New replacement converter for Cat - Piece of cake

Just to share - I decided to take out the factory converter and replace with 3 stage converter so I don't boil the battery :x . I used this kit -
Link to kit

Following the directions and pics - took about 30 minutes and works well. I have no relationship to best converter other than a happy customer.

Regards,

Keith

Hi Keith,

It only took 30 minutes, WOW, that must have been really easy. I like easy :)

I've been thinking about doing this too, I like leaving the camper plugged in all the time, but I dont, usually plug/unplug every 2 or 3 weeks.

30 Min,,,,, Oldelmer he may be an Electrical engineer ? ,,,,

I'm looking at doing that also Before I get to far from home and wish I'd had done that ,,,

Admin wrote:30 Min,,,,, Oldelmer he may be an Electrical engineer ? ,,,,

I'm looking at doing that also Before I get to far from home and wish I'd had done that ,,,

Phillip, you got this wrong, he would be an electrician not an electrical engineer...

Oldelmer he may be an Electrical engineer ? ,,,,

Now that's laughable.........At the house I am strickley forbidden to touch ANYTHING electrical

I just thought a engineer sounded a lot smarter than a electrician

Keith,

You could be the first to post in the CLASSIFIED section.

FOR SALE, SLIGHTLY USED CONVERTER.

I suppose I could add my slightly used converter as well since I replaced mine with a free Intelli-power with charge wizard. Looking forward to true battery maintenance.

Hey Dave:

Let's hold a 2fer sale or maybe we should do an online auction (with no reserve). Do we have any bidders?

Sounds good to me! Someone may want a spare!

Dave,

FREE, how'd you get free. Luck you....


Guys, I would put them there. Someone might need 1 and not have a lot of money to buy an expensive new one.

Around my company, engineers design stuff and technicians install & maintain it. Nothing scares me more than to see an engineer with a screwdriver. Guess you can tell I am an electronics technician.

PS: no offense to engineers. :)

davemartinez wrote:I suppose I could add my slightly used converter as well since I replaced mine with a free Intelli-power with charge wizard. Looking forward to true battery maintenance.

That's what I did. Our original converter was a WEFCO or something like this. It still worked fine, but the fan was a little too noisy for me.

scottz wrote:Around my company, engineers design stuff and technicians install & maintain it. Nothing scares me more than to see an engineer with a screwdriver. Guess you can tell I am an electronics technician.

PS: no offense to engineers. :)

That was my thought as well....

I am surprised they changed the converters, here is the one our 2005 Cat had installed:
http://www.bestconverter.com/WFCO-8955-ANP-Main-Board_p_65-109.html
This convereted had a battery maintanance like the Charge Wizard from IntelliPower on board (see page 5 the manual for the WFCO-8955 manual http://www.dutchmen-rv.com/ownManual.php?m=Dutchmen&category1=All&category2=ELECTRICAL+POWER+SUPPLY ). Like I stated earlier, the only reason I exchanged it was because of the noisy fan which I probably could have exchanged for a better one. But for now, this convereter sits in the hall closet.

Oldelmer,

The converter I have is from an vehicle from our fleet which was damaged in an accident and we no longer had a need for the converter. Company's loss was my gain!

By the way, my official title at work is CHIEF ENGINEER, major was electronics and I am also an electrician...

Dave,

Good deal, cant beat free....

My official title is RETIRED!!!!!

One day we hope to have your job!!

keithbennett wrote:Just to share - I decided to take out the factory converter and replace with 3 stage converter so I don't boil the battery :x . I used this kit -
Link to kit

Keith:

What do you mean by "boil the battery"? We're on our second converter in 18 months as the first went out while we were on the road and having a friend with a battery charger was the only thing that didn't make it a short trip. Fortunately, we still under warranty so its replacement wasn't a major issue but if I ever have to do this out of warranty, I need to get up to speed on the different types and kinds of converters.

If it is of any consequence, our baby is always hooked up with the battery at full charge even while in storage.

David

When you are hooked up the converter is charging the 12v battery. If the converter only has one speed i.e. a high voltage setting it will cause the battery to consume H2O at an alarming rate. If one does not replenish the distilled water the battery will run dry and die. This sometimes is know as boiling the battery. Bottom line is you need a multi stage charger. One that will use high voltage for a while and then set itself down as the battery becomes fully charged. When the battery is fully charged the multi stage will "maintain" the battery for peak performance. The info may not be correct from a termonology stand point but in my layman's way - that's what happens.

Regards,

Keith

My official title is RETIRED

I'm retired to,,,,, I'm just working for the benefits...

Pretty soon, we are going to have to come out of RETIREMENT just to pay for gas/diesel/home heating oil.

I called our heating oil supplier today, pirce today, is $4.39 per gallon. WOW!!!!!

$4.39 per gallon. WOW!!!!!

OUch,,,, thats gotta hurt. I'd be looking for some alternative heat sources. Or do ya'll have much choice up there in the north ?

Thinking about putting in a pellet stove. That should help a lot, I hope.

My wife talked me into putting in Gas logs last winter. I never had seen any that put out much heat. But we have a friend that works for a P/gas company and he showed us his logs in his house. They were putting out a lot of heat.

I'm not sure if you noticed the one's in our house , but they work good. I'd imagine where your at though Propane would be about as bad as Oil price's. Especially as much as you'd have to burn. It really doesn't get that cold down here in the winter. only short burst of cold at a time. Heat pump takes care of that easily.

I looked at the pellet stoves , seems like it was 10yrs ago though. Didn't seem like they put out that much heat. ? that was just one's I saw at a home show. I'm sure they've improved over the years. I saw out west they were burning dried cow patties like the pellets.,,, They'd process the smell out of them like the guy does with the little cow patty planting pots that you plant the whole container with. press the pellets and burn cow manure.

i have heard of many replacing the converter. but if its not broken explain to my why....besides the noise. just curious.

thebigpunn wrote:i have heard of many replacing the converter. but if its not broken explain to my why....besides the noise. just curious.

Another reason to update the converter is for better battery maintenance. That would be the reason I would change mine out, unless it bites the dust. Currently I plug my 5er in for a week or so, the disconnect the battery and let it sit for a few weeks, the plug her back in. After 4 years this is starting to get old.

-Mark

I went out and look at mine and it said it was a 3 stage, its a 2007 24rl. I put 4, 6volt batteries in last month, works GOOD

Tim,

Nice find! This is another item on the list of upgrades to the Cat. Unfortunately, some of the upgrades are kinda pricey!

-Mark

If you got a three stage, which I do, and it is not broke why mess with it. Old military saying, If it works dont screw with it. If it aint broke dont fix it.