Lazy converter?

[KATOOM]

Just got back from a recent trip and while I was plugged in at the camp spot, the converter was acting odd.

I have a voltage gauge inside which lets me know how the house batteries are doing while dry camping. When I'm plugged into AC that gauge will read 14.3 volts and eventually (depending on battery charge) will idle down to 13.7 volts and remain as long as I'm plugged in. But this time I would notice that on occasion when I started using more electrical devices (lights, fans, etc...), the gauge would start reading 13.3 and lower like I was no longer plugged in. Clearly NOT doing its normal thing. In fear that the batteries would be drained, I reached down and reset the converter breaker and it would jump back up to 14.3. I tightened up all the electrical connections just to be sure nothing was loose and possibly the reason.

I went through watching the voltage gauge fairly closely for a couple times over two days and then decided to see what would happen if I just left it alone. Knowing that it was doing the same thing, I could tell the lights were dimmer for a short while and then everything would brighten up as it seemed the converter was running normal.

Is this something I should be concerned with? Is it just normal converter actions? Could it potentially be related to the batteries in any way? Is there something I should be looking for?

Also, this is a WFCO 55 amp converter. Thanks for the help or advice.

[NinerBikes]

4 hours or thereabouts at 14.4V to 14.8V bulk charging rate.

Really interested in seeing how many amps it makes when you first turn it on in 14.3V, how close to 55 Amps, or how much lower or less it is.

[KATOOM]

I can try timing it, but if I remember right from what I've noticed, it will start at 14.3 and remain there for about a day (depending on current battery levels), and then drop to 13.7 where it will remain for another day or so before it drops to 13.3 where it will stay as long as its plugged in. Other than that, I really have no way to accurately test it with any detailed timeline.

Whats "normal" for any other 3 stage converter?

[JamesJudasPries]

pnichols wrote:
:h

1) Why is WFCO still in business ... anyway???

2) Is anybody satisfied with their WFCO???

3) Don't the WFCO units sell for about the same price as the PD units???

NO Kidding. Arg. Just why, oh why are they still made?

[NinerBikes]

KATOOM wrote:
I'm sure I'll get bashed by those who dislike WFCO but my converter seems to be working fine. :? I've been paying attention to its operation since I came home camping whereby it started at 14.3, dropped to 13.7, and eventually floating at 13.3. So not that I'm a fan of their "cheaper" product, I think I'll leave it alone unless it acts up again.

I'm really thinking that the park I was at has a polarity issue which was causing the converter to freak out. I didn't think about it though until I got home.

Why don't you time how long your WFCO stayed at 14.3V for us. It would be interesting to know how long it stayed in bulk charging mode.

Polarity issue with 120V Alternating Current is a non issue. There is no polarity, the current flows both ways.

[KATOOM]

I'm sure I'll get bashed by those who dislike WFCO but my converter seems to be working fine. :? I've been paying attention to its operation since I came home camping whereby it started at 14.3, dropped to 13.7, and eventually floating at 13.3. So not that I'm a fan of their "cheaper" product, I think I'll leave it alone unless it acts up again.

I'm really thinking that the park I was at has a polarity issue which was causing the converter to freak out. I didn't think about it though until I got home.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Met an RV'er in my RV park who pleaded with me to purchase my Lamda power supply. Boy was he mad. I asked him to check the make of his onverter.

"It says W.F.C.O.

Should read WTF Company"

Since he was headed home I convinced him to simply drive eight hours a day and let the alternator do the recharging. Checked the charging system and the alternator and wire distribution system was broken. Busy weekend. I connected him to a 300lb power supply on a dolly. That one put me to work for three days. God I hate working on Class C motorhomes.

[NinerBikes]

KATOOM wrote:
Hey.....I'm no fan of anything hecho en China but given that almost everything available to us comes from overseas, it seems ya get what ya get these days.

And just to update the thread, having not looked at them since last year, I opened the batteries and they were all low in water level. I filled them up and plan on keeping an eye on how they do and if that affect what the converter does. I'm also looking at a PD unit but I'm not thrilled about spending a couple hundred at the moment unless I have no choice.

You should be able to buy a unit on Ebay, as a stand alone, install in storage area close to battery, like a Progressive Dynamics PD 9245 or 9260, for $120-140. shop around, maybe buy it this fall when everyone has put their RVS away up north.

[westend]

The OP needs to attend a "Converters Anonymous" meeting. Kind of in denial that he has a problem. Anytime you have lights that are dimming or a surge in 12V power, it can be assumed that the power supply in the converter has gone South. The real bad thing about the WFCO converters is that the output regulation circuit is also poorly implemented. Who knows what type of current and voltage will be pushed at the batteries and at various circuit boards?
I'd suggest to change out the WFCO converter, yesterday.

[KATOOM]

Hey.....I'm no fan of anything hecho en China but given that almost everything available to us comes from overseas, it seems ya get what ya get these days.

And just to update the thread, having not looked at them since last year, I opened the batteries and they were all low in water level. I filled them up and plan on keeping an eye on how they do and if that affect what the converter does. I'm also looking at a PD unit but I'm not thrilled about spending a couple hundred at the moment unless I have no choice.

[pnichols]

:h

1) Why is WFCO still in business ... anyway???

2) Is anybody satisfied with their WFCO???

3) Don't the WFCO units sell for about the same price as the PD units???

[NinerBikes]

KATOOM wrote:
Thank you again everyone. I'm going to check out everything today and see what I find out. Just pointing out though that now home and plugged into power here, the converter is working fine. I know that doesn't prove there isn't an issue with it too.....

Do a search on "WFCO" here and read up. You'll find out they are cheap chinese junk.

My suggestion is to forget about the WFCO, just don't waste your time doing any more research work with it, replace it now. Because sooner or later it will fail on you and leave you in a bad pinch without electricity when you really do need electricity, and then you'll be out in the boonies and have to pay extortion prices and full pop for a replacement Progressive Dynamics or Iota. Better to have it replaced now, and save yourself the research and headaches on a future trip. Buy a unit on Ebay for a good price instead.

Failure of WFCO's is a common occurence, it's a known lack of quality. Plenty of people have been down this road before, ahead of you.

[KATOOM]

Thank you again everyone. I'm going to check out everything today and see what I find out. Just pointing out though that now home and plugged into power here, the converter is working fine. I know that doesn't prove there isn't an issue with it too.....

[RJsfishin]

Quote:
. Yes even the highly acclaimed PD series fails the very same way.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dam few !!!
I think this forum takes a perdy accurate poll on converter failure,
Last count I believe was WFCO at 75%, and PD at 3%.

[NinerBikes]

You can replace your WFCO, or you can wait and replace your WFCO. But that is a common failure mode for the unit you describe. In the mean time, you're killing your batteries.