Converter fan runs nonstop

[Mdeardoff]

Hello! My converter fan is running nonstop and I don’t think it did that before. It does it when it’s plugged into battery only or the house. It even runs when the breakers are off. Everything seems to work fine but I don’t want this to be an issue when camping. I took it apart and cleaned the fan and oiled it and it still does it. Anyone know what might be wrong please?

 

[JackandJanet]

The converter fan is there to prevent overheating of the converter when there is a heavy load on it. If the converter is not charging the battery by converting shore power to DC, then I don't see why it would run at all.

I suspect there is a thermally activated on/off switch somewhere inside the converter that must be stuck in the "on" position. I'd guess this can maybe be replaced, but I've never read anything about doing this. I wouldn't think the fan itself would be the problem.

- Jack

 

[Mdeardoff]

Thank you Jack. I didn’t figure it was supposed to run but didn’t know if it was hurting anything that it does. Except that if the battery isn’t unhooked it’ll run it dead. The electrical system does some weird things seems like. One day the third breaker shut the lights down and the next day it was the fourth breaker. I’ll try to research more on a fix.

 

[JackandJanet]

Yes, your symptoms sound weird as hell. I don't understand why the fan would run at all if you are on battery power and not shore power. In the wiring diagram for the 2006 models, there ARE two 15A fuses for the interior lights, but they are shown in parallel which would mean they are effectively ONE 30 A fuse. I don't really see how one of them blowing would kill all lighting. I suspect that diagram may not be right.

To be honest, the entire wiring in the HiLo seems to be a bit of a kluge to me. There are things that make sense, and then other things that make no sense at all.

If you can get to it, perhaps you can trace the actual wiring TO the fan and determine how it's getting power when it shouldn't.

- Jack

 

[Mdeardoff]

I agree there are things that just make no sense. So before I tear into this converter can you tell me why there’s a phone cord hooked to it and the purpose there? Thanks for your help.

 

[sam-HILO]

Dh read your post

He said on our 1990 25ft Classic the converter fan ran all the time. It dimmed our lights when the furnice kicked in. This was the original and we knew it was time to replace. Look up Best converter in California. Have the model # of your converter. Randy the tech will be able to guide you.

 

[JackandJanet]

I'm about 99% positive there's no phone cord connected to mine, but there ARE phone line connections to the outside of the trailer, I guess for camping at full service campgrounds. We've never used them.

Sam gave you good advice I think. Best Converter can probably help you figure out if your converter should be replaced. And, I think they have good ones (better than the Elixer converters that were OEM).

- Jack