Visit our Popular Forums

Sportcenter · 07-26-2015, 10:43 PM

It seems that the posts I read complain about AS,s use of single stage converter/chargers. While this is probably true of older units, my 2011 Sport 16 has a WFCO 8955 three stage (14.4V,13.6V,13.2V) unit. Does anyone know what year they switched to the better units? I hope the answer will clear up any confusion and/or unnecessary concern about upgrading.

idroba · 07-27-2015, 12:16 AM

From what I understand only the Sport 16's (and maybe the Sport 22's) used WFCO converter chargers with 3 stage charging systems. All the other Airstreams used the Parallax single stage chargers, up to and including the 2016's.

However, I don't know if all Sport 16's have them, or if there was a change somewhere along the line. Be happy yours has one though. There have been some reports that the WFCO converter charger does not have a long life before failure, but that may or may not be true.

lewster · 07-27-2015, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idroba

From what I understand only the Sport 16's (and maybe the Sport 22's) used WFCO converter chargers with 3 stage charging systems. All the other Airstreams used the Parallax single stage chargers, up to and including the 2016's.

However, I don't know if all Sport 16's have them, or if there was a change somewhere along the line. Be happy yours has one though. There have been some reports that the WFCO converter charger does not have a long life before failure, but that may or may not be true.

Other than the upgrades I do when switching out the original Parallax single stage converter that Airstream provides, WFCO converters are the #1 brand that I REPLACE MOST OFTEN due to failure.

Again, they are of Chinese origin, and their longevity is definitely to be questioned, right up there with their inverters, which Airstream also uses!!!

PS: they are only used in the 'Sport' line of trailers.