WFCO WF8955 complete garbage?

[totaldla]

Searching through the forums and found many people repeating the mantra "WFCO is junk - replace with anything better". But looking at ORV AND Keystone, who both use the WFCO WF8955, I find it odd that either would install a charge controller that would increase service ussues and bad press on forums.

So what is the real scoop on the 8955?

[rbpru]

There is a distinct feel among some folks that the manufacturers should use only the best available products in their TTs. That is like saying we should all drive a Rolls Royce and tow with Mac truck.

As for the vast profits made in the industry; that explains why many of the RV industries fell like dominoes, until rescued by Thor and Buffet. They had the resources to ride out the down times.

Even the folks at Jayco had better things to do with their half billion than keep it in the RV industry.

The TT industry sells what the bulk of the public will pay for. Those who have special requirements find those companies willing to build it.

[totaldla]

I looked through ~500 posts in a forum for ORV trailer modifications and improvements. Very few involved changing the WFCO-brand unit for something better.

[westend]

I'd recommend the PD converter for the 14.8V absorption stage if you're planning to have two GC2 6V's in a bank. Heck, I'd recommend the PD coverter even if that wasn't the case. Mine is 45 yrs. old and operates perfectly.

[mike-s]

8955 is just OK as a converter, sub-par as a battery charger. If you plug in mostly, it's fine. If you use the battery much, it won't give a full charge and you'll end up running short more often and replacing the battery more often than with something which charges better.

For most users, who typically plug in, it's fine.

[myredracer]

totaldla wrote:

myredracer wrote:
Opinion from an electrical engineer - yeah, they're cheap junk. As mentioned above, it's like most of the rest of a TT, built the thinnest, lightest, least substantial, bare minimum and cheapest possible.

I'm a little bummed that ORV Black Rock series would scrimp on converters given that they cater to the boondocking crowd. Seems like they could put in much better unit for a few dollars more.

I agree. In some ways I suppose they are like the rest of the manufacturers and try and save a few buck where 99 percent or more of buyers wouldn't know the difference. BTW, if we were to get a new TT, I'd probably have ORV at the top of the list. Might even be able to fit in a factory tour this summer

[totaldla]

myredracer wrote:
Opinion from an electrical engineer - yeah, they're cheap junk. As mentioned above, it's like most of the rest of a TT, built the thinnest, lightest, least substantial, bare minimum and cheapest possible.

I'm a little bummed that ORV Black Rock series would scrimp on converters given that they cater to the boondocking crowd. Seems like they could put in much better unit for a few dollars more.

[totaldla]

12thgenusa wrote:

totaldla wrote:
I'm really getting confused by this discussion as I can't tell if the "problems " are due to the charge controller quality,
There are probably more of these units installed by manufacturers than any other type so failure numbers might be higher, but not by percentage of units in service.
or due to manufacturer stupidity, Yes
or due to forum talk that disproportionately focuses on a few failures. Yes

If I found an RV that in all respects was what I wanted, the type of converter would not be a deciding factor. If you like it, buy it. If you find the converter doesn't perform to your liking, try a mod or replace it.

You're right of course. The converter is certainly not a deal breaker. I'll stop my whining now 🙂

[myredracer]

Opinion from an electrical engineer - yeah, they're cheap junk. As mentioned above, it's like most of the rest of a TT, built the thinnest, lightest, least substantial, bare minimum and cheapest possible.

Our World Friendly Company converter (who names a company like that??) 8955 died during the third season while out on a long road trip. We smelled burning plastic one day while in a CG then the lights went dim some time later. The breaker feeding the converter had tripped. One of the cells in the battery was dead. We also had to replace the battery in the first season due to a dead cell so I suspect the converter had been defective for some time. We ordered a new Progressive Dynamics converter from Randy at Bestconverter.com and had it shipped to the next CG on our trip. Bought an AGM battery which I had been wanting to do anyway and the new converter is compatible with an AGM. I plan to move the battery inside.

We had our dealer check the battery and WFCO converter under warranty and of course found nothing wrong. I routinely check the electrolyte level in the batteries

Here is the old WFCO beside the new Progressive Dynamics. The PD one has 2 fans, much larger heat sink, a larger torodial coil and is simply heavier dutier overall.

[SoundGuy]

totaldla wrote:
I'm really getting confused by this discussion as I can't tell if the "problems " are due to the charge controller quality, or due to manufacturer stupidity, or due to forum talk that disproportionately focuses on a few failures.

Probably a bit of all of the above. I've had several trailers with WFCO converters and have never had a single failure, my only complaint being none has ever properly bulk charged at 14.4 volts. Nor do I ever recall any of them ever eventually float charging at 13.2 volts, as claimed by the manufacturer. My current 8955 seems to always sit around 13.7 volts regardless of battery SOC ... that said, I'm reluctant to complain too loudly as my Interstate G27 will be 9 yrs old this spring and it still holds a full charge. For those who dry camp regularly I would say having a WFCO would be problematic, especially if charging with a genset as that would lead to excessively long genset run times, but for those of us who normally camp on electric sites and may only occasionally draw the battery down to 50% SOC the WFCO seems to work "well enough". 😉

[12thgenusa]

totaldla wrote:
I'm really getting confused by this discussion as I can't tell if the "problems " are due to the charge controller quality,
There are probably more of these units installed by manufacturers than any other type so failure numbers might be higher, but not by percentage of units in service.
or due to manufacturer stupidity, Yes
or due to forum talk that disproportionately focuses on a few failures. Yes

If I found an RV that in all respects was what I wanted, the type of converter would not be a deciding factor. If you like it, buy it. If you find the converter doesn't perform to your liking, try a mod or replace it.

[totaldla]

rbpru wrote:
Yup, as mentioned the reason for the WFCO charger is the same reason they do not use military grade bullet resistant tires, shock absorbers, high strength axels, disc brakes, four season insulation etc. etc. The market will not pay for them nor in most cases do they need them.

Those few that do indeed need these features, usually only need them after they have developed that need through their evolving camping style.

It is nice to know that the options are available when you decide which of them you need but there is no use paying for something you do not need.

The ORV Black Rock series does have 4 season insulation, shocks, off-road frame & axles, etc. But it also has this forum proclaimed evil WFCO WF8955PEC.

I'm really getting confused by this discussion as I can't tell if the "problems " are due to the charge controller quality, or due to manufacturer stupidity, or due to forum talk that disproportionately focuses on a few failures.

[horton333]

As an experiment I wired a near dead group 24 battery to the buss bar, less than 2 feet of cable. It never went into bulk mode, and it didn't give out much more than the 11 amps it gave out with the stock install which is about 20 feet of #6. Maybe my unit was defective, but I am not the only one that no matter how hard we tried it never went into like a bulk mode. If you are getting 65 amps, out of a 55 amp unit, then you are doing very well and treasure that unit but most people don't want to go to the effort like you did with making a box and moving the unit around to compensate for a bad design and they may not duplicate your results.

Glancing through your link you must have a large battery bank, 400 plus ah, how large and what type of batteries?

[12thgenusa]

I guess I would agree with most of the posts when my 8955 was installed in its original location, about 25 wire feet from the batteries and wired with 8 gage wire. I moved it about three feet from the batteries and tied it into the 1/0 battery cables. It now goes into boost (14.4V) and puts out 65 amps. Link

For those that think it doesn't go to float, it does. But only after 48 hours of no power usage. If you are using the system at all it will remain at 13.7V. If in actual storage it will eventually go down to 13.2.

[SoundGuy]

RobWNY wrote:
There has to be a huge profit margin for them.

Of course. Warren Buffet didn't invest in Forest River 'cause he enjoys seeing folks camp, he did it only because it returns a respectable return on his investment. :R