THE HEARTBEAT BULLETIN: DEALER ARCHIVE

WFCO’s new WF-8500 Series power center is the latest example of WFCO’s leadership in developing new power center features and flexibility. The 8500 Series is brand new and should start appearing in RVs this year. It’s well worth getting to know this exceptional new product.

The 8500’s cooling system requires zero clearance for ventilation, and it has an exceptionally small footprint, thus increasing useable space for RV manufacturers to install other amenities.

Three electrical connection modes are offered for easy DC installation, matching those favored by RV manufacturers or dealers — either screw terminals, Quick Connect flag terminals or wire pigtails. An exceptional range of 13 DC circuits, three rated 30 amps, enables manufacturers to install more circuits for greater design flexibility.

LED light indicators to glow in a three-color code system to provide instant information to technicians and owners about dead circuits, reverse battery polarity, and bulk mode operation. LED lights also indicate whether incoming AC voltage is low, normal, or high, and each of the 13 DC fuse circuits contains a red LED light to indicate a blown a fuse.

These and other 8500 Series highlights raise the bar in power products for RV manufacturers, dealers, and consumers. For full details click here. 

Typically when an RV service center discovers that a customer needs a new converter, the center will try to replace it with the same model from the same company. But why not guide your customer to a better product that enhances the dealership’s revenue?

The WFCO cross-reference guide quickly checks what corresponding WFCO products are available to replace the old converter or power center. This allows you to move your customer into a WFCO product that excels in durability and functionality and provides benefits not available when replacing the converter.

One example is that many older converters use a one-stage charging system with no trickle-charging capability. With all WFCO units, the three-stage charging system does have a standard trickle (float) charge function to keep the battery topped up when not in use.

The main point is that you can suggest a better replacement to benefit the customer, making their RV experience easier and more enjoyable while also providing your dealership with a revenue-enhancing opportunity.

Click here to get our handy Cross Reference Guide.

WFCO Electronics provides step-by-step, online troubleshooting for its different power centers and deck mount converters. The one-page charts for every five series are displayed in a sequence of yes-and-no questions to troubleshoot the problem.

These charts break down the problem analysis into a clear, logical progression of steps to help the technician quickly find and remedy the problem. Depending upon the answer, technicians are guided to a solution or another yes-and-no question to analyze the situation further. This process continues until there is a solution.

These troubleshooting charts are another example of the support tools we’ve been developing for aftermarket sales and the service of our products. The current guides cover the WF-8500 Series, WF-8700 Series, WF-8900 Series, WF-9800 Series, and WF-9900 Series.

The troubleshooting guides may be found in the “Dealer Toolbox” under the “Support” tab on the WFCO website. Check back from time to time, as more guides will continue to be added.

Our latest video for replacing obsolete and other model converters and Power Centers focuses on using our WF-8955 MBA (Main Board Assembly) to replace the lower section of a Parallax 7100 Series power center. This detailed, step-by-step tutorial will help technicians with tips and logical steps that make for speedy, safe, and accurate installations. Click here to see the video.

WFCO provides several main board assemblies in its 8900 MBA Series and converter replacement kits with its 8900 REP universal converters. These products can be used to replace converters or lower sections of power centers that are defective or obsolete or to help customers add WFCO technology that can provide superior reliability and performance.

More installation videos for the training and support of your technicians will continue to be posted in this section, which is found under the “Support” tab at wfcoelectronics.com.

WFCO’s vertical integration puts us in the unique position to be your best power equipment supplier in terms of quality, service, and cost. WFCO has control of the entire supply chain required for our production needs, from the design and engineering of each product to the manufacture of components to the assembly and distribution of the complete unit. Total vertical integration allows WFCO to have control of quality, consistency, and delivery at every step of the manufacturing process, resulting in unmatched reliability, with warranty claims of less than one percent. This is one crucial reason why RV engineers favor WFCO products in more than 80 percent of RVs built today.

Accordingly, this large volume, along with eliminating supplier markups through vertical integration, allows us to give you the best quality at the best price, with the best service and best value of any power product on the market.

What would you like to know? Click here to ask a question we can answer in future bulletin editions.

Have you noticed WFCO’s updated logo? It’s a new design that reflects our recent effort to communicate better who we are as a company. You’ll see that effort reflected in the re-creation of all product literature and packaging. You will also see it clearly with our new website and this latest newsletter.

The website contains a host of information about WFCO and our products. The website provides an easy-to-search product section with additional information and resources for dealers and OEMs.

Some of what you will find is a growing library of helpful videos, including installation videos to help RV service centers replace converters. An expanded background section about the WFCO organization includes information about our industry-leading manufacturing, quality control, and customer support initiatives.

Power Pro phone techs have 50 years of combined experience. You’ll find comprehensive contact information, including an introduction to the WFCO Power Pros Team. Power pros Tean is our group of highly knowledgeable and helpful experts who provide telephone assistance when you have questions, replacement concerns, or need advice.

Another popular spot should be our Downloads Center, where you can easily find downloadable documents for every WFCO product.

We’ll also list the Shows and Events we are participating in, and there’s an archives section for all WFCO Heartbeat Bulletins.

And this is just the beginning! More helpful information and resources for manufacturers, dealers, and RV owners will be posted continuously. So come and often visit WFCOelectronics.com.

1. Have the right tools ready

If you have everything you will regularly need on hand for the installation of a WFCO product when you start the job, it will go faster and smoother. Here’s what you should have:

• Multimeter
• Screwdrivers, Phillips, and flathead
• Allen wrenches (hex keys); a 7/16 Allen wrench needed for WFCO products
• Wire stripper
• Torque wrench and screwdriver

Keynote: Most people don’t have a torque wrench, but measuring the torque when tightening the electrical connections is essential. Over torque can be as bad as under torque. Click here for a handy torque chart.

2. Strip the right amount of insulation from all wires.

The right amount will depend on the size and type of lugs used on the converter/distribution panel. Stripping too much insulation can create an opportunity for a short circuit. If you don’t strip enough and push the wire into the lug too far, the lug might tighten on the insulation instead of the wire core, so no electric connection is made.

3. Do it right the first time

Take time to think the job through. Slow down a little to ensure you get everything right the first time. That is better than losing more time in redoing something. Here are some tips on ˝getting it right.˝

• If the converter’s pigtail on the Black power lead is not used, keep it capped.
• Make sure there are no frayed wires that could short to surrounding terminals.
• Properly torque the screws on the lugs and bus bars.
• Make sure battery connections are the correct polarity: plus to plus and negative to negative.
• The fuse and AC circuit breaker size must match the wire size, not the current draw on that particular circuit.
• Dual circuit breakers can be used if not enough AC circuits are available when using single breakers.
• If mounting a 9800 Series converter in a vertical position, mount it with the intake fan pointing down.
• When installing a Power Center, do not mount it behind a door or in any way that will block the front panel air vents.

And one more thing 

Always keep the Power Pros support line phone number handy call 877-294-8997 Ext. 1. We’ll always have an answer within 24 hours, if not much sooner.

Are you running into RV converters that are just not made any more? To help you in these situations, our Power Pros™ team is building a library of helpful videos that show how to replace older converters with current WFCO products. At the link below, our first videos depict how WFCO’s 9800 Series deck mount converter can easily replace the Todd Engineering PC-30, IOTA DLS55, and Atwood APC32 deck mounts. In a separate video, you can see how a WFCO WF-8955-MBA main board assembly can replace a Parallax 7155 Power Center main board.

Click Here to see our current replacement video library and check back frequently to visit our growing list of video resources.

Cross Reference Guides Help You Find the Best WFCO Replacement Products

With all the misinformation floating around the marketplace on how to handle obsolete converters, WFCO has dramatically expanded its cross-reference guide into a comprehensive, authoritative source for just about any converter brand ever used for an RV, with a replacement recommendation from WFCO’s extensive line of power products for the RV industry. You can find a replacement solution for any obsolete or current converter you need. Our comprehensive cross-reference guide is available to be your one source of converter knowledge, past and present, designed to assist you in selecting the suitable converter for your customer.

Click here to download the WFCO Cross Reference Guide.

To learn more about our products through video, click here. For any WFCO resources, tools, and information on our products, email support@wfcoelectronics.com with your request, or click here to download the WFCO Training Catalog.

Three-stage charging protects batteries.

WFCO’s automatic three-stage converter handles every charging need for the RV while extending the battery’s life. Well-maintained batteries should never need more than WFCO’s two-stage (Normal and Trickle) charging modes. Our Fast Charge third stage (Bulk) is for the rare times a battery needs extra-power charging.

The WFCO Normal (Absorption) Mode alone is a powerhouse capable of charging a fully-discharged battery in under three hours at 13.6 volts. When the RV is being used, the battery is kept readily charged in Normal Mode.

However, suppose the converter detects no significant variation in the current draw for approximately 44 continuous hours. In that case, our Trickle (Float) Mode automatically kicks in and brings the battery back to full charge. Maintaining complete charging helps prevent stratification of the battery’s fluids, reducing the battery’s charge and longevity.

For those cases when the battery charge drops significantly due to prolonged disuse, poor maintenance, or very heavy system overloads, our 14.4-volt Fast Charge (Bulk) Mode kicks in. Our Fast Charge provides a maximum four-hour charge to prevent battery damage. This full-time feature has been implemented to protect and extend the battery’s life.

The problem with overcharging a battery is that it tends to convert the water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen gasses, which can deplete the water and leave a strong acid solution, possibly damaging the battery. WFCO’s innovative engineering makes Normal and Trickle the only charging modes the RV battery should ever require when adequately maintained.

If you have questions about 3-stage charging or overcharging concerns, please get in touch with the Power Pros. Call 1-877-294-8997 Ext. 1.