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CaCraig · 03-02-2015, 02:58 PM

My fan isn't working but the blade spins freely. I think it may be the toggle switch but I don't know what amp size to buy. Anyone have an idea? The motor is original.

Here's a picture of the toggle. I think it's a 3 position toggle. Middle is off and either side changes direction of the motor. Is that correct? I'm not sure what the green thing is but it must move power to the other side of the toggle.

HowieE · 03-02-2015, 03:12 PM

The picture seems the only show 2 wires connected to the switch. The switch has 3 terminals. Assuming the center terminal is power check it to ground for power.

If power is there jumper that power to the other wire. If the fan motor is good it should run. If that works jumper the power to the other terminal. The fan should run at a lower speed.

If both tests work and you can not get results with the switch change it. It should be a common 3 amp single pole double through switch center off. If you can't find a rotary switch a toggle will work. Just replace the resistor as wired to have 2 speeds.

rmkrum · 03-02-2015, 03:16 PM

It's a two speed setup. The green thing is a resistor that slows the motor down when set to low speed. Pretty much any 12 volt switch from an auto supply store will work. Get on marked as "on-off-on". Don't bother with a lighted switch, as that just complicates things.

The toggle handle on the new switch should sit in three positions. Center is off. To one side will be high speed. To the other will be low speed.

For convenience, get one with .250 tabs on the switch and use insulated female .250 connectors crimped onto the wires. Be sure to disconnect the batteries and shore power, or pull the fuse for the fan before working on it. Move one connection at a time from the old switch to the new switch so as to not mix them up.

The center terminal if the switch is your 12volt supply. The motor and one end of the resistor go to one side terminal of the switch. That is the high speed setting. The other end of the resistor goes to the other side terminal. That gives your low speed.

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CaCraig · 03-02-2015, 04:16 PM

Fantastic! I thought the motor might reverse. I learned something new. Fingers crossed it's just the toggle.

Thanks for the help. I'll post back with results.

idroba · 03-02-2015, 04:33 PM

Well, check for + 12 volts at the switch first. No point in replacing the switch if there is no power to it to begin with.

rmkrum · 03-02-2015, 06:43 PM

True that!

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CaCraig · 03-03-2015, 02:46 PM

OK, I used a test light and I do have power at the switch. The auto parts store only has 10A toggles so I'll need to look at another store. I didn't put power to the fan motor and I still may need to change that too.

Do I need to move the resistor from the old switch to the new one? I'm probably better off buying a new one and soldering it in like the old one.

HowieE · 03-03-2015, 02:51 PM

10 amp switch will work if it will fit. More the resistor to the new switch. It is a high wattage resistor carrying some current and may be hard to match.

Take a screwdriver and jumper out the power to one of the terminals to test the fan motor before you go further.

rmkrum · 03-03-2015, 02:53 PM

10 amp switch, if it fits will work fine

Test the motor before you get too far.

The resistor is probably fine. Test it with a multimeter. It should read close to what it is marked, or at least not an open circuit.

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Nuvite-F · 03-03-2015, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigCA

OK, I used a test light and I do have power at the switch. The auto parts store only has 10A toggles so I'll need to look at another store.

Nothing wrong with a 10A toggle switch if it will mechanically fit in the space available. Current rating on a switch is maximum, and I'm sure the fan draws less than that.

Quote:

I didn't put power to the fan motor and I still may need to change that too.

Take a clip lead or some such and jumper from the 12 Volt terminal on the switch to the fan motor and see if it runs. Won't take long and then you'll know.

Quote:

Do I need to move the resistor from the old switch to the new one? I'm probably better off buying a new one and soldering it in like the old one.

Resistors don't wear out, you can use the old one if it's still good. Check it with an ohmmeter.

Before spending too much money on fixing the old fan you might consider putting in a Fantastic Fan. They are much better (quieter and move more air) than the old ones.

Welcome to Fan-Tastic Vent!

CaCraig · 03-03-2015, 08:16 PM

I'll test the motor tomorrow but I thought a new motor should be much quieter than the old one and I'll still only pay half the price of a Fan-tastic Fan. I'd like to keep it looking as close to original as I can.

cwf · 03-03-2015, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigCA

I'll test the motor tomorrow but I thought a new motor should be much quieter than the old one and I'll still only pay half the price of a Fan-tastic Fan. I'd like to keep it looking as close to original as I can.

If you keep the motor you have,... well, you will never forget it "on"... :roll eyes: think of it as a 'green' feature..

CaCraig · 03-03-2015, 08:53 PM

It's that loud? Hmm. I may have to change it then. Why they didn't put a ceiling fan in the bathroom surprises me. There is the lower exhaust fan but there should be one in the roof to suck out the steam from the shower. Maybe I'll change both, but I was told Fan-tastic fans are flat where they mount and Airstreams have a slight curve to the roof so sealing can be a problem.

cwf · 03-03-2015, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigCA

It's that loud? Hmm. I may have to change it then. Why they didn't put a ceiling fan in the bathroom surprises me. There is the lower exhaust fan but there should be one in the roof to suck out the steam from the shower. Maybe I'll change both, but I was told Fan-tastic fans are flat where they mount and Airstreams have a slight curve to the roof so sealing can be a problem.

Ok.. multi-topics in a thread can hum, blur the discussion....

I'm not saying the fan is 'loud'... it was 'tongue in cheek' comment I made... Sorry about that... You really won't know how 'loud' your fan is until you run it... for a while....

The FF (Fantastic Fan) mounts to an existing roof vent.... it replaces the 'cover' on the outside....because the FF actually senses 'rain'/dampness and will close the cover instead of allowing rain into your trailer.

Mounting is not an issue. the 'curb' on the roof of the AS is 'square'... and that is what you mount to. The curb is mounted to the AS thereby eliminating a concern about 'curve'... at least on the one's I have seen.

Getting POWER up to the roof vent is a problem.... If 12VDC power is already present, easy install.

CaCraig · 03-07-2015, 06:33 PM

I searched Fan-tastic fans on here and I didn't see that it mounts to the old frame. It looks like it mounts to the roof snd some people said it was a pain to do.

Well I shot some contact cleaner up in the toggle switch and 40 years of dirt came out, then I did it some more. Then I plugged into my truck (no battery in the AS yet) and the fan works, but only on one side of the toggle. It could be the toggle or the resistor. That thing gets pretty hot.

HowieE · 03-07-2015, 07:11 PM

If the resistor is hot that is the side of the switch that is working. That is the slow speed. That side checks out OK.

Now use a jumper wire to test the high speed. If the motor runs at the higher speed the high speed side of the switch is bad.

CaCraig · 03-07-2015, 07:58 PM

Can I just use an alligator clip on one terminal and then touch the other side of the toggle terminal?

I'm not good with electricity, but I did finally get all the LED markers installed. that was a chore because the + wire kept getting cut by the hole it exited the shell from. I can't find those push-in grommets anywhere.