Ranger Tim wrote:

I just want to switch from lead acid to lithium, not upgrade wires and everything else. Finding a new replacement board for my WF-8955PEC seems to be complicated. Straight 14.6V continuous boost single phase vs. 14.6 boost and 13.4 idle dual phase approach, some have a switch for LA/Li, others are auto sensing, still others are Lithium only. Huge range of prices indicates there may be some poor quality fake/unauthorized parts out there. I don’t want to replace the entire thing, just the converter section.

Reading forum posts from many sites usually ends in discussions that go into the weeds quickly. Can anyone cut through it and keep it simple?

bighatnohorse wrote:


Sure.
This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DP3........_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Remove old, replace with new. Plug and play. 14.4 volts max charge.
You're done.

otrfun wrote:

It's unfortunate you have a WFCO. Even with significantly discharged batteries, they're notorious for rarely charging in the higher voltage bulk mode. They tend to stay in 13.6v absorption mode, which increases charge times. The WFCO you currently have will safely charge a 12v lifepo4 battery to 98-99% SOC at 13.6v. However, it'll take much longer to do so vs. a converter with the same current rating charging at 14.4v or 14.6v.

You may want to look at the Powermax PM3 MBA series converters. They're designed to be a plug and play replacement for the lower tray 8900 series converters that are used in many WFCO power centers. They're lifepo4 compatible and can be switched to operate in either a single-stage (power supply) mode or a standard 3-stage charging mode. The single-stage (power supply) or 3-stage bulk mode voltage can be adjusted from 13.0 - 16.5v. Since there's always ongoing debate about the optimum charge voltage for a 12v lifepo4 battery, this feature allows you to accommodate whatever lifepo4 charge voltage happens to be the "best" this week, next month or next year.

Regardless which brand converter you eventually decide on, highly recommend *not* purchasing a single stage 14.6v converter. If you inadvertently float a 12v lifepo4 battery at 14.6v (100% SOC) for long periods of time you may risk damaging the cells. Purchase a 2-3 stage converter. A 2-3 stage converter will always decrease charge voltage (go into absorption/float mode) so you never have to be concerned about overcharging and damaging the cells. Your expensive lifepo4 battery will thank you.

Ranger Tim wrote:

Interesting to read these responses. Not doing anything yet until I get more info (and money).

3 tons wrote:

Converting to an expensive LFP then trying to get by with a marginal charger seems a bit odd to me…However, regardless of one’s charger method of choice (lots of options here, including attended CV/CC* charging - solar or shore, what I do…), rather than the impulse towards new hardware, a better plan would be to start out with an basic understanding of LFP charging parameters, then develop a ‘best practice’ strategy that works best for you - in the end this might even suggest an unattended plug and play charger…JMO

*(constant current, constant voltage)

3 tons