Electrical Power issue

[Broncl]

I was cleaning my fantastic fan and discovered that even with all power disconnected (batteries and shore) I still had power to the fan. Does the inverter/charger hold a reserve?

[chaps2018]

I do have to ask ... how long did it run?

[formerFR]

nope.

is the fan wired directly to the batteries, or are you sure that you 'disconnected' the house batteries(or was it the 'chassis' battery, by chance)

[Broncl]

Thanks for responding,

It ran for 20 or more minutes until I pulled the fuse.

I was totally disconnected from everything, in fact I removed all the wiring from the batteries and double checked to make sure that I was not on shore power.

There has to be power coming from somewhere.

By the way it is a 5th wheel with dual batteries but they were totally disconnected.

[fonzie]

Well start looking for another battery somewhere, did you buy this unit used from someone else? or were you still connected to your truck?

[cavie]

I have to ask. Are you plugged into your TV?

[kenandterry]

Wow!!!!!

A fantastic fan that runs without a power supply.

Elon Musk is good....but even he ain't that good.

This could open up a whole new market for boondocking.....they’re always looking for ways to be off the grid.

[rockfordroo]

Who said perpetual motion is a myth?

(I'm betting TV is plugged in.)

[Broncl]

OK I am willing to take the bet on being plugged into the tow rig. It was at least 20' away so not likely any power from there. The 5er is just sitting in the driveway with no shore power and the batteries are totally disconnected.

One other idea that came to mind as I was trying to figure this out is that there is a solar battery charger but wouldn't that power have to go through the battery before going to the fan?

I bought this trailer new to answer one of the questions. If I figure it out maybe I can sell a patent to Tesla.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Broncl

OK I am willing to take the bet on being plugged into the tow rig. It was at least 20' away so not likely any power from there. The 5er is just sitting in the driveway with no shore power and the batteries are totally disconnected.

One other idea that came to mind as I was trying to figure this out is that there is a solar battery charger but wouldn't that power have to go through the battery before going to the fan?

I bought this trailer new to answer one of the questions. If I figure it out maybe I can sell a patent to Tesla.

OK, I've lost (another) bet.

Now that you've mentioned solar, I'm guessing that all the wires to the battery are still connected together, but just not landed on the battery lugs. So your solar is supplying the rig through the connected wires.

Remember that your battery can be both a power supply and a load. When it's charging, either from the converter or the solar panels, it's simply a load. When you disconnect it, the converter can still supply your 12VDC circuits. So if the solar is still connected to the wiring to the battery, even if the battery is no longer there, it is still supplying the 12VDC circuits.

If you aren't familiar with RV electrical systems, check out all the links that Site Team member wmtire has put together in Post #16 here:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...-153457-2.html

He's got a lot of other good links for water heaters, propane, etc., too.

[andymil]

It sounds like the solar is powering your fan. It doesn’t go “through” the battery. Think of the solar as another battery connected to your 12 volt and ground wires.

[Broncl]

Thanks everyone!

Never hurts to learn something new so I will check out the suggestions. And, I will think about solar as another battery rather than as a battery charger or maybe both ways.

Thanks again for your responses,