GMCforum
For enthusiast of the Classic GMC Motorhome built from 1973 to 1978. A web-based mirror of the GMCnet mailing list.

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » WFCO Ultra III 9800 converter (What's Your experience)
WFCO Ultra III 9800 converter [message #305787] Mon, 22 August 2016 00:13 Go to next message
John Heslinga   Canada
Messages: 632
Registered: February 2011
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Karma: 4
Senior Member
Hello All:

I have a chance to pick up a 70 Amp WFCO Ultra III 9800 series Deck Mount Power converter and Battery charger for less than 1/2 its retail price. It has 3 level battery charge including Bulk, low charge and float. The company claims that it is well filtered including without a battery connected. The specifications sound very good. I know that the Progressive dynamics converter charger is commonly suggested by many. But the price could make this unit good value to me.

(both actually have similar retail prices and specifications)

Can anyone comment on any experiences with the WFCO power supply

Best Regards


John and Cathie Heslinga 1974 Canyonlands 260 455, Manny tranny and 1 ton, 3:70 LS, Red Seal Journeyman, DTE, BEd. MEd. Edmonton, Alberta
Re: WFCO Ultra III 9800 converter [message #305792 is a reply to message #305787] Mon, 22 August 2016 06:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Loffen is currently offline  Loffen   Norway
Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Not much to add but for me the choice was the WFCO or the PD, bought the PD but it was a close call, if I could have got the WFCO for half retail I would have bought it

1973 23' # 1848 Sky Blue Glacier called Baby Blue and a 1973 26'-3 # 1460 Parrot green Seqouia Known as the Big Green, And sold my 1973 26'-2 # 581 White Canyon lands under the name Dobbelt trøbbel in Norway
Re: WFCO Ultra III 9800 converter [message #305798 is a reply to message #305787] Mon, 22 August 2016 08:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
John Heslinga wrote on Mon, 22 August 2016 01:13
Hello All:

I have a chance to pick up a 70 Amp WFCO Ultra III 9800 series Deck Mount Power converter and Battery charger for less than 1/2 its retail price. It has 3 level battery charge including Bulk, low charge and float. The company claims that it is well filtered including without a battery connected. The specifications sound very good. I know that the Progressive dynamics converter charger is commonly suggested by many. But the price could make this unit good value to me.

(both actually have similar retail prices and specifications)

Can anyone comment on any experiences with the WFCO power supply

Best Regards

John,

WFCO got a bad name around (and other places) here because they build junk for many years. When PD, Iota and others had gone to making "smart" three and four stage system, WFCO said with the old designs so they were a price leader that OEs could install. I replaced more than a few when doing house power upgrades on boats, but those were all "marine" versions.

There is no line on their site for 70 amp. But the specification of the Ultra III line looks reasonable. It does not have the occasional "Burp" that the other good ones have, but I still am not sure just how much difference that makes.

If the price is that attractive, give it a try.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: WFCO Ultra III 9800 converter [message #305988 is a reply to message #305787] Thu, 25 August 2016 20:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John Heslinga   Canada
Messages: 632
Registered: February 2011
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Karma: 4
Senior Member
THANK YOU!!
Loffen and Matt:

For your input.
The positive vibes I got from your input encuraged me to gamble and follow up on the purchase of the Power Supply. ( I was advertised as new) When I actually saw the item it was NOT New as advertised. (The fan had a major build up of dust and evidence of mounting screws used)

While they insisted it was new. I Declined to purchase it.

Now to find a good price (to Canada) of a New Progessive Dynamic. I think a 40 or 60 amp is all I need.

Thanks again!


John and Cathie Heslinga 1974 Canyonlands 260 455, Manny tranny and 1 ton, 3:70 LS, Red Seal Journeyman, DTE, BEd. MEd. Edmonton, Alberta
Re: WFCO Ultra III 9800 converter [message #306021 is a reply to message #305787] Fri, 26 August 2016 19:36 Go to previous message
Chr$ is currently offline  Chr$   United States
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
My TT has a WFCO. Total Crap. Boils the batteries. It does not ever go into float. May have something to do with the #8 wire and distance, however.
I'm going to change it out for a PD9260. Shoulda kept the one from my GMC, but I couldn't find the buzz box until the day AFTER I sold the coach. Sad


-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
Previous Topic: Mini Jump Starters on Woot.com
Next Topic: 403 engine and Ford? trans
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Wed Nov 06 04:33:02 CST 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02117 seconds