Anyone try this power converter

[DannyH]

I'm looking at a complete install of electrical and wondered if anyone had heard or is using one of the Progressive PD4345 or PD4000s. I like that the everything is built into the unit, but do not see any reviews on the web. It is sold from Vintage Trailers, so I don't know if that is an indorsment.

[Larry C Hanson]

Hello Danny,
While I dont have experience with the Progressive Dynamics Converter Panel
I did install a WFCO-8725-Power-Center in my Trillium 13 foot egg this year.
The unit has been completely satisfactory... It does a good job of charging and
maintaining the Trojan 130AH deep cycle battery. It has provision for 3 DC
fused circuits and 3 AC breakers. 25 amp charger. This unit was only a little over
$100. Bought it from : http://www.bestconverter.com/WFCO-8725-Pow...enter_p_50.html

I wonder why you would need a such a large charging capability ? Do you plan to
run an inverter and TV/Satellite type equipment? I found that with the 130AH battery
I could dry camp fine for a week at a time.. just running lights, and an
XM radio with external amp and speakers, and a small inverter just turned on in
morning to grind the coffee.

You need to be careful to not charge your battery too quickly as doing so will shorten
its life considerably. It is best to not charge above 1/5 or the battery's capacity.
So, on the 130AH battery the max charge rate would be about 25 amps.

Good luck on your new installation.. The old power converters on these trailers were quite primative.

Larry H

[Booker B.]

I also have an 8725 in my Trillium - works great. Only thing i would mention is if you are plugged into shore power and have all the lights on the converter fan kicks on.

[DannyH]

Thanks for the replies. Larry, thanks for the information and web site of your unit. I have just started looking at converters, but have not figured out a size yet. Your style of camping is what we sill be doing half the time, and the only thing that we will have that runs off the battery is lights, no TV or anything.

The only thing that we will have that you did not mention is a laptop that may be playing DVDs and used to work on photo's. What make of small inverter did you install? Also, can you tell me how your AC and DC circutes are set up (were they go to and how many items are on them)

Thanks

[pjanits]

I put a PD9245C progressive converter with smart charger in my 86" Burro 17' and it as been connected all summer while at home, and camping, battery is fully charged and needed no water added.
Older converters would just boil out the battery.
I'm sold on these units.

[RSchleder]

I own a 2007 13' deluxe Scamp. My original converter died ( actually was fried due to faulty campground wiring) so I purchased a Progressive Dynamic 30Amp converter from Scamp. In my opinion, this is a MUCH higher quality converter than the one used by Scamp in 2007. The battery stays charged going down the road and my 12v lights have never been brighter. It was well worth the money it cost me to do the replacement. Ron

PS--I understand this converter can be bought on-line at a cheaper price than Scamp sells it.

[DannyH]

Pjanits and RSchleder, thanks for the information. The progressive PD9245C seems to have a following on this forum.

[Normand Choiniere]

I installed your exact PD4345 model this summer. It is not too much. Think about future.

Since I installed it my wife is now also on a CPAP and I bought two 6 volts golf cart battery instead of a group 27 - 12 volts! Your needs will most probably evolve and play it on the safe side.

That all inclusive panel works like a charm. Batteries are always full charge and will never boil. I leave it connected to electrical power permanently and I will leave the batteries in the trailer even this winter (and by winter it means some -40 F and below degrees nights here during the winter). As this panel has 12 volts fuses and 110 volts breakers (30 amps) you will now have a well organized, protected ans safe electrical system.

Do it right do it that way.

[DannyH]

Thanks for the reply Normand. How quite is the unit? Also, why did you go with 2-6 volt batteries instead of a 1-12 volt battery?

[Larry C Hanson]

Hello Danny,

Took a while to respond because have been quite busy.

Here is how the WFCO-8725-Power-Center in my Trillium 13 was connected:

AC:
1 - 20A breaker on the input from trailer power cord Output goes to the other two 15 A breakers.
Double 15A Breaker
1 - Breaker supplies Galley - Refrig and galley outlets.
2- Breaker supplies the Power Center Charger circuit and other outlets in trailer.

DC:
There are 4 DC circuits.
-Bottom 1 goes to the battery. 30A. Also, right at the positive terminal to the battery I installed a large 65A fuse.
- 15 Amp DC to the three way refrig
- 15 Amp Inverter and stereo (Stereo is XM Radio and small amp that only draws about .5A)
- 15 Amp lights and auxiliary DC outlets

Regarding the inverter: It is a cheap $20 square wave type. It will run the coffee grinder only if the grinder
is turned upside down to get the motor up to speed and then upright to grind. If it is started upright the start load
of the beans being ground exceeds the inverters capacity and it shuts down. It was never tried it on my computer
power supply. I have a couple of batteries for the laptop and charge them when I can. Only use the puter for
e-mail and a little surfing when near a wireless. I watch DVDs at home an then read for entertainment when camping.

Regarding the two 6 volt batteries rather than a 12... It is hard to find a true 12V deep cycle battery that is a managable
size. I went with the 130AH Trojan because of the weight of two Trojan T-105's was more than I wanted on the tongue.
The 6 volt ones would have a capacity of about 220AH so would be nice but for the style of camping I do they weren't
required.

Hope this information helps.

Larry H

[DannyH]

Larry, thanks for all the helpfull information.

[Larry C Hanson]

Larry, thanks for all the helpfull information.

Morning Danny,

Looked into your question about an inverter to run your laptop. I just received a small 75W inverter purchased on Ebay. I plugged it in and hooked up my Dell Inspiron E1505.
The inverter seems to run the laptop power supply OK. I tried it without the Internal battery and it ran fine. It has not been tested both running the laptop and charging the battery
at the same time. Also, I have not checked the 12VDC current draw of of the device. It seems to be a nice little inverter and it automatically shuts down at 10.8 VDC.
The inverter cost $15 delivered. Here is a link to the seller on Ebay = http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT

You are quite welcome. Larry H

[Bill K]

FWIW
I bought a 300w inverter and it only puts out 190w through a 12v outlet.
My laptop draws 204w and it would beep and sometimes shut down.
I ended up running the power direct from the battery (fused) and it runs fine.

Bill K

Morning Danny,

Looked into your question about an inverter to run your laptop. I just received a small 75W inverter purchased on Ebay. I plugged it in and hooked up my Dell Inspiron E1505.
The inverter seems to run the laptop power supply OK. I tried it without the Internal battery and it ran fine. It has not been tested both running the laptop and charging the battery
at the same time. Also, I have not checked the 12VDC current draw of of the device. It seems to be a nice little inverter and it automatically shuts down at 10.8 VDC.
The inverter cost $15 delivered. Here is a link to the seller on Ebay = http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT

You are quite welcome. Larry H

[Rick kl]

I have a PD9245C progressive in my 1700, works perfect! batteries always charged and they never lose water, we camped at a non electric site all summer,I used my 2000 watt generator to charge the batteries through the PD9245C unit without a hitch.
I found the best price on Ebay about $165 Cdn delivered here at the local RV shop it was $450, I like to shop localy for everything but sometimes at a third of the price my cheapskate mode kicks in.