More converter issues November 10, 2014, 11:00:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 149431It must be going around.I have enjoyed shore power pretty much all summer and have not noticed anything or any sound amiss.Then I had a month or so in Albuquerque, at Sandia and the Balloon Fiesta with no shore power, operating off battery and solar, again, nothing out of the ordinary.The next time I plugged into shore power, the converter cooling fan started turning on and off with a loud click fairly rapidly, i.e. every 4 or 5 minutes. This had never occurred before. I got some reassurance that the 60 cycle hum was normal, and that if I didn't smell anything getting too hot, everything was okay, it was just cycling fast.I've been in Southern Arizona now for three weeks, with shore power. The first two weeks, the pattern of fast cycling and clicking of the converter cooling fan continued. Then this past week, I didn't hear any fan noise or clicking at all, and the normal 60 cycle hum was humming away. The metal tray below the converter seemed to be in normal temperature range.Tonight, suddenly the converter started making a noise at a much lower frequency than the 60 cycle hum, the tray at the bottom of the compartment is very hot, and the fan does not turn on. I now have the electrical panel cover and water pump access panel removed to provide as much cross ventilation and cooling as possible. I turned the converter breaker off, and no more noise, of course. (Ah, blessed quietness!)Before turning off the converter, my battery voltage at the Link 10 showed 13.50, and during the day has shown as high as 15.00v. With the converter off it shows at 12.70v. I have AGM batteries. Don't know if they'd run any risk of overcharging or boiling off like standard lead acid batteries.Intermittent and unexplained electrical system changes drive me nuts!Why does the cooling fan now refuse to run at all? Is it a problem to turn the converter off while plugged into shore power? How would I know if I need to replace the converter? And who in the Southwest might do this kind of work?Thanks.Kathy Lautz 1999 MB
Re: More converter issues Reply #1 – November 11, 2014, 05:51:06 am Yahoo Message Number: 149432Just noticing this discussion and am reminded that I've been intending to offer our original, nearly new 45 amp converter (2013 26MB) for the cost of shipping plus a small donation of your choice (will be passed on to a good cause). We replaced this unit with the 55 amp model one month post delivery last winter because we wanted the higher capacity. Harvey Tumbleweed P.S. Prepping to get out of Maine before we get another foot of snow so please speak up soon if interested.
Re: More converter issues Reply #2 – November 11, 2014, 09:44:12 am Yahoo Message Number: 149435If you have solar, you don't need a converter. Sounds like your fan has died. The converter just "converts" 120v to a stable 12v. Your solar charges your batteries, so a converter is not needed. So if you can shut if off somehow, do it. Just my opinion, worth price charged.Chuck 97RB Hartford IA
Re: More converter issues Reply #3 – November 11, 2014, 10:06:47 am Yahoo Message Number: 149436 This could be interpreted as meaning that the converter can not charge the house batteries! This is definitely not true and a good converter is the quickest way to recharge the batteries, but does require 120V (either shore power or generator). W love our solar panels for dry camping, but often our usage easily outstrips the charge recovery possible just from solar. Mountains, trees, clouds and low sun angle can all affect solar. Recently in Yosemite, we had to run the generator because of the trees and the low sun going behind the cliff walls much of the day.Art
Re: More converter issues Reply #4 – November 11, 2014, 11:03:04 am Yahoo Message Number: 149439Hello, Harvey, Can you please tell me the make and model number of the converter you removed from your rig? Can you please take a photo of what you removed? Mine is a Magnetek model 6345 with Option QA. Thanks. Kathy L
Re: More converter issues Reply #5 – November 11, 2014, 11:48:03 am Yahoo Message Number: 149443"Can you please tell me the make and model number of the converter you removed from your rig? Mine is a Magnetek model 6345 with Option QA. "Kathy If you are going to the hassle of having to pay someone to install a new converter, DON'T bother installing an original converter, it's not a very good converter, instead, buy a better aftermarket model. Many better converters are available that will fit in the same space as the old.You can install a 55 or 60-amp charger without changing any of the wiring. Suggest you talk with Randy at "Best Converter" and have him help pick the right converter. You definitely want a 3 or 4-stage 'Smart' charger. http://www.bestconverter.com/ Any RV shop or decent electrician should be able to install it in an hour or two.Larry
Re: More converter issues Reply #6 – November 11, 2014, 12:50:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 149446"If you have solar, you don't need a converter."If you're plugged into shore power that may be true, although it will depend on how much sun there is and whether you're parked in the shade. But if you ever want to use your generator to charge your batteries, you're going to want a working converter... so it's a good idea to get it fixed or replaced, if necessary, before the need arises.Andy BairdTravels with Andy
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Topic: More converter issues (Read 8 times)
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