Converter/charger/power center replacement options

[FlakKnight]

So picked up our trailer last weekend, it's a smaller 17MKE. Looking at replacing the batteries with Lithium, and basically the stock power center converter seems to be mostly worthless from all accounts I can find. WFCO 8735-P panel seems to come with an integrated converter on a board so is not one of the models with the tray for a separate converter underneath the distribution panel.

What are my options here? Replace the whole panel? Install a separate charger and somehow disconnect the on-board? I'm not electrically challenged, but I feel like I'd rather swap a single component over rewiring the entire panel if I can help it.

Thanks for any advice

[FT4NOW]

If you goto the Progressive Dynamics website they have a chart that you can look up your current converter and they will tell you the correct replacement. WFCO converters are on their list so hopefully it's a starting point for you.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[orbiker]

I found the chart to convert.

Present RV has a WFCO Wall Mount Series Converter/Charger. KEN

[FlakKnight]

I see a PD replacement for the entire panel (at least they claim its a drop-in replacement for the 8700 series) but I still am hoping there's a way to disconnect the converter on the stock unit and just get an aftermarket one. Seems like you'd be replacing a couple wires instead of dozens?

[jmbopp]

Three trailers ago I bought a deck-mount IOTA-55 converter for faster charging off a generator. That converter now resides inside the hookup center on our Imagine. The output (+) side goes to the disconnect switch, and I ran a separate 6ga ground wire for the (-) side. The factory WFCO is turned off at its breaker and is only used as an AC and DC distribution center.

[FlakKnight]

Three trailers ago I bought a deck-mount IOTA-55 converter for faster charging off a generator. That converter now resides inside the hookup center on our Imagine. The output (+) side goes to the disconnect switch, and I ran a separate 6ga ground wire for the (-) side. The factory WFCO is turned off at its breaker and is only used as an AC and DC distribution center.

That's good info, so at least it is on a separate breaker. Thanks! That gives me more hope, I'm going to dig into the panel this weekend. I was afraid there was some dumb proprietary integrated breaker that would require surgery to disconnect the stock converter.

[Steve & Sheryl]

I recently upgraded my 2250RK to a 100 AH lithium. I bought the battery from Battleborne. When I talked to them they asked what kind of converter/charger I had and recommended a replacement. In my case, it was just a charger (Progressive Dynamics). Switching it out was not a big deal. I don't thing replacing the entire unit would be much worse. As long as it fits!

I also believe that not changing out the charger at all is not that big of a deal, particularly with the lower wattage systems. The PD charger can charge the battery a little faster, but you don't lose battery capacity by keeping the WFCO.

Along with the battery, I bought a Victron VM-712, monitor. That made the upgrade a bit more challenging, but having the actual battery information is wonderful and well worth the money. The challenge was hooking up the monitor. It comes with a shunt that needs to be mounted as close to the battery as possible. (Oh, you will need to pick up an 18" battery cable from your local autopart store). At first I thought I would need to move the battery inside the crawlspace, and route the monitor cable to the other end of the trailer and mount the indicator either by the converter, or by the control panel. Instead I figured out a simpler solution.

I bought a Camco Double Battery Box and built a four sided "box" with 2 x 6's as a spacer. I put plywood on top of the box and mounted both the shunt and the gauge on the plywood. The camco battery box is for two 6 volt batteries, its about 22 inches long. So it fits width-wise on the bracket. It is about 1/4" wider though and doesn't quite fit front to rear. For now, I've got a 2 x 8 as a base plate, and I've screwed the straps into it. Its definitely secure, but feels inelegant.

The gauge is inside the battery box, so you can't see it without removing the straps and the lid from the box. But the VM-712 has a phone app. It is a lot easier to see what is happening with the battery by looking at the phone then by looking at the gauge.

[FlakKnight]

I recently upgraded my 2250RK to a 100 AH lithium. I bought the battery from Battleborne. When I talked to them they asked what kind of converter/charger I had and recommended a replacement. In my case, it was just a charger (Progressive Dynamics). Switching it out was not a big deal. I don't thing replacing the entire unit would be much worse. As long as it fits!

I also believe that not changing out the charger at all is not that big of a deal, particularly with the lower wattage systems. The PD charger can charge the battery a little faster, but you don't lose battery capacity by keeping the WFCO.

Along with the battery, I bought a Victron VM-712, monitor. That made the upgrade a bit more challenging, but having the actual battery information is wonderful and well worth the money. The challenge was hooking up the monitor. It comes with a shunt that needs to be mounted as close to the battery as possible. (Oh, you will need to pick up an 18" battery cable from your local autopart store). At first I thought I would need to move the battery inside the crawlspace, and route the monitor cable to the other end of the trailer and mount the indicator either by the converter, or by the control panel. Instead I figured out a simpler solution.

I bought a Camco Double Battery Box and built a four sided "box" with 2 x 6's as a spacer. I put plywood on top of the box and mounted both the shunt and the gauge on the plywood. The camco battery box is for two 6 volt batteries, its about 22 inches long. So it fits width-wise on the bracket. It is about 1/4" wider though and doesn't quite fit front to rear. For now, I've got a 2 x 8 as a base plate, and I've screwed the straps into it. Its definitely secure, but feels inelegant.

The gauge is inside the battery box, so you can't see it without removing the straps and the lid from the box. But the VM-712 has a phone app. It is a lot easier to see what is happening with the battery by looking at the phone then by looking at the gauge.

Thanks for the info, I have to dig into the panel this weekend. I'm hoping even though the converter is a built in PCB it can just be unwired from the breaker like a regular one and there's space to put in my own converter. Monitoring is another thing I'll have to review. I'm pretty sure the panel I have is probably reading battery voltage and making assumptions about capacity left based upon lead acid battery average performance. Not the worst thing.

[Bollyb]

Thanks for the info, I have to dig into the panel this weekend. I'm hoping even though the converter is a built in PCB it can just be unwired from the breaker like a regular one and there's space to put in my own converter. Monitoring is another thing I'll have to review. I'm pretty sure the panel I have is probably reading battery voltage and making assumptions about capacity left based upon lead acid battery average performance. Not the worst thing.

I just up-graded to two 100AH Lithium batteries on my 315 Reflection. I too contacted Battleborn asking if my converter was adequate. I had a WFCO UltraIII model WF-9855. They responded "Unfortunately, the WFCO converter you have is not intended for lithium batteries and does not have the correct charging profile. I recommend the boondocker converter that you can buy from bestconverter.com. We have a lot of customers that are very happy with how they integrate with our batteries." I did get the Boondocker converter for about $159.00. It took me all of about 30 minutes to change out. As I was just getting ready to get the Battleborn batteries I was hit with an add from Costco with a sale going on for Lion Safari 1300 UT lithium batteries from Lion Energy. I did a bunch of research and they also responded that the WFCO would not have done the job. They were great with the Boondocker converter. I ended up buying two of the Lion Safaris. The tech said one would probably have done the job of replacing my two AGMs but I wanted the insurance of having plenty as I occasionally draw off the batteries with a 2000 Watt Pure Sine inverter. They were on sale for $699 each. Shipped right to my door. That saved me $250.00 for each battery over the Battleborn. Don't know how long the sale is going on but so far I am very pleased. Wish I had gone lithium when I first got the trailer. Good Luck

[FlakKnight]

I just up-graded to two 100AH Lithium batteries on my 315 Reflection. I too contacted Battleborn asking if my converter was adequate. I had a WFCO UltraIII model WF-9855. They responded "Unfortunately, the WFCO converter you have is not intended for lithium batteries and does not have the correct charging profile. I recommend the boondocker converter that you can buy from bestconverter.com. We have a lot of customers that are very happy with how they integrate with our batteries." I did get the Boondocker converter for about $159.00. It took me all of about 30 minutes to change out. As I was just getting ready to get the Battleborn batteries I was hit with an add from Costco with a sale going on for Lion Safari 1300 UT lithium batteries from Lion Energy. I did a bunch of research and they also responded that the WFCO would not have done the job. They were great with the Boondocker converter. I ended up buying two of the Lion Safaris. The tech said one would probably have done the job of replacing my two AGMs but I wanted the insurance of having plenty as I occasionally draw off the batteries with a 2000 Watt Pure Sine inverter. They were on sale for $699 each. Shipped right to my door. That saved me $250.00 for each battery over the Battleborn. Don't know how long the sale is going on but so far I am very pleased. Wish I had gone lithium when I first got the trailer. Good Luck

That sale is what got me in on this train of thought. Couldn't help the impulse purchase... Now I just have to find a way to charge them or else back to Costco they go for a project in a year or two unfortunately.