Replace charger/converter

[Bob Skene]

I want to replace the original charger/converter in my 1986 Bigfoot 20. It has one group 24 deep-cycle battery and the usual lights and appliances. Looking for suggestions for a 4-stage charger/convertor that would be suitable for a small system like this.

[Joe MacDonald]

you might find more advice in the electrical section, but just to let you know, it can be done fairly easily, I replaced the converter in my 81 trillium with a progressive dynamics 45 amp converter with charge wizard, I kept thew old breaker box assembly and mounted the converter behind it, a couple hours of wiring and all was good, just take your time, label all wiring really well, if you can I would open the old one first, identify all wiring to and from the converter and compare to the new one you pick, then ask questions if there are any mystery wires or confusion about minor differences

joe

[Franswa]

faced with the same problem I considered a few popular/usual options...



in the end I got rid of the converter/charger entirely....12V power comes from/through my batteries at all times...the charger I selected is 7.2A ...and is VERY "smart". It is mounted "semi-permanently" so I can take it out and use it somewhere else...on something else should such a situation/need arise. (I like "flexibility"...cover as many bases as I can)



I still have the AC panel and the DC panel...the charger is powered through it's own dedicated breaker and can be turned on or off at will...in normal use that breaker is just left "on"...when I plug in at a CG the charger goes to work...camping at "no power" sites it's off...of course. In the picture below that breaker is off because the trailer is parked in my backyard and the solar panels on the roof take care of maintaining the batteries...the trailer is plugged in to keep the fridge/freezer going on AC power.


unusual?...yes, but it's been a few years now and it works just fine as far as I can tell

[Joe Romas]

For your modest needs you do not need a 45 amp converter and PD specifically says replace with the same current as your present converter. I replaced my unit with a 35 amp one last year. It comes with converter and 12 volt fuse sections. See here, they have upgrades for various manufacturers.
https://www.progressivedyn.com/rv/po...r-4600-series/