converter making noises

blue eyes · 06-20-2008, 05:59 PM

noticed the last time we camped that when the converter kicked in, it sounded like it was surging, kinda like reving up and down, and then after a few minutes of this it would kick into the regular smooth sounding operation, is this normal or is something wrong, everything works just fine, but I know that it never made that hesitating sound before, until then it just made the usual running sound. we are new to camping and I dont know exactly what it should sound like, and as usual, hubby wont be with me when I go back up, It comes on when we are using some of the lights, I am sorry for the poor explanation, but it just sounds like it is surging, almost like it is stuck, and then after awhile, it kicks in.. any suggestions before I call service....thanks

MRimmer · 06-20-2008, 09:06 PM

Mine was making a "surging noise" and I traced to a heavy load being placed on it by the 12 battery being dry and trying to charge. The noise was actually the cooling fan trying to cool the overworked converter.

Shame on me for letting it get low but I filled the battery and it soon stopped.

May not be your problem but check the battery as the converter also charges it when on shore power.

Mike

**KyDan** · 06-21-2008, 05:36 AM

Mine does exactly the same thing.
If we have just a few lights on the little cooling fan will start surging
or revving. If I turn off a light, it slows down. If I turn on another it
speeds up. If I turn on a couple more it finally gets more of a steady sound.
It's annoying to say the least.
I'm going to call the manufacturer tech support and talk to them about
what may be causing it but haven't done that yet.

We're bugging out tomorrow for 3 nights and I'll be reminded to make
that call when we get back!

blue eyes · 06-21-2008, 06:04 AM

The battery is brand new, not that it means anything with the luck we have in buying stuff, but we will check that first, sounds like we have all the same symptoms KyDan, please keep me posted as to what you find out when you get the call in, thanks for both suggestions

wildwood · 06-21-2008, 06:29 AM

my fan makes some noise when running

**KyDan** · 06-21-2008, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildwood

my fan makes some noise when running

All cooling fans make some noise when running.
Our fans are making a pulsing, zoom, zoom sound.
The pulses are faster if I turn on more lights.
They get slower as I shut off lights.
If it was a constant fan noise I would not care.
If it was an on a while, off a while noise like my last 2
trailers I would not care.
This pulsing, rapid on/off fan noise is --annoying!!

MRimmer · 06-21-2008, 08:21 AM

We are going out for the night to the lake and I will pay close attention to mine again. I installed a new battery this past week. But as KyDan stated it is a pulse/surge by the fan that is based on the load on the converter.

Mike

MRimmer · 06-22-2008, 03:35 PM

Ok update on ours.

New battery and we no longer have the surge/pulse we had before.

Mike

blue eyes · 07-17-2008, 05:06 AM

Question for MRimmer, am I understanding your post, did you put a 2nd new battery in, or am I confused? You said that this fixed the problem, fprgot to tell hubby to check the battery that is in there, it is new, when we were up for the weekend, I will make it a to do this time, It is an annoying surge sound just like you were explaining,,,hope this is the problem thanks

**KyDan** · 07-22-2008, 02:41 PM

My converter also makes a "zoom, zoom" sound when we have about 2 lights on.
I believe I can make it happen with the stove vent light on and one over the
table.

I called their tech support line today and was told that is normal.
He said if you have the right amount of load, he said 14 amps, you reach the
threshold for the fan. More load and it runs constantly, less load and it
shuts off.
I know that my 3 bulbs are not drawing 14 amps but I also know that if I
turn on another light the fan stays on and if I shut one off it stops.
He told me exactly that.
If the fan was bugging me I should turn on another light.

I hate having a power center that "dictates" how many lights I can have on
at once but I guess I'll live with it.
He insisted it was normal and nothing they were going to fix.
I know if they wanted to they could design a circuit that would eliminate the
pulsing sound we are getting.

Peace!
KyDan

blue eyes · 07-22-2008, 08:20 PM

Well KyDan you hit it right on the money, mine does exactly the same as you are explaining that yours does, I noticed the when the one kitchen light is on and the bathroom light, it goes into the zoom zoom mode and if I turn on another one it goes into the steady mode, and if I shut one off, it stops the surging,, I just dont remember it doing that before, maybe I just never noticed, but it isnt something you can really miss, Guess that we have to settle for the answer that you were given and go with it,,but Im with you, there has to be a better way, that sure can get annoying cant it? thanks for your reply

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