Has anyone used these guys? http://www.wrnd.co.za/

Their MPPTs are well priced and locally manufactured. 60A 48V MPPT for R4500 : http://www.wrnd.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_67&products_id=213

@plonkster has an opinion on them I recall.

Hmmm, doesn't look too promising. Guess I'll stick with Microcare.

Disclaimer: This info provided on the basis that I think it is accurate. This might be specific to the unit I had in hand, improvements might have been made, etc. Though I doubt it, the adverts on gumtree still show one thing I consider to be a massive red flag. I'm also not an electronics expert, but I know enough to know what I'm looking at. I also looked at a Microcare unit before this came across my path. Here goes.

I was sent a blown unit by someone up north, after I asked him to send it to me. I was curious what it is like and I heard of his problems. He had two of these units, both failed, and the supplier initially repaired them but started to ignore him after the second failure.

So to summarise, in case you want the quick answer: It's rubbish. Don't buy it. If you want to support local industry, buy a Microcare unit. The microcare unit is significantly better quality. The MC unit also uses an opto-coupler to isolate the control circuitry from the big power part, while the WRND simply drives all units directly.

Longer answer. When I first took it from the box, I immediately noticed the screws used to hold the LCD in place. Tapered screws sitting on top of a flat surface. Shoddy. Opened it up, the electronic design is nice. It's a synchronous buck converter, which means it's a bit more modern than the Microcare setup (which is async). One of the FET driver chips blew. It is unclear to me why it did that. The FETs were tied into a heatsink with no mica insulators, the only insulation was the heat compound. Insulation is important: The drain of the FET is connected to the tab on the back and the two FETs are not at the same potential. Split washers were used on some bolts that damaged the circuit boards as it was tightened down. The main current carrying bolts and rails are insulated from the metal case only by a small sliver of double-sided tape. The 120A unit I had had 4 buck converters in parallel with three long rails carrying the current between them. One of the rails was shorter than the others and the difference was made up using a piece of copper wire.

It came across as a good idea badly executed. Almost like a good electronic engineer who really shouldn't do the assembly himself, that sort of thing. I don't know and I always worry that the guy who makes them will find me and yell at me. He lives somewhere in the Northern suburbs.

Edit: A quick search on gumtree, I can see changes (and likely improvements) were made. The screws holding the LCD look better too.

Sarel is the person who had the 2 units. He works with me. Long story short is he replaced them with 3 Axperts after both units failed in less than a year. 

I have this unit installed in my Sherpa, operated for 2 years and no problems

run a 220volt fridge via inverter when traveling and 2 x 100 watt solar panels on site

 

 

I'm not familiar with that model WRND, however, I have the WRND DC to DC battery charger with MPPT. It's been running for years and works extremely well. MPPT takes any panel within its voltage range and the battery input detects the alternator is charging the main battery and automatically starts to charge the second battery. Super simple to install and very reliable. And it is very compact, so it shares the same space as the battery in the battery box. I have not noticed any heat issues.

 

It is quite possible whatever issues there were with the WRNDs in the past were rectified in the last five years. 

On 2021/03/09 at 3:29 PM, Paul Greeff said:

I'm not familiar with that model WRND, however, I have the WRND DC to DC battery charger with MPPT. It's been running for years and works extremely well. MPPT takes any panel within its voltage range and the battery input detects the alternator is charging the main battery and automatically starts to charge the second battery. Super simple to install and very reliable. And it is very compact, so it shares the same space as the battery in the battery box. I have not noticed any heat issues.

 

It is quite possible whatever issues there were with the WRNDs in the past were rectified in the last five years. 

I am also interested in this unit for vehicle use.  They are just over R2400.

With all the other not so good feedback on WRND I am wondering:
A 20A MPPT is larger and cost more than this.
A 20A DC-DC charger cost more than this.

How can they combine both into such a small unit and sell it for such a low price.  Where is the catch?

More bad reports

 

https://www.hellopeter.com/wrnd

 

https://za.africabz.com/western-cape/wrnd-manufacturing-cc-161028

2 hours ago, pieter.fourie said:

More bad reports

 

https://www.hellopeter.com/wrnd

 

https://za.africabz.com/western-cape/wrnd-manufacturing-cc-161028

Hello Peter is meant for complaints. 

There are many happy owners and yes some years ago there were problems. 

Check out searches about WRND and see the happy guys. There does seem to be a support problem so it is better to buy via a longer term seller that can offer the exchanges if faulty. 

Here is a similar product although at a much higher price.  Does not seem to cover LiFePo4

https://www.4x4andmore.co.za/products/20-amp-dual-purpose-dc-to-dc-charger-with-mppt?variant=50192571654&currency=ZAR&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOopSZtKsx0mtAuV36YF4fNPVOVRd_4Zzma09iU6tgZku9fe_Om1OAO8

 

 

7 hours ago, Pietpower said:

Here is a similar product although at a much higher price.  Does not seem to cover LiFePo4

https://www.4x4andmore.co.za/products/20-amp-dual-purpose-dc-to-dc-charger-with-mppt?variant=50192571654&currency=ZAR&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOopSZtKsx0mtAuV36YF4fNPVOVRd_4Zzma09iU6tgZku9fe_Om1OAO8

 

 

Manie du Preez was the owner of this company and he is deceased. Seems like the new owner has closed shop. 

Edited December 4, 20231 yr by Scorp007

1 hour ago, Scorp007 said:

owner has closed shop. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Scorp007

I was contemplating getting the 40A version...Now they've closed shop!

 

51 minutes ago, FixAMess said:

I was contemplating getting the 40A version...Now they've closed shop!

 

Although bulky to use the Victron Orion and a MPPT I think there are enough satisfied people using the WRND combined unit. The combined NL unit is also very expensive. 

For those undecided about the WRND read this link and decide. No direct views from me just my observations. 

https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/329855-WRND-DC-to-DC-Charger

Edited December 4, 20231 yr by Scorp007

I looked at the Victron Orion and already have a victton MPPT. I also looked at the NL setup in a box..looks good, if one adds fuses,cables etc to the victron the cost may be similar to the NL 40A dcdc/solar setup.

Does anybody know of NL DCDC charger issues, it comes with wiring, fuses etc..looks very neat,  plug in and go approach...