Another battery/charging sytstem question. |
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Tars Tarkas
Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447 |
Topic: Another battery/charging sytstem question. Posted: 08 Jul 2017 at 2:25pm |
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I agree with the loose connections idea; at least to the point that it should be the first thing to check. A little bit of corrosion at one connection is all it takes to cause the symptoms you're seeing Stephen. Which is not to say it couldn't be a bad converter, but check the cheap, easy things first.
TT |
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 7:04am | |
It seems to have gone from intermittent to full failure. I bought a Schumacher SC4 15A charger / 3A maintainer from Walmart and have it connected. The charge state now is about 75% according to the charger.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2654 |
Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 10:53am | |
After all the work you had done, I am still inclined to believe that something came loose, or similar. If you have a DVM, I would check continuity between the converter output and the battery.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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Tars Tarkas
Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447 |
Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 12:12pm | |
I've spent hundreds of dollars on batteries and starters in the past only to find out that a ground wire need to be taken off, wire brushed, and put back on. Expensive lessons, hard learned, although it almost happened to me again recently. My tractor wouldn't start. I'd checked the ends of about 7 wires and was pretty sure I needed a new solenoid. I was putting away my tools to go to the parts store when I realized there was one more terminal I needed to clean. The devil on my shoulder was telling me, "what are the odds? 1 out of 8... just go get the new solenoid." I listened to the angel on my other shoulder and Bingo!, that was it.
You need to check both ends of all wires. You're going to have to disconnect at least one end of them anyway to replace the converter/charger. Familiarize yourself with the job by doing a dry run, cleaning connections as you go. I don't know what it is, but there must be a way to check the converter/charger with a volt ohm meter at the unit itself. As far as testing for continuity, a corroded connection may let enough current through to indicate a closed circuit but not enough to do anything else. I think you'd need to check for proper voltage at the output of the unit. How much does a new converter/charger cost anyway? It seems like someone (Furpod?) said he'd replaced his with something better. Whoever that was, if you read this, what was it, why was it better, and what did it cost? TT |
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 4:37pm | |
I did.. it was a better one because among other things, it was a four stage charger and conditioner. They are a couple hundred bucks. I used one I had bought for another project TT.
There is a pretty simple test of the charger converter, plugged in to shore power, just go in the 12v side of the panel and check voltage right there on the board, +13v means the converter is working. WFCO did have a run of bad converter/chargers, many 2015-16 owners have had to have a replacement, a few have needed a second.. and at least one owner I know of is on a 3RD.. If replacing on your dime, I highly suggest the 55A version of this.. Amazon is showing $216 today.. Best one out there IMHO.. |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 9:10pm | |
Agreed. If you have to replace the converter go Progressive Dynamics.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 7:18am | |
I had installed a volt meter. That is how I knew it was not working. I confirmed it when I turned my battery cut-off switch and everything cut off. No 12V power was being supplied. All the connections were tight. I have a WFCO 55A replacement on order. It will be delivered to our pastor and he will bring it with him when the rest of the mission trip team leaves home. We will meet him in Vermont and I will install it there.
The PD models I saw when I looked on Amazon were deck mount, not drop-in replacement to fit the WFCO panel. Is there one that fits in place of the WFCO converter? |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 8:31am | |
The one I linked above... Inteli-Power 55 Amp Converter/Charger Model #PD4655V replaces these converter sections: Parallax/Magnatek #6355, Parallax #7355, Parallax #7155, Parallax #8355, WFCO™ #8955 On Amazon But deck mount isn't a big issue, I used a deck mount in furpod.. it mounted to the slide out tray, had to drill one hole, and I cut the back off the power center with a dremel, no big deal. |
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voisj
Senior Member Joined: 19 Jul 2016 Location: San Luis Obispo Online Status: Offline Posts: 471 |
Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 4:40pm | |
When my converter stopped working i just bought a small battery charger and plugged it in when i had shore power, Did this for three weeks, we were traveling every other day so my TV kept it charged the rest of the time. John
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 8:07am | |
The charger I bought brought the battery up to 100%. We are dry camping now at Emerald Lake State Park in Vermont. If need be, I will hook up the generator's 12V connection and charge the battery that way since there is no 110V power here. We will see if we can go until Friday without needing to charge. Lights, vent fan, and my CPAP will be the main power draws unless it gets chilly and I want to run the heater to take the chill off. I don't think it will be cold enough to bring out the Mr. Heater Portable.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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