers are for boondocking. 55 is plenty for power pedestal use.

interior lights | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Dec 23, 2015
Bemota wrote:
I just checked the voltage same lights on now, goes from 9.3 to 10.7 volts without batteries. Dan
Time to replace the WFCO.

If you camp plugged in I recommend a PowerMax 45 or 55 amp.

If you ever expect a fast battery charge on generator power I recommend the PD4655 or IOTA with IQ controller.
RJsfishin
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015
You're batteries WERE NOT GETTING CHARGED, that is the reason they are only fair cond.
Deep six the WFCO, get a PD9245, let the batteries get a good charge, then see if they're still good enuff for your camping style.
Be sure to get the wizard Pendant w/ the converter (sometimes optional) so you will have 3-4 stage charging at 14.4 volts
Bemota
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015
Well, had batteries checked, he said they were " fair ". A guy at the campground here said he had a prblem with his ground connections, I'll check them and order a new converter. Have to move tomorrow, I'll have to see what I can find over the holidays.
Yes, I can see the dimming with the 1 volt drop.
Thanks again for all the help, suggestions and ideas, Dan
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Dec 21, 2015
Bobbo if you've seen a cheese grater battery load tester you'd remenber it. They are rectangular punched full of round holes with a pair of cables and clamps. Great for lawn and garden tractor batteies, with a 100 amp test load but utterly useless for anything bigger. An impedance battery tester looks like a multimeter but has cables and clamps. A vendor that uses a cheese grater is to be avoided. As a matter of fact a battery vendor who does not utilize an adjustable carbon pile tester (like yours) and a Freas hydrometer should be avoided. People who get paid real money but deliver Amateur Hour service are a real pitfall.
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
Dec 21, 2015
How about E Bay
$141 and $9.90 shipping,much cheaper.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Dec 21, 2015
You said: I have a WFCO 55 amp charger, that goes from 14.3 to 13.2, on a 1 minute cycle.

Are your lights dimming on a 1 minute cycle as well?

one volt is what around 7.3 percent (Based on the average) You should be able to see that.
AllegroD
Nomad
Dec 21, 2015
PD9260 @ Best Converter (.com) $177 is best price I could find. Did not match shipping costs.
CJW8
Explorer
Dec 21, 2015
Sounds like your WFCO is going flaky. I suggest a 35-45 amp Progressive Dynamics. Smaller than what you have but you don't need 55+ for 2 batteries and seldom boondocking. WFCO has probably seriously degraded your batteries. The may recover somewhat but would need some TLC to do so. (check water levels, apply a good charge, check SG and then equalize at near 16 volts while monitoring closely). Do not get another WFCO! Any RV dealer should have PD's in stock.
Bemota
Explorer
Dec 21, 2015
hi,again, OK got the wall down and the converter out and disconected, 13.7 volts with no load for 20 mins. good. Reconnected turn on same lights as last night, w/o batteries, and it goes form 12.7 to 14.8, back and forth, hard to read DVM so fast, and the converter is clicking like mad. Since WFCO is not the best, should I replace with the same, 90 percent of the time we have shore power when we park. Seeing we are on the road, in so. ca. right now, any suggestions for where to get a converter arround here. Thanks, Dan
Bobbo
Explorer II
Dec 21, 2015
Without batteries, you should be getting 13.2 or 13.8 or 14.4 or something like that, depending on your converter/charger. Definitely you should be getting 13+ volts.

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