RV52.com Power Converter Comparison Articles:
RV52.com wrote several articles on RV converters and I've even done a nice video or two:
- Replacing your RV Power Convertor on your 5th Wheel
- RV Power Converter Basics
- An article I wrote about some converter pricing
- RV Power system overview
- AC versus DC power for beginners, newbies, and non-techies
- Converters work with the battery! Check out your RV battery
- More RV Electrical system basics
- Converters have fuses in the electrical control panel
- How might your converter affect your air conditioner? You might be surprised!
Here are 4 converters manufactured by Power Dynamics which RV52.com thinks is a pretty good converter. RV52.com actually installed one of these.
Convertors take your shore power ( or the power you get when plugged into your house/rv park ) which is AC power and "convert" it to DC for use around the RV. An RV converter will also have battery conditioning circuits which charge/discharge the battery and handle when shore power is disconnected and power needs to be taken OUT of the batteries instead of being stored IN the batteries.
Here are some manufacturers of RV Power Converters :
Converters, and the power conditioning are also some of the most problematic areas of an RV. The converters can get hot and if very old, or poorly made can catch fire or cause wires in your RV to catch fire.
I've only been living full time in an RV since 2010. Since then I've known personally of two fires in RV's which were directly attributable to the power converter. One was due to age, and the other one was new so no explanation.
RV Power Converter Users Manuals:
- WFCO RV Power Converter Users Manual WF 9835 9845 9855 9865 9875
- WFCO RV Power Converter Users Manual WF 8735 8740
- WFCO RV Power Converter Users Manual WF8900
- Progressive Dynamics RV Power Converter Users Manual PD9100
- Progressive Dynamics RV Power Converter Users Manual PD9200
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RV Power Converter How To Video Gallery:
Latest Amazon listings for RV converters :
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Rick Trabal says
Can I connect an WFCO 55 Amp power converter RV 52 straight to the vehicvle batteries to run all the 12 volt system? Or do I need to get a separate battery for it? I am making a camper out of a 1998 FOrd Econoline Van 7.3 Diesel, 24 volts and when it come to this part I have no clue. Please help will be greatly appreciated.
Rick
Marlan at Rv52 says
Rick,
I’m not an expert, but I think you would want a separate battery. To run lights and things, those batteries are usually deep-cycle batteries which are designed to better handle lower in/out currents. For starting your beast, usually those batteries are designed for pure cranking power. I just bought a Power Dynamics converter to replace my WFCO.
Marlan
Rick says
Thank you Marlan. So how would I connect a deep cycle battery to the existing system to run internal lights radios and the like without messing up the cranking batteries? Any ideas? I am new to this so any assistance would be greatly appreciated
Marlan at Rv52 says
Rick,
I’ve been thinking about this and you are way beyond me. I think you are right. Since your system won’t have the DC systems split out like an RV, probably an extra battery doesn’t make sense. If you want, I’ll contact Roadtrek and/or Pleasure-way and ask them to see what they say. They’ll certainly know the answer.