http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : I need HELP!!! : Replacing a WF-8735P with a PD4135KW2BV Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 21 May 2026 07:40:36 +0000 Sat, 05 Mar 2022 18:43:43 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=15162 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147206#147206 Author: TheBum
Subject: 15162
Posted: 05 Mar 2022 at 6:43pm

I got the swap done except for the mounting screws. It turns out that the PD power center is 1/2” narrower than the WFCO and there’s really not enough wood to do new screw holes. So, I’m going to cheat it to one side and use some metal tabs to “extend” the mounting holes on the other side. The more I work with this, the more I know PD is stretching the truth when they say it’s a direct replacement for the WFCO. On a positive note, the battery had charged up to 14.7V by the time I left storage. I left it charging so that maybe it’ll balance the cells.]]> Sat, 05 Mar 2022 18:43:43 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147206#147206 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147187#147187 Author: offgrid
Subject: 15162
Posted: 03 Mar 2022 at 6:18am

If the rpod came without proper over current protection on the awning line it probably shouldn't really surprise any of us.

What gauge is the wire to the awning? If it's 8 you're good, otherwise if it's 10 awg you can still just add a 30A inline fuse to that circuit right at the location where it connects to the 40A feed. They are only a few $ for a pack on the 'Zon. ]]> Thu, 03 Mar 2022 06:18:40 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147187#147187 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147183#147183 Author: TheBum
Subject: 15162
Posted: 02 Mar 2022 at 3:34pm

The problem with using an inline fuse is that the awning motor is apparently wired directly into the 8AWG battery feed upstream from the panel.

I ohmed out the fuse board on the WFCO panel and discovered that the “battery” fuse is wired between the voltage input/output and the branch circuits. In that location, it would provide battery charge overcurrent protection as well as being a master fuse for the branch circuits. I suspect the converter section on the PD panel is internally fused so that the “battery” fuse is not needed. In any case, it most certainly does not protect the awning motor circuit.]]> Wed, 02 Mar 2022 15:34:26 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147183#147183 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147180#147180 Author: offgrid
Subject: 15162
Posted: 02 Mar 2022 at 9:00am

8 awg is appropriate for 40A and 10 gauge for 30A. So it sounds like you're ok as long as the awning is wired with at least 10 awg. If not then you can just place an appropriate inline fuse in that circuit at the panel.
]]> Wed, 02 Mar 2022 09:00:42 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147180#147180 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147179#147179 Author: TheBum
Subject: 15162
Posted: 01 Mar 2022 at 9:03pm

There’s a 40A reverse polarity fuse in both the WFCO and PD panels. The difference is that there’s another 30A fuse connected to the panel’s +12V power feed on the WFCO. The 12V power wiring in the 196 is on 8AWG wire coming to the panel.

I didn’t realize until you mentioned a 3-way fridge that the 196 has a 2-way fridge, so the part of the circuit description for the refrigerator element is not applicable for the installed fridge.]]> Tue, 01 Mar 2022 21:03:43 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147179#147179 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147175#147175 Author: offgrid
Subject: 15162
Posted: 01 Mar 2022 at 3:54pm

Not sure but I suspect that what PD is saying is that the 30A fuse is protecting in input from the battery to the DC load panel and also the refer element and awning circuits. In other words those circuits are already rated for 30A anyway so don't need a smaller fuse in the distribution panel.

You could confirm that by checking the gauge of the wire to the refer DC element (if you have a 3 way fridge) and the awning motor. If those wires are 10 gauge or larger then PD is right and you don't need additional fusing.

Edit: BTW 30A is pretty light for a 196. My 179's WFCO had 40A fusing. Are you sure you're getting the direct replacement from PD? ]]> Tue, 01 Mar 2022 15:54:14 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147175#147175 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147174#147174 Author: TheBum
Subject: 15162
Posted: 01 Mar 2022 at 12:59pm

I’m in the process of making the subject power center swap to support full charging of a LiFePO4 battery in my R-Pod 196. I went with the PD power center because it has a swappable converter section whereas the WFCO WF-8735P does not, making future repairs easier.

I’m confused by the 30A “battery fuse” circuit in the WFCO. It’s on the same wire as the DC input voltage into the unit. The label on the door of the unit says, “30 A Bat, Refer Elem, Awning” but since it’s on the same circuit connected to the battery, how does it actually provide protection for those devices? Does it just provide converter overcurrent protection, i.e. is it connected to the converter DC circuit internally? I can’t find any schematic detailed enough to explain it.

The PD unit doesn’t have a dedicated “battery” fuse slot. All circuits except for reverse polarity are defined as branch circuits in the PD documentation. Do I need to worry about that extra 30A fuse?]]> Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:59:33 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15162&PID=147174#147174