Converter Fan

[qchilds]

I understand the fan at the fuse box is there to cool the converter. This fan has not ever run before. Now the only way to turn it off is to unhook the shore electrical hook up. What would make it come on now and what do I need to do to keep it from happening in the future

[justman]

The converter fan comes on when the output of the converter reaches a certain level....such as when the battery is being charged or a sufficient quantity of 12v appliances (lights, fridge, furnace, etc.) is being used.

It's been my experience that battery charging and lots of lights being turned on will cause the converter fan to come on. That's what it's supposed to do. If you're worried about the noise, unplug from shore power and check your battery voltage. If it's low (12.4 is fully discharged for most common RV batteries), then the converter is trying to charge it.

Also, you may want to check your battery disconnect switch to make sure the battery is turned on.

[qchilds]

Thanks Justman! As a still learning RV owner, I was thrown by the fan running while attached to shore electric but stopped when the shoreline was disconnected. The local Jayco tech rep patiently assured me that the fan was acting as it should, as he checked the systems and battery levels & charging capabilities. After using the unit over the weekend......magically, you guys are right. I still don't know what started the fan running. I just know its doing what its meant to do. Humbled Again! Thanks Again!!

[justman]

No problem! That's what these forums are largely for...sharing your experiences with others so you don't have to learn them firsthand yourself!

I had a time when I noticed the converter fan wasn't coming on. Almost immediately after I said to myself "that fan isn't coming on...", the lights in the trailer went dim. I forget exactly what was wrong, but we wound up fixing it the next morning. So...if the fan is NOT coming on and you're using your lights/appliances, there's a chance something may be wrong.

[Old skipper]

It was mentioned 12.4 volts equates to a fully discharged battery, I would like to call that into question when the manuals show 12.4 has over 50% of charge and to back that up if you have an auto start on your generator the default low voltage that starts the generator is 12.2. I dry camp and can attest that even at 12.2 the diesel Onan starts. Apologize for the off topic post just don't get concerned when your batteries dip below 12.4 V. My practice is to charge the batteries when I seem them at 12.4