Replacement for OEM Schumacher converter?

[SeeTheUSA]

Our 2012 Navion iQ has a Schumacher converter that was installed by the factory. It is really pretty basic, just single stage battery charging (just charges all of the time). I'd like to change it out and get the benefit of 3 or 4 stage charging.

Has anyone made the change? I'd be interested in learning what a good replacement might be and how the swap was made. Thanks.

[ghutch]

A good place to browse is "Best Converters", They carry top of the line converter/chargers. You might to be able to just replace the C/C if you have room and the old one is a seperate unit from the load center. Can you access the present one easily? Others will chime in with tips too as this is a common upgrade. BestConverter - Converters, Inverters, Electrical Supplies, Electronics

[jackfish]

Here is the link to the conversion of the Schumacher to a 4 stage charger: Schumacher Converter Upgrade

Otherwise, I'd look into just pulling the Schumacher and replacing it with an Iota DLS-55/IQ4 converter.

[dwhit]

My last two conversions were with 3-stage converters. No problems-first battery pak lasted ten years...couldn't be happier. Bought the 45 amp and now in another MH have the 55amp...totally satisfied and cheap. Also use aftermarket Battery-Minder desulfators.

[SeeTheUSA]

Originally Posted by jackfish

Here is the link to the conversion of the Schumacher to a 4 stage charger: Schumacher Converter Upgrade

Otherwise, I'd look into just pulling the Schumacher and replacing it with an Iota DLS-55/IQ4 converter.

Jackfish,

Thanks for your response!

If I understand your advice, applying the Powermax device per the instructions in the link would simply bypass the battery charging function of the Schumacher, leaving other functions still dependent on the Schumacher.

Applying the Iota device, however, gets the Schumacher out of the mix completely. This seems like the better option, particularly since they cost about the same. Add to that the fact the original Schumacher failed. It happened while we were on the road but at least it was still on warranty. The first replacement that was overnighted by WGO was dead-on-arrival, the second one, a couple of days later, was okay and remains in our Navion.

So, am I looking at this clearly? Any other advice? Do you think swapping out the Schumacher for the Iota would be a fairly direct do-it-yourself task (I'm pretty handy)?

Thanks.