Visit our Popular Forums

Jukeboxfun · 07-03-2015, 01:52 PM

The power converter/ charger cooling fan has been running non stop for hours. I called Colonial and asked their service dept about it. They said it's good the fan is running so it doesn't over heat. They also asked if I had a pet, since dog hair could be clogging the vent.

I tried to take the louvered cover off, but the four screws are torq screws and I have no drivers for those.

That fan is getting on my nerves!

Any advice?

AWCHIEF · 07-03-2015, 02:03 PM

What is the temp inside and out? Mine usually runs when I have several systems running and lots of DC lights on.

Jukeboxfun · 07-03-2015, 02:20 PM

It's about 82 out and 76 in. No lights no stereo but the air conditioner is going.

I'm tempted to unplug from shore power and open the windows and just use battery power to shut the damn thing up.

Does it matter which position the store/use button is in?

AtomicNo13 · 07-03-2015, 03:05 PM

Better on than not at all.....

Jekerrville · 07-04-2015, 04:45 PM

Juteboxfun,
This is a guess, lots of devices that convert power use special transistors about the size of a quarter.

Usually on top of the transistors are fins call heat sinks. They draw heat away from the transistors and your fan, known as a muffin fan, draws air from inside the coach and moves it out. Same thing in a desktop PC.

There is a little device attached to the heat sink that has the job of turning on and off the muffin fan to keep the transistors are cool enough and happy.

If the "device" on the cooling fin's, called a thermistor, flakes out it will command the fan to turn on and stay on.

Because this is a safety device, most likely it takes power straight from the battery and the "store/run" switch has on effect. (Like CO sensor alarm)

I would guess that AirStream engineers did not want a AS coming in hot for a landing and have a fire.

If you have "freeze-it" spray from the local electronic store you could give a shot to the thermistor on the cooling fin's and shut the fan down

CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION DO NOT USE compressed keyboard cleaner. That is explosive and if a spark is around it will ruin you hold day.

A hair dryer on fan only will do the same thing.......maybe.

Sounds like a trip to your AS dealer.

Best regards,

Jekerrville

ltorgy · 07-04-2015, 10:27 PM

We have a brand spanking new AS and the two fans that drove us nuts on our first trip out was the refrigerator cooling fan and the inverter/charger fan. I solved the refrigerator fan noise by replacing the factory installed fan with two very quiet and more energy efficient fans. Better cooling and less power. The inverter fan, on the other hand, was more annoying than the refrigerator fan. Fortunately, the fan turned off about 1/2 hour after we switched our batteries to the "store" mode. Maybe there was less heat from not having to charge the batteries and the fan turned off. It seems our thermistor works fine, but I'm going to call around for the possibility of getting a quieter fan for our inverter. I'd rather not hear it when it does come on. Good luck on your fan.

dkottum · 07-04-2015, 10:38 PM

Put the Battery Disconnect switch to STORE position, that will isolate the batteries from the converter/charger and reduce the electrical load on it. If on external power there is no point in keeping 13.7 volts on your battery, nor is it good for them.

Make sure there is plenty of air around the unit so it can run a bit cooler. Look at the cooling louvers in front to ensure they are clean and not kicked in or flattened in any way. Try to keep the interior cool as you can with plenty of air flow.

bmark · 07-06-2015, 12:47 PM

Wondering what fans you used for refer replacement.

ltorgy · 07-06-2015, 10:17 PM

The replacement fans are the Noctua NF-S12A PWM. They use 1.44 Watts each at 0.12 Amps. See the before and after pictures. They are totally silent. The yellow wire is 12V and the black wire is ground. Ignore the other two wires. Each fan comes with a "Y' connector for combining the two fans and a voltage reducer than makes them save even more energy and makes them even more quiet. Be careful, however, the connections have a tendency to come loose when wrapping them, so I had to take the whole thing apart and wired them without the connectors. Good luck.

Lyle

Steamy1 · 07-07-2015, 01:19 AM

I had the same problem with the refrigerator and charger/converter fan. Replaced the refrigerator fan as Itorgy has done and switched out the converter with a Progressive Dynamics 4655. Solved my annoying fan noises.

ltorgy · 07-07-2015, 11:24 PM

Where did you buy your Progressive Dynamics 4655?

Steamy1 · 07-08-2015, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltorgy

Where did you buy your Progressive Dynamics 4655?

From Amazon. I first ordered from Best but had a defective unit that I was hoping they would just exchange for me, but they never responded to my question on return shipping instructions, so I ended up paying the shipping to return a defective product. So I ordered the replacement unit from Amazon where I am assured that I can return at no expense.

bmark · 07-08-2015, 05:48 PM

thanks for pictures. I like the idea of 2 fans , any special reason why you used 2

ltorgy · 07-08-2015, 06:40 PM

Thanks Steamy1. I love Amazon. But is the fan quiet enough to replace the inverter on my brand new AS? I suspect the new inverter is more efficient on the batteries and would be enough reason to replace it, but a quiet fan would be icing on the cake.

Hi bmark. The two fans with the voyage reducer added to the 12V lead gives much better airflow at much less power used than the old fan I replaced. The two together are much quieter than the one fan that came with my new AS. I got the idea from this AS thread:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f425...errerid=100780

Steamy1 · 07-08-2015, 10:26 PM

when operating properly, the fan on the PD 4655 hardly ever comes on. Maybe for a short time when it is in boost mode, but mostly it does not run.

ltorgy · 07-10-2015, 07:07 PM

Thanks. Sounds like a winner for me. A project for the near future.

Lyle

Jukeboxfun · 07-10-2015, 07:24 PM

Well the fan did actually stop later that evening, I assume because it was cooler in the trailer. It ran for several hours which seems excessive.

lewster · 07-10-2015, 07:31 PM

It's a CONVERTER!........which is responsible for battery charging and production of 12VDC when on shore power.

An inverter creates 120VAC from your batteries when off-grid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltorgy

Thanks Steamy1. I love Amazon. But is the fan quiet enough to replace the inverter on my brand new AS? I suspect the new inverter is more efficient on the batteries and would be enough reason to replace it, but a quiet fan would be icing on the cake.

Hi bmark. The two fans with the voyage reducer added to the 12V lead gives much better airflow at much less power used than the old fan I replaced. The two together are much quieter than the one fan that came with my new AS. I got the idea from this AS thread:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f425...errerid=100780

ltorgy · 07-10-2015, 11:31 PM

Thanks for the clarification on converter vs. inverter. Lyle

Steamy1 · 07-11-2015, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewster

It's a CONVERTER!........which is responsible for battery charging and production of 12VDC when on shore power.

An inverter creates 120VAC from your batteries when off-grid.

yes; I was referencing the converter. I have not heard the fan run at all on the new unit. Previous unit ran continuously for ten days.