replace mains charger

Can anyone recommend a replacement part. It doesn't have to be the official part as cost is a factor

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silverbambi

silverbambi

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Location
Tarrant Hinton, Blandford Forum, DT11 8JE
Vehicle
T4 PopTop
I am a new member and didn't even realise you guys even existed. Always thought, as I only saw a Westfalia T4 now and again,mains charger Westfalia.jpg that there wasn't many out there.

I have a Westfalia California Advantage T4, which is left hand drive.

Reg W109 XGJ Purchased as ex demo model in 2000 from Bilbo.

The mains charger has burnt out. Can anyone recommend a replacement part. It doesn't have to be the official part as cost is a factor for us?

We have a single Sonnenschein gel battery. GF12 110V. This is our leisure battery.

Regards, Gordon McCallum
 
Hello and welcome Gordon.
There are quite a few of us around if you know where to look. A number of topics have been covered before on the forum so it’s sometimes worth doing a quick search for any problems you may have. The charger is one of those such topics. It is possible to buy the original charger still at vwbusshop.de. Other folks are fitting a much cheaper and more modern equivalent that still supports the display features on the Central Control panel. You can find some details on that in this thread.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I recently had to change my charger after the original recently went pop...
Search the forum for 'Fraron', also here's the link to the one I bought:
https://www.fraron.de/en/a-85859176/
Had ours since July, my thoughts so far... seems to do what the old one did, main 'obvious' difference is the fact there's a cooling fan on the Fraron (which the old unit didn't have). Its not running all the time, but certainly during heavy charging periods. It's slightly noticeable (the fan's noise), but not so obtrusive as to bother - well we don't find it so... (Liken the sound to the fridge compressor, maybe a little louder...).
As mentioned above, the nice feature of this charger is that it still makes a connection to the display in the cab so you can see when your're on the hook-up. I don't know for sure, but I also guess that this is a more 'intelligent' charger (as it has different charging profiles depending the battery state - although I don't know if the old unit did the same, maybe someone could comment on that?), so the logical assumption from that would be that the battery should benefit and maybe prolong its use...?
Good luck!
 
I also had to replace my original charger recently for the same reasons.

After looking about and pricing up a replacement original charger, I went for the Fraron unit - still expensive but it was straight forward to fit. Its a higher output than the original and a more modern design so it should look after the battery better in the long term.

The only extra things I had to purchase was an angled adaptor for the temperature monitor as the supplied 3.5mm plug wouldn't have cleared the original furniture panel and also a 30A in line fuse to connect to the battery. (I tried a 20A fuse originally as this is what the charger is rated at - but it kept popping. I then read the German instructions that suggest a 30A unit)

I do recall another alternative charger that was mentioned on here - that has a smartphone app to monitor the state of the charge but I can't find a link to it at the moment.
 
Hello mrcheesbrough,
Thanks for replying. I was, I admit, stumbling around when trying to ask the question about mains battery chargers. Wasn't even sure I had posted anything.
I had already been checking the forum threads as you suggested. I had found the original Westfalia charger from vwbusshop at 599€, which is quite a cost. I then started looking for a lower cost alternative.
Knowing that Westfalia customised their products, I didn't want to end up spending good cash only to find I had given myself a problem. Your comment that 'a much cheaper and more modern equivalent that still supports the display features on the Central Control panel' sounds perfect.
Can't find the thread you asked me to follow, but am I correct in thinking it is the FraRon unit (Replacement Kit IUoU Automatic Battery Charger 12 Volt 20 Ampere / Westfalia, James Cook, VW T4 / Ford Nugget / California Camping-Bus) you are referring to? This is Fraron Electronics in Germany. Cost being 199€ – a much, much nicer cost.
Is it possible to buy this from an English company?
Could my local garage (who service my Westfalia) fit this, or do I need a specialist?
Really appreciate your response.
 
bxl_lad said:
I recently had to change my charger after the original recently went pop...
Search the forum for 'Fraron', also here's the link to the one I bought:
https://www.fraron.de/en/a-85859176/
Had ours since July, my thoughts so far... seems to do what the old one did, main 'obvious' difference is the fact there's a cooling fan on the Fraron (which the old unit didn't have). Its not running all the time, but certainly during heavy charging periods. It's slightly noticeable (the fan's noise), but not so obtrusive as to bother - well we don't find it so... (Liken the sound to the fridge compressor, maybe a little louder...).
As mentioned above, the nice feature of this charger is that it still makes a connection to the display in the cab so you can see when your're on the hook-up. I don't know for sure, but I also guess that this is a more 'intelligent' charger (as it has different charging profiles depending the battery state - although I don't know if the old unit did the same, maybe someone could comment on that?), so the logical assumption from that would be that the battery should benefit and maybe prolong its use...?
Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advise. Always good to speak to someone who actually bought and fitted an item.
 
Sleepyboy said:
I also had to replace my original charger recently for the same reasons.

After looking about and pricing up a replacement original charger, I went for the Fraron unit - still expensive but it was straight forward to fit. Its a higher output than the original and a more modern design so it should look after the battery better in the long term.

The only extra things I had to purchase was an angled adaptor for the temperature monitor as the supplied 3.5mm plug wouldn't have cleared the original furniture panel and also a 30A in line fuse to connect to the battery. (I tried a 20A fuse originally as this is what the charger is rated at - but it kept popping. I then read the German instructions that suggest a 30A unit)

I do recall another alternative charger that was mentioned on here - that has a smartphone app to monitor the state of the charge but I can't find a link to it at the moment.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice. Always good to speak to someone who actually bought and fitted an item, especially about the extra things you have mentioned. Like the 'sleepyhead' handle.
 
I've replaced my charger for the Fraron unit. I'd seen too many posts of the original going up in smoke. I've seen quite a few posts on facebook in the last few months of the same. There was a post from someone who found a re-engineered charger but the fraron unit looks very professional. Its got dual output too so I've hooked it up to both batteries.

27384810869_5035a12186_c.jpg


27384809369_d0c7d4fb9e_c.jpg


41760012231_25362d00f2_c.jpg
 
Don’t forgot the original replacement from Günzl is a dual output so will also charge your engine battery.

Does the Fraron unit do this?
 
sidepod said:
Don’t forgot the original replacement from Günzl is a dual output so will also charge your engine battery.

Does the Fraron unit do this?
Click to expand...
Yeah I posted that. I've hooked up mine to both now and works a treat. How much was the Gunzl one?

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk
 
Thanks for the latest info. Beware, lots of silly questions coming your way.

Did you install it yourself? Was it easy to fit? Anything to look out for?
Where did you buy it? What was the cost?
 
You can buy the Fraron unit here:

https://www.fraron.de/en/batteriela...ord-nugget-california-camping-bus/a-85859176/

Looks like the stock is low at the moment so must be quite popular with all the others going pop at the same time ;)

It comes with connector cables but I needed to modify mine slightly to fit onto the battery and the split charge relay for the second output to the starter battery. It comes with the connector for the temperature sensor and the correct plug so it still works with the Westfalia screen at the front.
 
ArcticMatt said:
How can you justify €600 compared to €199! Whats different about the gunzl one? Is that the current westfalia model?
Click to expand...

Beyond me. I’ll be installing the Fraron if and when ours decides to call it a day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
mrcheesbrough said:
Beyond me. I’ll be installing the Fraron if and when ours decides to call it a day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I changed mine even though it was still working. I wasn't taking the chance of it going up in smoke plus I wanted to get rid of an extra charger someone had previously installed. Two birds stoned

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk
 
Easy to fit (the Fraron), our old one went pop on a trip, had the Fraron shipped ahead to our next campsite and fitted there with a Leatherman gadget and a multi-bit screwdriver... Which reminds me I must open everything up and check if the field-fix doesn't need a once-over to check its all ok :D
All that was needed, was in the box... So far so good, no complaints...
 
Appreciate the advice. I'm impressed by your confidence and a limited tool kit. Will try to follow suit.
Very pleased I found this club and all you helpful guys (only took 18 years).
 
silverbambi said:
I am a new member and didn't even realise you guys even existed. Always thought, as I only saw a Westfalia T4 now and again,View attachment 37665 that there wasn't many out there.

I have a Westfalia California Advantage T4, which is left hand drive.

Reg W109 XGJ Purchased as ex demo model in 2000 from Bilbo.

The mains charger has burnt out. Can anyone recommend a replacement part. It doesn't have to be the official part as cost is a factor for us?

We have a single Sonnenschein gel battery. GF12 110V. This is our leisure battery.

Regards, Gordon McCallum
Click to expand...
Hi Gordon, I had the same problem, I’ve a 2002 T4 longnose Westfalia Generation LHD,I’ve replaced the original charger with a CTEK MXS 10 charger.10Amp.
ive also modified slightly by unplugging the mains from hookup in old charger & running mains cable up into the cupboard where I’ve installed a standard UK socket
into which I’ve plugged the CTEC charger then running charger cable back down to battery, this means I can unplug CTEC anytime for use elsewhere.
 
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