WFCO without Battery - 12 VDC Ground

[Loader]

After reading the many posts on WFCO install, as well as all documentation I can find on them, I know a battery does not need to be installed to use the WFCO. The 120 VAC side is straight forward to me, it is the 12 VDC side I have a question about.

If I use the ground wire (white) from the 12 VDC harness and wire it to a bus bar/terminal bar and then wire all 12 VDC ground to that bar, would that provide a proper ground for the 12 VDC side?

Some past posts with very helpful diagrams for your review.

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... co+install

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... light=wfco

Appreciate any guidance you all can provide!

[Shadow Catcher]

Yes, that is how my Progressive Dynamics converter is wired and they are similar.

[GuitarPhotog]

Yes, all the negative side connections go to the white, common side of the WFCO.

If you had a battery, its negative pole would connect there also.

<Chas>

[Loader]

Thanks for confirming that Shadow and Chas.

[bdosborn]

I don't think I would run the 12V stuff too long without a battery. The battery acts like a ballast and smooths out the power from the converter. You might have a lot of small voltage variations (called ripple) that can be hard on devices that are sensitive to voltage variations.

Bruce

[Loader]

I don't think I would run the 12V stuff too long without a battery. The battery acts like a ballast and smooths out the power from the converter. You might have a lot of small voltage variations (called ripple) that can be hard on devices that are sensitive to voltage variations.

Bruce

Interesting Bruce. They (sellers) state a battery is not required with the unit. Is it really a bad thing? I wasn't on planning installing a battery this time since I normally only camp at state parks with power at the site.

[bdosborn]

It depends on the quality of power coming off converter, which depends on the design of the converter output. You can't really see what's going on without putting an oscilloscope on the output. It might be worth while to send an email to the WFCO rather than the seller and get their take on it. I did a quick web search and didn't find anything showing the output. I'll post something over on the big RV site and see what they say (those guys really get into the nuts and bolts if their battery chargers).

Bruce

P.S. RV.net linky

[bdosborn]

Phew, it's rough over there but the general consensus is you're fine without the battery...

Bruce

[Loader]

Phew, it's rough over there but the general consensus is you're fine without the battery...

Bruce

Hey Bruce,

Thanks for taking that "hit" for me. I went over and read the thread, seems some of them are unaware what a teardrop is....slide outs, water pumps, trailer breaks, breakaway systems.....although some have those items, I would not call them standard features in all teardrops!

I did send a note to WFCO yesterday asking the question, I'll let you know what they say. I can add a battery if required, just figured at this time, no need, but I wanted to have the flexibility in the future, hence the WFCO instead of just a simple 110 system.

Thanks again,

Earl

[bdosborn]

Thanks for taking that "hit" for me. I went over and read the thread, seems some of them are unaware what a teardrop is....slide outs, water pumps, trailer breaks, breakaway systems.....although some have those items, I would not call them standard features in all teardrops!

Earl,

Yeah, I don't often post over there, maybe a dozen times in 5 years. They're pretty ignorant about anything that wasn't built in a factory. The attitude is quite a bit more aggressive, another reason I don't stray far from home.

Let me know what WFCO says...
Bruce

[Loader]

Hey Bruce, I received my reply from WFCO.

I was told that as long as the converter is not going to run any high current motors a battery is not required.

The concern is "in-rush currents on high current motors what switching power supplies have a hard time keeping up with"

Motors such as those on the Fantasic Fan are not a concern.

They also provided wiring diagram for WFCO install with a battery.

[bdosborn]

Score! That should be a sticky!

Bruce

[Wolfscout]

That diagram just told me how to fix a problem I'm having.

Thanks Loader for posting it.

[Loader]

That diagram just told me how to fix a problem I'm having.

Thanks Loader for posting it.

No worries, glad it helped!