Well, my most recent teardrop trip, to Calaveras Big Trees in the Sierra Nevada mountains about 125 miles east of here, was a success except for the total failure of my WFCO 12 V power converter/charger.
Because I wired the electrical system that the WFCO is part of, I could easily “hot-wire” around the converter to get my lights, fan, and phone charger working. I knew when I scheduled the trip that I wouldn’t have a hook up, so I made sure the battery was fully charged before I left. So, I got through a 5-day trip with plenty of juice left.
But, now I have no way to recharge my battery until the problem is solved. I may have to buy an inexpensive, low capacity Battery Tender to keep the battery charged until a replacement is installed.
There are many internet reviews of the WFCO converter citing early failures, so I’m considering changing to another brand (Progressive Dynamics), but the PD converter is higher capacity, has more circuits, is more expensive, and most important – it’s physically larger. Which would entail completely re-engineering the electrical panel.
Electrical Panel
This photo was taken last year, just as I finished phase one of the trailer wiring.
I have opened a “trouble ticket” with the supplier, since the converter is still under warranty. I hope to get a replacement at no cost, and hope it’s more durable then this one has proved to be.
For more on my latest trip, to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, read this post.