WFCO converter for lithium batteries

[noteven]

My camper has a 55amp WFCO power center. I see a module on their website to change it over for using with LiFe04 batteries. I expect the battery monitoring system in the “lead acid replacement” type lithium batteries will protect them from the charging sources (WFCO / Zamp solar) going crazy and wrecking them.

Has anyone got any experience using the WFCO lithium module?

[drsteve]

time2roll wrote:

drsteve wrote:
Are newer WFCOs still junk? The one in my 2018 Coachmen seems to do fine. I leave it plugged in all summer and not only does it keep it charged, it has yet to boil the battery.

Do you actually measure 14.4 volts charging when expected?
Would love to see some positive reports on WFCO.

I've never measured it. The TT is always on shore power, so the battery is never discharged. I just noted that it hasn't trashed the battery yet after three years, so it must not be trying to overcharge it. The battery never needs water, and I do check frequently.

[TurnThePage]

bpounds wrote:

noteven wrote:
I may change the whole unit out and add some more solar and stay with flooded or agm so as not to have to deal with protecting lithium batteries from cold.

More solar may be your best choice. Optimize your charge controller to compliment whatever batteries you choose.

I've left my WFCO converter in place, after years of planning to replace it with a PD. I went solar instead. The converter sits there switched off, and only gets turned on if a couple cloudy days come along and the genny comes out. Rare event, so no sense replacing the converter, but if it ever dies I certainly would not buy another WFCO.

Exactly what I did. It took a while but mine did finally completely die. Luckily I had just recently ordered a PD to replace it. I opted to get the higher voltage model from Best Converter to care for my T105s.

[2oldman]

I bought this one and had them convert it to the charge specs on my 48v Lithium pack. Free, but I paid shipping.

Might be an idea for you..at your voltage of course.

[bpounds]

noteven wrote:
I may change the whole unit out and add some more solar and stay with flooded or agm so as not to have to deal with protecting lithium batteries from cold.

More solar may be your best choice. Optimize your charge controller to compliment whatever batteries you choose.

I've left my WFCO converter in place, after years of planning to replace it with a PD. I went solar instead. The converter sits there switched off, and only gets turned on if a couple cloudy days come along and the genny comes out. Rare event, so no sense replacing the converter, but if it ever dies I certainly would not buy another WFCO.

[noteven]

BFL13 wrote:
That link is just an ad for PDs. There are other choices that will also work with various Li batteries.

It also looks like many ads are jumping on the Li bandwagon by suggesting Li is more different than it is, so you just have to buy their latest thing now that it says Li somewhere on it.

Actually, from threads on here it looks more like the difficulty is trying to figure out Li SOC between what their balancing gizmo says and what your battery monitor says. The good thing there is that it seems the Lis do ok not being fully charged, so their actual SOC doesn't matter so much.

Too complicated for me! (Also way too expensive)

It’s actually a link to PD’s website, not an ad. I’ve had excellent service & performance from 2 other PD charge converters so I am ok with one more. My base camp trailer sits plugged in to shore power for weeks at a time. Batteries need watering once per year on PD “Charge Wizard” equipped charger. They hurry up and bring the batts to 80-90% if a generator run is needed not on shore power. If I buy LiFe04 I will be looking for long warranty which might indicate a good BMS is installed ... but I’m sure someone will be along to contradict that...

[time2roll]

ORbiker wrote:
Get rid of the 55amp WFCO power center. POS

Power center is fine. It is just the converter MBA that often fails to work as designed.

[BFL13]

That link is just an ad for PDs. There are other choices that will also work with various Li batteries.

It also looks like many ads are jumping on the Li bandwagon by suggesting Li is more different than it is, so you just have to buy their latest thing now that it says Li somewhere on it.

Actually, from threads on here it looks more like the difficulty is trying to figure out Li SOC between what their balancing gizmo says and what your battery monitor says. The good thing there is that it seems the Lis do ok not being fully charged, so their actual SOC doesn't matter so much.

Too complicated for me! (Also way too expensive)

[noteven]

ORbiker wrote:

noteven wrote:
My camper has a 55amp WFCO power center. I see a module on their website to change it over for using with LiFe04 batteries. I expect the battery monitoring system in the “lead acid replacement” type lithium batteries will protect them from the charging sources (WFCO / Zamp solar) going crazy and wrecking them.

Has anyone got any experience using the WFCO lithium module?

Get rid of the 55amp WFCO power center. POS

LinkConversion table.

Thanks ORbiker - the linked table is the info I need. I’ve been happy with the PD unitsin my other rigs. I may change the whole unit out and add some more solar and stay with flooded or agm so as not to have to deal with protecting lithium batteries from cold.

Edit - looking at the PD4655 models at Best Converter PD has the 4655LV model which can be changed from flooded/agm mode to lithium charging- this would be ideal.

[time2roll]

drsteve wrote:
Are newer WFCOs still junk? The one in my 2018 Coachmen seems to do fine. I leave it plugged in all summer and not only does it keep it charged, it has yet to boil the battery.

Do you actually measure 14.4 volts charging when expected?
Would love to see some positive reports on WFCO.

[BFL13]

ORbiker wrote:
Read about 4 stage chargers. That will give you some clues.
Our batteries are much happier with the Progressive Dynamics. I don't have Lithium batteries yet. The Lithium's want 14 or so volt pounded into the batteries till full. KEN

AGMs require 14.x volts( where x depends on the specs of that AGM--some at 14.4ish some at 14.8ish) to be held all the way till they are full, indicated by amps tapered down to 0.5a/100AH of battery bank.

Flooded batteries also benefit from that charging profile.

That is not being "pounded". Batteries have a "natural acceptance rate" for amps absorption, which you see during the Absorption Stage as amps taper.

Stepping down to a lower "absorption voltage" before the battery is fully charged can lead to undercharging and sulphation.

[BarabooBob]

The reason I did not do a warranty claim on the WFCO was that they would just give me another WFCO. I had 2 of them over the years and neither one would go into the bulk charging mode even if the batteries were low. If I am going to take the time to replace a converter, I only want to do it once, so, I bought and installed my own Progressive Dynamics unit. The PD unit works perfectly. I have a built in digital volt meter that shows the system going through the step down process.

[ORbiker]

Read about 4 stage chargers. That will give you some clues.
Our batteries are much happier with the Progressive Dynamics. I don't have Lithium batteries yet. The Lithium's want 14 or so volt pounded into the batteries till full. KEN

[azrving]

A WFCO? That's like using a boat anchor to fix a fine watch. Oh wait, I forgot, they aren't heavy enough to be a boat anchor. Trash that thing.

[BFL13]

The "junk" rep is partly due to an anecdotal higher failure rate of its components compared with other brands. I have no statistics on that to confirm if true.

The other big reason is the design. The 13.2v trigger to go into boost mode is unsuitable for RV use, where that 13.2v trigger would seldom occur.

There have also been complaints on here that some do not drop to the 13.2v storage mode after being at 13.6v. No info on whether this is a component failure example or if it is to do with the design/RV installation in those cases.

On balance, if you have a choice, why risk it?