new converter noise February 08, 2010, 01:04:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 109839First--I have a '98 IB--A couple of weeks back, the old original magnatek converter went south. I woke up one morning to find my new T105's in the 30% ...[thank goodness for the Link sys 10!]...this with being plugged into shore power. For the next two weeks, I had to NOT use anything that normally ran on 12v, as the batteries weren't getting any charge from shore power, and we were experiencing days and days of cold, wet, overcast--so the solar panels couldn't recharge the batteries either. I did plug in a battery charger to bring the house batteries back up to a full charge, praying I hadn't ruined them![at the same time, my roof decided to spring a generous leak...sigh...next thing to get taken care of! Grin!] Had to use a small pelonis exclusively for heat, w/the fantastic breeze fan to circulate the air and try and dry out the soaked living room carpet....huge mess.] Really ran up the elec. bill where I'm parked for now. Until I can get to the roof repair, I have to keep the rear end jacked up enough so "Lake Steve" doesn't fill to the point of contributing to whatever is causing the leak..working so far, with an eye on the frig....such a learning curve, RV living!I could have had it repaired, but decided that what with the new solar setup, the cost, etc., I might as well upgrade it rather than try and keep it going.Had a new Parallax model 7345RU retrofit 45 amp electronic unit installed...all systems go.However, the new unit has an annoying high elec. BUZZ that is quite intrusive. The fan is loud but that I can live with--that irritating 'cricket' high pitched buzz is another story.I have asked the installer if there is another possible choice, and he says not that will fit into the original lower space that LD had it installed in.Has anyone else had this problem? Did a search but came up blank...seems I don't have much luck finding older posts via searching...:-( Gini Free and Junah, canine xtrodinaire "Kooch" our little red home on wheels "Growing old is mandatory. Growing wise is optional."
new converter noise Reply #1 – February 11, 2010, 11:29:58 am Yahoo Message Number: 109962Has anyone else had a problem with elec. converters making a high pitched "buzz"....mine is a parallax 45 amp replacement for the old original Magnatek. It is so annoyingly loud, I want to try and find a replacement for it if this is the norm. Gini Free and Junah, canine xtrodinaire "Kooch" our little red home on wheels "Growing old is mandatory. Growing wise is optional."
Re: new converter noise Reply #2 – February 11, 2010, 01:00:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 109963Gini, Any chance the cooling fan is hitting something? You might be able to tighten or bend something so it doesn't touch anything. If it is the fan, it would only be buzzing when it's running which should not be continuously.Alex Rutchka, SE #4 '05 MB
Re: new converter noise Reply #3 – February 11, 2010, 01:28:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 109964I replaced my 6300 series Magnatek with a Xantrex 60 amp 3 stage smart charger - converter: http://www.bestconverter.com/XADC-60A-ConverterCharger-_p_327.htmlI have found it to be totally quiet except when the fan occasionally runs, and the fan is pretty quiet too. I installed it last spring, easy install, it has worked faultlessly, and the flooded batteries have used no water since. I have purchased several Xantrex products, including their 3000 watt inverter-charger, all proved to be great items. The motorhome is plugged in at my house when not on the road. Here's two helpful installation links for upgrading from the old style battery killer converter: http://www.bestconverter.com/MagnetekParallax-to-Xantrex_ep_20-1.html http://www.bornfreervclub.org/bulletin_board/viewtopic.php?t=334 Ed
Re: new converter noise Reply #4 – February 11, 2010, 01:38:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 109965The conversion to low voltage involves converting to line voltage DC, then using an inverter to convert to high (audio) frequency AC. A much smaller, lighter transformer is needed to drop the voltage this way than is needed with older 60Hz converters, but the downside is moving any mechanical vibrations into an annoying audio frequency range. The transformer is usually a small donut shape with heavy-gauge wire for one winding. This is the typical source of the noise, and a toothpick shoved into any loose windings may cure the noise. Do not attempt while connected to AC or the generator running. Note that some noise is normal, but it should be soft enough to not bother you at night.
Re: new converter noise Reply #5 – February 11, 2010, 06:37:58 pm Yahoo Message Number: 109973I could be mistaken about this, but aren't the Parallax converters fairly crude transformer-based devices? It's not unusual for a transformer's windings and/or laminated plates to hum at 60 cycles per second (a fairly low-pitched noise). On the other hand, if the noise is a high-pitched intermittent buzzing, it's probably the fan rubbing against something. In any case--just my opinion--if I were replacing an old converter, it would NOT be with a Parallax unit, but rather a Progressive Dynamics 3-stage converter/charger.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
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