Converter Fan cycles every 30 seconds

[tarfele]

Since I brought home my Work and Play I have heard the converter fan come on every 30 seconds. It starts off by a slight hissing noise then both cooling fans come on for about 2 seconds and they shut off. You can almost set you watch by it. This is with no load except for maybe a light.

I did some searching on here and found that some people are pointing towards a battery issue but nothing that fits my problem exactly.

Any electronic folks have ideas??

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by tarfele

Since I brought home my Work and Play I have heard the converter fan come on every 30 seconds. It starts off by a slight hissing noise then both cooling fans come on for about 2 seconds and they shut off. You can almost set you watch by it. This is with no load except for maybe a light.

I did some searching on here and found that some people are pointing towards a battery issue but nothing that fits my problem exactly.

Any electronic folks have ideas??

I'd suggest putting a volt/ohm meter on your battery and watch the voltage rise and fall. "Post results"
Fans kick on when the converter is charging at a high rate.
Just because your battery is new does not mean that it does not have an issue.

If you don't have a volt ohm meter, now is a good time to buy one to keep in the camper.

Not saying that the converter doesn't have an issue but its possible as well.

One thing you can do "after" you test battery voltage to see what the converter is putting out is to unhook battery cables and see if converter still does its current symptoms.

Turbs

[Dave_Monica]

It'd be interesting to know if the converter's cooling fans are activated through a temperature sensor or if they just automatically turn on if the converter is in any mode other than the lowest...float mode.

Anyways a 30 sec cycle of 2 sec duration isn't right. Excellent suggestion from 'Turbs' to troubleshoot the issue.

Dave

[tarfele]

I unhooked the battery and it continued to do the same thing.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by tarfele

I unhooked the battery and it continued to do the same thing.

Did you take voltage readings?

[tarfele]

Not yet, no volt meter. Will pick one up tomorrow

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by tarfele

I unhooked the battery and it continued to do the same thing.

Like Dave, sounds like a thermal switch is bad inside. With a inexpensive converter, there is no provision for current flow, they rely on temp rise for cooling. Suggest live with it or contact Mfg for user parts inside. Biggest risk is fan may not run when needed.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by tarfele

Not yet, no volt meter. Will pick one up tomorrow

That will tell a better tale.

Let us know what you find.

Btw a volt/ohm meter is a must in a camper.

Turbs

[rattleNsmoke]

Chances are good it's a WFCO and better chance it's fried.

[Adony]

Had the same symptoms (fans cycling on / off) and was at a loss for what was happening. When setting up the trailer, I unknowingly pulled the emergency brake switch cable, thus the 12v electric brakes on all 4 wheels were constantly activated.. the converter / batteries were always trying to keep the power to them... once the pulled cable was discovered 4 days later and reset, the problem went away... Just an idea...

[tarfele]

Originally Posted by rattleNsmoke

Chances are good it's a WFCO and better chance it's fried.

It is a Parallax 7155.

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by tarfele

It is a Parallax 7155.

Probably worth saving.

[1A Camper]

On our last trip had something like that. We we sitting there and the converter/charger fan was cycling, did not think that we had anything that was drawing power. I turn off the digital thermostat, the charger stopped cycling.

[tarfele]

I checked with a multimeter and testing the battery while plugged in it is a constant 13.67 and is not effected when the converter makes the noise. With everything off, that I can see, the fan kicks on every 1 minute and last for 2 seconds. When I turn on all of the light the fan cycles every 15-30 seconds and stays on for about 5 seconds. When the shore power is unplugged the battery tests at a steady 12.30.

[Dave_Monica]

Interesting...if the battery is showing only 12.3V when the shorepower is unplugged, the battery isn't fully charged. Here's a chart of battery voltage vs capacity...



I don't understand why that would be. Did you leave the camper unplugged and the battery charge has run down? The fact that the converter is putting out 13.67V means that it's trying to do it's job to charge the battery.

Dave

[tarfele]

No, the camper has been on shore power since sunday afternoon. When I unplugged it it went from 12.80 to 12.30 in about 40 seconds and then stayed steady at 12.30

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

Interesting...if the battery is showing only 12.3V when the shorepower is unplugged, the battery isn't fully charged. Here's a chart of battery voltage vs capacity...

I don't understand why that would be. Did you leave the camper unplugged and the battery charge has run down? The fact that the converter is putting out 13.67V means that it's trying to do it's job to charge the battery.

Dave

Just Again noted the rig is a 2010, could be batteries could be getting "tired"? Nearing 5 years if original units fitted.

[tarfele]

Battery was new when I purchased camper 3 months ago

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by tarfele

Battery was new when I purchased camper 3 months ago

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kraftmann-Ba...item35c42c9fbf.

If you can borrow or buy a cheap hydrometer, you can compare cell strength. Something is strange with that battery. The tester is as little as $7.00, close enough results for this work.