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09-01-2015, 08:14 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 193
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WFCO Power Panels
I just received a WFCO 8965 series power panel to replace my 35. I installed a second battery and the original converter was having a tough time maintaining two batteries.
The following is an excellent example of very poor quality control of this product.
The power panel package was received in excellent condition, not a dent in the shipping box or product box anywhere and sealed.
1. On opening the box the restraining cardboard inside was pretty much destroyed. Way to light to handle the product. I don't know why the unit itself was not damaged.
2. They have done nothing to fix the poor door latch that keeps falling open. My old one would not stay closed the first month I had my trailer (purchased new 2012). I can see this one will be the same. Duct tape to the rescue.
3. There are two plastic tabs that hold the 12 volt fuse panel in place at the top and a tab at the bottom. Both top tabs were broken. The fuse panel itself was just flopping around inside.
4. When a fuse burns out an LED indicator light is supposed to come on to show a blown fuse. 4 out of the 11 on the board work.
I know these products are cheaply made and purchased by manufacturers to keep the trailer costs down but I would expect an upgraded product when replacing them.
If you are ordering a new trailer it is well worth the cost to make sure the power panel is upgraded from the WFCO brand.
__________________
DRINK COFFEE--do stupid things faster and with more energy ! Rockwood 5th wheel, Signature Untralite, 8244S
Tow Vehicle: Ram 3500 6.4 litre Hemi.
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09-01-2015, 04:16 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canton, Michigan
Posts: 1,348
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Why would you expect an upgraded product, when you already know they are cheaply made and purchased by the manufacturers to keep the trailer costs down. Any supplier boosts their profit by continuing to ship the exact same product, with zero changes. Any change requires an initial cost of retooling (thousands or millions of dollars). They must then charge you (or the OEM) more money to pay for that retooling.
Since there are other products already out there by other suppliers that are superior, they know they can only continue to make money by supplying the same product, for less money than the competition. Your best choice is to go with the superior product, unless you are satisfied with the same product.
__________________
thebrakeman ('70), DW ('71), DD ('99), DD ('01), DD ('05)
2004 Surveyor SV261T (UltraLite Bunkhouse Hybrid)
2006 Mercury Mountaineer V8 AWD Premier
Equal-i-zer WDH (10k), Prodigy Brake Controller
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09-02-2015, 07:05 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 2,058
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I have an 8735 in mine and yes, duct tape keeps the door closed. So far, that is the only problem, seems to work ok, charges both 27 batteries with no problems; however, when (not if) it goes, it will not be a WFCO that goes back into that square hole.
If I'm going to spend a half a day to replace it, it is going to be a reliable model.
__________________
Trailer: Lifted 228BH, heavy duty springs and Yokohama tires DELAMINATED ROOF
TV: 2016 GMC Sierra Z71 4x4 CC, SLT
Spare TV: Two Alaskan Malamutes
Living somewhere in ID; previously lived in Moab UT; previous to that, don't ask!
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09-02-2015, 07:52 AM
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#4
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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I'm not sure why you replaced the whole distribution panel when you could have just bought a new converter.
TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "24 nights"
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09-02-2015, 12:43 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 47
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Wf 8955 pce 30amp
Hope this is not off subject. I have 2013 Micro Lite 21FBRS. I have 110 only when I unplug I have no 12v. I have 2 6v. The batteries read 13v when pluged in 12.8 when I drop electric can someone help?
__________________
Gene & Betty
2011 Silverado
2013 Flagstaff Micro Lite 21 FBRS
Mission, TX
2013-100.. 2014-180.. 2015-175..0
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09-02-2015, 12:59 PM
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#6
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by genecusano
Hope this is not off subject. I have 2013 Micro Lite 21FBRS. I have 110 only when I unplug I have no 12v. I have 2 6v. The batteries read 13v when pluged in 12.8 when I drop electric can someone help?
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So you have 12v power in the camper until you unplug the 120v shore power?
If so it sounds like you've tripped a current limiting curcuit breaker which is normally near your positive battery cable.
Follow the positive battery cable from the battery to your camper inline you'll find a breaker similar to this.
TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "24 nights"
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09-02-2015, 01:15 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,301
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The circuitry that illuminates the LED when a fuse is blown only works when at least one leg of the circuit is on ( connected to ground through a load). It is likely that the circuits with unlit LEDs are connected to things controlled via a switch. Try turning on a switch ( ie light switch) and see if an additonal LED lights.
__________________
2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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09-02-2015, 01:52 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 627
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Maybe I am reading this wrong but it sounds to me like you increased the amperage from 36 to 65. If this is so, I hope you upgraded the wiring to the batteries.
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09-02-2015, 02:28 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 51
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Panel
On a more positive note, I have had one for 3 yrs and not a problem. Fan comes on sometimes if I have every 12v light on, or maybe not since I switched to all LED's. Hope things haven't changed because bought another one for the Truck camper I'm building.
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09-02-2015, 07:05 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 91
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBS
So you have 12v power in the camper until you unplug the 120v shore power?
If so it sounds like you've tripped a current limiting curcuit breaker which is normally near your positive battery cable.
Follow the positive battery cable from the battery to your camper inline you'll find a breaker similar to this.
Attachment 87603Attachment 87604
TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "24 nights"
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Have similor problem but no more 12v plug or unplug to 110v is it same breaker?
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09-02-2015, 07:16 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St Simons Island, GA
Posts: 1,234
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Replaced my WLCO converter under warranty with a Parallax unit. Doesn't matter how many batteries you have as the converter is only going to produce just so much power to the batteries. More batteries only means the converter will run longer.
Two years now with no more problems. The WFCO unit lasted 3 months and the RV shop said they will not use WFCO units. They strongly advised me to go with Parallax.
__________________
Aviator Wright Flyer #1919
Army Pathfinder Vietnam, 3 tours
DAV, MOPH, VFW, NRA, 1stCav. ABN
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09-02-2015, 09:00 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBS
So you have 12v power in the camper until you unplug the 120v shore power?
If so it sounds like you've tripped a current limiting curcuit breaker which is normally near your positive battery cable.
Follow the positive battery cable from the battery to your camper inline you'll find a breaker similar to this.
Attachment 87603Attachment 87604
TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "24 nights"
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Thanks everyone for their help. A special thanks To TRUBS your pic's did the trick..It is fixed HHHaaaaaLLLuuuuuYA
__________________
Gene & Betty
2011 Silverado
2013 Flagstaff Micro Lite 21 FBRS
Mission, TX
2013-100.. 2014-180.. 2015-175..0
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09-02-2015, 09:01 PM
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#13
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Another satisfied customer.
TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "24 nights"
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09-02-2015, 09:49 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,832
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackhat6mike
Doesn't matter how many batteries you have as the converter is only going to produce just so much power to the batteries. More batteries only means the converter will run longer..
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Well that may true in some cases but it is also false in others.
Wet cells have about a 20% of capacity limit ...regardless of the size of the charger.
If you have a single group 31 battery with a 100 a/h capacity...it can take about 20amps of charging current. Lets say you have a fairly standard 55 amp charger... it will only be working at 20 amps in bulk mode...adding another of the same battery...will allow it to work at 40 amps charging current ...still well below capacity. Charging 2 batts will not take any longer than charging 1.
Now if you had a charger that could not supply 20% of the a/h capacity of the new bank... then it would take longer to charge 2 batts than one.
As a practical matter...if you stay plugged in most of the time this is no big deal...but if you boondock and charge via generator...you want to size your bank/charger system @ 20%+ of capacity to avoid longer generator run times.
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2015 Georgetown 280DS
2019 Vespa Primavera 150's (pair)
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