Converter repair?

[B2eze]

I own a 2010 Aliner Ranger and just replaced my WFCO 8735 converter. The old 8735 (warranty replacement for the original Elixer) quit making 12vdc. I was wondering if anyone knows of anyone who repairs these things for less than the cost of a new one.

 

[Econ]

There are some electronic type people on here who have repaired their own. To have it repair it is thought you will probably have to uninstall. If uninstalled I personally would replace my 8735-P. Have heard some less than complimentary comments about it.

 

[tfischer]

The WFCO 8735 is a terrible converter. The large ceramic resistors are too heavy and will break off the board. Happened to me 3 times, even after I epoxied them in place. Then the thing broke in a different (undetermined) way and I threw it away and bought a Progressive Dynamics... about the same cost and night and day a better product.

 

[Lug_Nut]

You've already had two failures. Were they inconvenient? What assurance is there there won't be a third failure, and another inconvenience, with a repair of the same?
The cost of the circuit board repair components is pennies. The cost of the labor to identify which of those inexpensive components needs to be replaced is the expense. If you have the test equipment already, and the diagnosing skills, have at it.
Ours died (maybe I unwittingly killed it) and rather than replacing the popped capacitor I identified as the failure, I replaced the complete unit with a Prog-Dyn of higher capacity that fit in the same cabinet.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

+1 for PD. Swapped my broken (only 8 years old) 8735 out and could not be happier.

When my 8735 died I emailed / called the company... still waiting for a response. I did the same with PD and someone not only emailed me but also called back on a Sunday morning. Top notch.

 

[johneliot]

I was going to put a wfco in my trailer that would work with a lithium battery. After 16 weeks of waiting for it to come in and being no end in sight to when it would actually come in, I scrapped the idea of a converter and just added a 12 volt block with 6 fuses. I charge with my solar panel if my 100amp battery needs it.

 

[Snow]

Unless you know a guy who is into repairing old electronics, it'll probably cost you more then the converter is worth. I have a guy like that and he has done some pretty amazing work for me since I met him 35 years ago in high-school.

 

[TSQ]

It really depends on what is wrong with it.

Keep in mind the converter is really three things lumped together:
- AC distribution (breakers)
- DC distribution (fuses)
- battery charger

If the battery charger (part that makes 12VDC) dies an external battery charger can be added instead of replacing the whole converter. Lots of options on Amazon.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

I was going to put a wfco in my trailer that would work with a lithium battery. After 16 weeks of waiting for it to come in and being no end in sight to when it would actually come in, I scrapped the idea of a converter and just added a 12 volt block with 6 fuses. I charge with my solar panel if my 100amp battery needs it.

I can't remember what I paid for my PD 4100 but I think it was around $180. It has a switch for LA or lithium. Just this past month I finally got around to installing a lithium battery and my only way to charge it (so far) is with the converter. Plugged it in to Shore Power and it had it up 60% in about 35 minutes. I knew they charged faster but holy crap that's fast (this is my 1st experience with lithium in the camper).

 

[Hilldweller]

I can't remember what I paid for my PD 4100 but I think it was around $180. It has a switch for LA or lithium. Just this past month I finally got around to installing a lithium battery and my only way to charge it (so far) is with the converter. Plugged it in to Shore Power and it had it up 60% in about 35 minutes. I knew they charged faster but holy crap that's fast (this is my 1st experience with lithium in the camper).

Yeah.
Why repair an old Yugo when you can buy a new Mustang for under $200?