High pitched noise from fuse panel area - SOLVED

[mozy]

I have a 2005 Palomino Puma 30 ft trailer. I have a high pitched noise coming from my fuse panel area when plugged into shore power 110v. lights will dim and brighten and the pitch of the noise changes as the lights dim and brighten. Also, when I turn on my air conditioning, it tries to work, but then seems to not have enough power and after 15 or 20 seconds it quits trying. Until I turn it off for a minute then it will try again, only to fail. Any help with this electrical problem would be appreciated. thanks

[bikendan]

probably bad converter cooling fan.

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by mozy

I have a 2005 Palomino Puma 30 ft trailer. I have a high pitched noise coming from my fuse panel area when plugged into shore power 110v. lights will dim and brighten and the pitch of the noise changes as the lights dim and brighten. Also, when I turn on my air conditioning, it tries to work, but then seems to not have enough power and after 15 or 20 seconds it quits trying. Until I turn it off for a minute then it will try again, only to fail. Any help with this electrical problem would be appreciated. thanks

When you say "it seems to not have enough power", have you checked the line voltage. You could have low voltage and start to do damage to your A/C if you continue. Start with making sure you have good power going into your rig before diagnosing the rig itself.

[TURBS]

If it's a wfco converter most likely bikendan is correct there a converter fan bad.
It needs to be replaced Immediately or your converter/charger will emit smoke and rip.
The fact that the lights are dimming and going bright may be to late. But you need to charge your battery with a separate charger and load tested it may be bad as well.

[AquaMan]

Would the converter have anything to do with the A/C not being able to start?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by ttrost65

Would the converter have anything to do with the A/C not being able to start?

No it should not.

Are you sure you don't have low voltage coming in ?

[mozy]

Yes, I have enough voltage coming in.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by ttrost65

Would the converter have anything to do with the A/C not being able to start?

No

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by mozy

Yes, I have enough voltage coming in.

Hows the condition of your battery?

I also bet you have more than one issue going on here.

[mozy]

The battery is good.

[Triguy]

Mozy, just fishing here. What is the make and model of your converter?

[MillerTime]

Some times transformers will whine when under load (pretty sure there is at least one in a converter). If the converter is under excessive load(or some kind problem with it) it could possibly overload the circuit and trip a breaker or keep the starter capasitor from engaging the compressor. Put simpler there is probably a short inside the transformer. If so you should be able to flip the breaker to the convertor and then try the a/c. If still no go, some one w/ good skills with a dvom- (digital volt- ohm meter) needs to get in the panel and test circuits. Hope it something simple!

[mozy]

The noise is coming from the convertor. I removed it yesterday. I saw another thread and the problem should be a capacitor going bad. I have someone testing it now.

As for my a/c unit...I think that is a seperate problem. I will hopefully get a chance to climb up there today and check it out.

[mozy]

The convertor had a component going bad that was making the high pitched whine (not a capacitor). Replaced the entire convertor with a new one from ebay $125. No more noise.

As for the a/c unit, the blower fan was stuck. Had been sitting for a while. Was able to start fan moving with one finger. Works fine now.

[TURBS]

Good to hear it's fixed !
Did you just install another wfco converter?

[mozy]

Yes, it was identical to the one I removed.

[Jim Radford]

Originally Posted by ttrost65

Would the converter have anything to do with the A/C not being able to start?

Just went through this whole process on my TT. Take a meter and read the voltage from both legs of your receptacles to ground. If you have voltage on both legs unplug the converter and take another reading. You will also have a voltage potential from the hot leg to the white ground in your power panel(very dangerous). If you now have voltage on one leg only your converter is shorted from hot to neutral. Thought I had lost both of my A/C's as well but they would not run with a potential to the neutral. Remember TT are not wired like a house as they are grounded back through the cord to the pole not to ground. Did loose my central vac and ice machine though. Dim lights(DC) are because your battery is low. Had to replace the battery as well. Good luck. Didn't see the post your problem was fixed, but maybe the info will help someone else.

[EdJunior]

mozy, keep an eye on that AC fan. That's how ours started going bad. Hard to start after sitting even as little as a month. After a while, it wouldn't start at all. Luckily it was still under warranty and they replaced the entire fan unit. Just a heads up.