Blue Ridge Spirit, Bob and Lynn's 6x14 CT

[McDave]

Hey Bob,
My understanding was the WFCO's were prone to dc main board failure. I was able to pick one up off ebay for a spare, 51.00 shipped. May be faster and easier than troubleshooting at the component level. I don't suppose you have a real schematic, do you? Were you plugged in when it failed or just showed up DOA out of storage? If you have 120 @ the transformer primary, look for a blown rectifier (diode) after the trans. secondary windings. If they let their smoke out, they are done and you can see it.
If you were "live" when it failed also look for a thermal-fuse
McDave

PS also check the breaker that runs converter, of course.

[lrrowe]

It was sitting for about 6 weeks before I just reapplied 120v power. It was dead right away. I went to Progressive Dynamics' website and followed their trouble shooting guide and there was 120 going in and no DC coming out. It is still under what I think is my two year warranty and the electronics are in an easily removeable module. I am hoping that my call to them will result in either an easy fix that I missed from their guide or a warranty module replacement.

[lrrowe]

I just got off the phone with Progressive Dynamics. They are sending me out a replacement one right now and I must return the defective one within 30 days. 2 year warranty.

I did double check the output this afternoon and it is only putting out about 1/2 volt.

The process was very painless.

[hankaye]

lrrowe, Howdy;

Good news! So, you should be back in camper mode in a short while.

hank

[lrrowe]

Yep! Thanks.

[McDave]

McDave

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Bob

Just think if you were camping , 5 days no power
Or its $800 at camping world for a quick repair.

[lrrowe]

I called in the problem Monday AM and the replacement part was on my door step this afternoon when I got home.

Bob

And OTTCT, I worked around the problem while the PD404# was down with just a simple old regular battery charger. No $800 and no delay.

[McDave]

Well that's about as good of service as you can get. Seems like a reliable company to work with. Good to know.

McDave

[lrrowe]

It impressed me. I hope to install it this afternoon and report back on the results.

[lrrowe]

I installed the replacement charger assembly yesterday and it still did not work. So after a lot of scratching of my head, I tried to follow the AC input circuit to see if there was really current getting to the assembly. And there was not.
Opening

Replacement Power Assy


What I did notice is I could not figure out where the "120V Hot Buss" on the lower right section got it's Postive feed from. It did not make sense. So on a whim, I connected the Black Wire from the Assy. to a new breaker and viola, there was power. Now I was totally dumbfounded. It worked last fall, it worked at a TJ event last March, so why did it now work now without the added breaker to the hot buss?

I am wondering now if the first unit was defective or not. But I am not going back to test it. I will just return it to the factory. Does anyone have any thoughts?

And just the humor of it, here is an image which shows why you never leave your hardware and brand new, never used microwave on your counter top while you move your trailer around (and have to go up a steep hill). Everything goes on the floor and the microwave goes to the dump. Cannot even get the door to open.

[McDave]

Bob,
I know this doesn't help, but I have had a month or two of "those days" here lately. And yes, a sense of humor is essential.
Also, if you can shoot me a schematic, I'll try to troubleshoot it.

McDave

[lrrowe]

Thanks McDave,
I will sketch something up.
Bob

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Bob

Are you still alive ? The news said your state was flooded 10" rain in 1 hour , thousands without food or power, worried about you, did you get loaded on the Ark in time.

Shoot up a flair or something !

Ottct

[lrrowe]

Hi Jerry. Thanks for asking, but it was West Virginia that took the worse hit. ...about 3 hours north east of us. Bad floods and at least 23 dead. We sort of lucked out in my area with the storm tracking about 20 miles north of us.

And yes, I am still alive and have many photos to post of recent work on my project. I have just been swamped with contractor work as we prepare our house to sell and the camera has many photos on it.

It is late now and I just came in from my dock after catching (throwing an eight foot cast net) Alewives for Striper bait. I had a mediocre time with only putting about 5-7 dozen in my bait tank. But it is a start.