We have finally decided to carry the popular WFCO 3 stage converter chargers with built-in charge technology. Available from 35 to 75 Amps output. The industry is moving toward built-in charging technology. Thanks to all of you that have purchased the Inteli-Power and you will most definitely see great service from those units but we feel these new WFCO units are the cutting edge. We will still carry the Inteli-Power units also but have tested the WFCO and it has several advantages. Foremost, the boost stage is not necessarily timed but rather will drop down to absorption sooner if needed and not over charge even the slightest. There is also no need for an external Charge Wizard. We will still carry the Parallax units for those that insist on what Airstream uses and other dealers recommend but if you do any boon docking at all, you will definitely see the difference in 3 stage charging. www.bestconverter.com
Randy, Can I have a schematic and specifications of this WFCO unit? I would like to know how clean and how well filtered it is. Can I return the unit for a full refund if I am not satistied within a month? Thanks
Frenchbern, the current schematics are proprietary information and companies normally will not release them while they are in production. Some will release older model schematics but not current models. As for the quality of the DC output, it is 100 percent filtered and less than 1 percent ripple free. Voltage outputs are 14.4 boost, 13.6 nominal and 13.2 storage. They have a two-year warranty. Yes, if it doesn't perform as advertised, you can return it.
Hi Don,
No, they are not that popular and some question how effective they are. I don't have any first hand experience with them so I won't suggest one way or the other. I just know they are expensive. Of course we can get them but there is not that much demand so we don't keep them in stock.
We appear to be having an ongoing problem with 3 failing batteries in a year and a half. Our new batteries are Lifeline 12v 27 AGMs. Now we are doing our own battery of tests on the 12 volt system, converter and batteries. I think a new converter that charges faster and goes to float would be better. We were told the Airstream converter doesn't have the timer as the booklet shows. Is this true? Can we add the timer? Would it then be a two stage? We were told it does go down from the higher charging. With AGMs we don't need a middle range (absorption) for charging, correct? The dead batteries were boiled out I think because we stay hooked up to shore power for long periods and because there may be a short. What would be a good charger if we changed it? Intellipower, the WFCO? Are the fans quiet? What about units with temperature control and selectable amounts---though now that all seems to be getting too complicated...
Quote:
Originally Posted by 68 Overlander
Hi Don,
No, they are not that popular and some question how effective they are. I don't have any first hand experience with them so I won't suggest one way or the other. I just know they are expensive. Of course we can get them but there is not that much demand so we don't keep them in stock.
WOW! Hmmm...a learned monk's advice or a tv sit-com dad's advice, let me see...
"Clinical research has demonstrated the effectiveness of a spiritual approach to controlling fear, anxiety, and panic. From this compassionate and nonreligious book, learn to use the principle of mindfulness to relieve a wide range of stress-related conditions. A quality common to all human beings, mindfulness is a receptive, nonjudgmental, present-moment awareness. a state of focusing attention only on the here and now. Learn to become more present in your life experiences. Develop skills for calming and relaxing the mind and body. By putting the exercises into practice, find more power for controlling disruptive feelings in your life. The resources and techniques in this book provide you with a direction that leads to greater experiential learning and dramatically effective, life-affirming attitudes."
Soooo, just to recap. You are telling me that my power struggles can be adressed through meditation and accepting the fact that for now, in the present, I have lights and should enjoy them?
Quote:
Originally Posted by davesamuelso
Yes indeed. This is a book title: 'Wherever You Go There You Are" MIndfulness meditation in everyday life.... Jon Kabat-Zinn...
Wheel,
Yes you would be much better off with a 3-stage converter/charger for your AGMs. They work great with flooded or AGM but I don't recommend them for Gel as they require a lower charging voltage. We have spoken to Lifeline several times and the charging curves of the WFCO are fine with the Lifeline. Yes the fan is quiet.
Over59,
Like I mentioned above, Gels can be finicky and require special charging curves. I would not recommend Gels with the stock Magnetek/parallax or especially older linear converters that are not voltage regulated. If you have flooded lead acid or AGMs, any 3-stage converter/charger will work great.
John,
Of course we do...
why you recommend that one now over the Intellipower with the wizard? We want one that chargers fast. I think I saw another as well that was recommended, I can't remember the name but it had 40 in the name, ring a bell at all? Thanks
I was concerned about the higher float rate since we have had so much trouble with too high a charge left on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 68 Overlander
Wheel,
Yes you would be much better off with a 3-stage converter/charger for your AGMs. They work great with flooded or AGM but I don't recommend them for Gel as they require a lower charging voltage. We have spoken to Lifeline several times and the charging curves of the WFCO are fine with the Lifeline. Yes the fan is quiet.
Over59,
Like I mentioned above, Gels can be finicky and require special charging curves. I would not recommend Gels with the stock Magnetek/parallax or especially older linear converters that are not voltage regulated. If you have flooded lead acid or AGMs, any 3-stage converter/charger will work great.
John,
Of course we do...
Carol,
The charge curves are the same with either... 14.4, 13.6, and 13.2 float. The main differense being that WFCO uses "Current sensing" do determine the actual output it will provide where Inteli-Power is set at those three voltages. In other words the micropressor on the WFCO will not automatically jump to 14.4 if connected to a fully charged battery and also, might only go to 14.1 for instance if it determines based on curent sensing that 14.1 is all that is needed. If you look at the manual on our websire, you will see it says one of three modes like mentioned but does not reference what I described. They are working to update the manual, so I understand. It can also be said that the WFCO output voltages will "slide" within the three modes.
Am I recommending one over the other, not really because I like them both..we are just learning there are slight differences but nothing you would likely ever notice.
Not sure about the other one you mentoned with a 40 in the name unless you mean PD9140 which is Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power.
As for the voltages from Lifeline...Those are max in each mode.
68 Overlander, I was not able to post since last July so I could not ask you this question. The WFC with current sensing rather than strickly voltage regulating sound like what I need. Can you tell me if there is an internal potentiometer that set the output voltage for the float so if I ever switch to Gel cells I could reset it to the lower voltage needed? Also is there a separate, isolated 12 volts output available to operate the power light on the old Airsdtrem panel that indicate the Univolt has power? Incidentally that is why I was asking for a schematic in my original question. Thanks
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