WFCO 8875 converter

Well, Im not sure what I did but the converter has a button fob with a indicator light. Light was off and I pushed button just to see and it went into stage 3 charging and been working all day.
Had this rv for several years and its never done that before.

double posted

Thanks for the replys guys. I made my destination today and have a battery charger keeping them up for now. Hopeful the rain will stop tomorrow so I can check it out. Its in my front storage compartment.

The very first PowerMax converters were clone WFCOs under licence, including that 13.2v trigger. I had one of the 100a ones with my 458AH bank, back when.

I remember when I was down 225AH by Trimetric, 51% SOC, it started off, no boost. I ran the batts down some more and at 236AH down, 48.5% SOC, it went into boost this time.

I sent "comments" :) about this to the company, saying it was stupid to have to run the batts down more in order to charge them back up. They agreed, and stopped making those WFCO clones, and went to their own designs (which have evolved over the years to now the LK models.)

A friend had a Cardinal 5er with a WFCO in front close to the batteries. I saw 14.4 with that ok using my multimeter when we were checking something. Can't remember the WFCO amps (probably a 55) and AHs, but it was doing what it should.

A note on PowerMax absorption times at 14.x volts. First they had none. You got to 14.x and the converter dropped to 13.6. Next, they went the Iota route with the 15 minute thing. With the LKs they have the three-stage mode where it lasts for 30 minutes instead of 15. BUT you can choose the adjustable voltage mode and dial in your 14.x and it will stay at that voltage as long as you want.

A peculiarity is their whole power centre you can get. The converter in that is a different model from the deck mount LKs. It has a two hour time at boost instead of the half hour. It is a different physical size too.

I complained about the shorter sort of times at Vabs, and they said the companies that make RVs (what they call "OEMs") tell them they want "gentle" charging profiles because the people who buy RVs are mostly convinced that anything else will wreck their batteries. Seems they don't read this forum! Naturally PowerMax would like OEMs to pick them and acts accordingly.

PowerMax tries to help us too though, inventing that LK from 2016, where you can choose gentle three-stage or do whatever you like with the adjustable voltage mode. Can't ask for more than that.

Progressive Dynamics have some converters that fit WFCO power centers. They have a model that fits my WFCO that can be changed to lithium FE04 - so it can be used for all battery chemistries.

BFL13 wrote:
time2roll has often suggested swapping your 55 amp for a 35 amp if you have 220AH so the spike will be less, with a chance of getting under the 13.2v trigger on start-up. Or add two more batteries.

Even this is not a slam dunk. I have the 35amp WFCO and 4x GC2 batteries connected with #2 wire.

I don't use the converter much even if plugged in. Solar has been good.

I also recommend going smaller with the PowerMax if you can. PowerMax does not hold absorption voltage very long so an oversize converter will drop down to a trickle at about 75% charged.

Oh my story on Converter failure.. SUnday of course (not chance of getting a repalcement) so off to Auto Zone for a very nice Deltran Battery tender DELUX. this unit does 2-3 amps in tender mode. 20 amps in BOOST and 70 if you need a jump start.. Wi-Fi remote from an app when it decides to connect.

That took 24 hours to bring the batteries back up to full (I have a lot of battery)

Then the next day it was off to Teknosha, MI (The T/A Truck stop overnight) and the morning after off to Marshall (A couple townships north) to the PD factory where I got a new factory Refurb. Back to The T/A and hooked it up. Finished the install some time later in South Carolina Working great still as I type.

I favor Progressive Dynamics for multiple reasons including I really REALLY like the programmers on the charge wizard.. BUT that said there are many I would consider just or nearly as good.

To the fuse question: Yes. usually on one that size 3 30 amp fuses. IF any one of them is blown the other two are as well. UNPLUG.. Replace all three. then re-connect.. They should be replaceable without opening the unit's case. (But may be hidden from easy view Mine are on my PD 9180+wizard)

However odds they are blown ... Low. very low.

Not sure this is actually a picture of an 8875, but it shows RP fuses on it, same as many other deck mount converters.

http://www.2040-parts.com/wfco-usa-wf-8875-75a-battry-charger-for-12v-batteries-i2061452/

TurnThePage wrote:

cavie wrote:

Bird Freak wrote:
It seems my converter has decided to die. Anyone know if it has internal breakers or fuses?
I just found the problem a few minutes ago and can't trouble shoot for a couple of days.
If I have to replace would you go with another WFCO or a Powermax? 8875's have been discontinued.

It has a 15 amp 120 volt circuit breaker in the power panel. The convert will not be on the GFI circuit. There also are Two 30 or 40 amp 12 volt reverse polarity fuses on the converter. There is also an inline reset-able fuse within 6' of the battery.

The WFCO converter on my Fleetwood product did not have it's own circuit breaker. It simply plugged into an outlet. I'm not even sure that outlet went through a breaker, aside from the main breakers for the whole RV. I've never seen this inline fuse either, and I've combed through this trailer thoroughly over the years.

The reverse polarity fuses are with the rest of the 12 volt fuses. off to the side. 30 or 40 amps.

The main battery reset-able fuse is under the tong not far from the battery.