Quote:
Originally Posted by NealMan
Thanks Cam and Blue pill.
Prior to the coach, I owned a catamaran that I sailed to Europe and back. The performance of the complex electrical system was critical and we'll monitored. I am struggling with the lack of data with the simple systems onboard. I've read many comments like Blue pill saying the converters are okay for maintenance charging but not much more. Looking at the breaker panel panel, I can't determine the designed performance of the converter. Can someone provide a way to tell what's in the box and it's charging parameters?
It is a WFCO...
Many thanks to you all for helping this novice.
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Ahhh...well I'm afraid that the WFCO's are the short end of the stick. As I understand their operation....they are really old fashioned constant voltage converters (13.6) with a couple of Automatic ...circuits for Bulk and Float tacked on that don't actually respond to battery state of charge....like Blue Pill said. Hence the widespread dissatisfaction.
Those of us that got the Progressive Industries smart chargers , got a much better product.
I was a cruiser FT as well with a large bank and lots of options. The factory RV production is intensely cost driven and the products are designed with equipment that is fine if you live off a power pedestal.... but way under equipped if you want to go off grid.
Most who boondock will upgrade batteries to real deep cycles rather than dual purpose...and have at least a couple of hundred amp hours...2 pairs of 6 Volts are also common in heaavier boondocking and residential fridge use. Wiring between converter and batts is another candidate for upgrade so you can push higher current to the batts than on the thin stuff that comes standard. If it were me, I'd replace the WFCO with a smart charger from either Progressive or Iota. Finally the missing piece is a true battery monitor like Victron or Trimetric makes so you know what the hell is going on with your system that the idiot lights won't tell you.
Here's the WFCO theory of operation link.
http://wfcoelectronics.com/wp-conten...eration-v2.pdf
I don't think it's a very good theory!