When we are connected to 110v the fan of the converter in my 5th wheel turns on very often when we use 12v consumers.After the fan turns off the converter still emmites a humming Sound for a couple of minutes.This is very anoying. I think the converter has a Problem. it still seams to work but the noices are not accetable.I think it's a Parrallax 7300 Power Center.Here my questions: Is it correct to assume the converter is broken?Which converter should I buy? Can I buy any converter and put it into the power Center?Do all converter have just a 110v plug and plus, minus and ground for the 12v line?

The humming is most likely the charging section of the converter/charger charging the batteries since you have turned some 12v items such as lights or exhaust-fans. The battery(s) also power controls for furnace, refrigerator, some detectors (not on 9v battery), water-pump, and monitor panel.The cooling fan for the converter/charger only comes on when needed to cool the unit. If you have a 3-stage charger, the batteries will be charged when needed, and the charger will go into "float-mode" when they are fully charged.It sounds like yours is most likely working normally. Depending on age and shape of your batteries the time to charge can vary (3 to 24 hours). In cool weather and low load the cooling fan is not needed.Being used to RV's and converter/chargers, we tune out background noise. Our converter is under our couch and not normally heard until things quiet down at night, or TV is turned off. We might hear the hum or fan if sitting there.Only problem was when we owned our Hi-Lo trailer. The converter/charger and the furnace were under the couch/bed. Hard to sleep with the noise right under you when you first get the trailer.

The humming is hard to describe, it's only on after the fan turns out. It doesn't Sound normal.I think about replacing the converter to get rid of that awful Sound.Again: can I put in any converter?

The Progressive Dynamics PD4600 series converters are a direct replacement for the Magnetek 7300 series. It is a 4 stage converter and is the converter of choice for the Magnetek/Parallax replacement. You could also use the PD9260, It fits in the same space but is a more involved procedure to make the replacement.

I have a similar model Parallax Power, and it makes the oddball whining noise as well. AFAIK, it is normal. Were I not planning to trade in the TT next year on a "B", I'd be yanking out the converter for a five-stage model or, perhaps a converter/inverter which means my 120VAC stuff would be always usable.

Converter Problem | Good Sam Community

BFL13
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
The converter and the solar charge controller (which goes between the panel and the battery) are both battery chargers and can be on the battery in parallel with each other.

BUT you can't feed the battery with the controller by going through the converter. And you can't go through the controller with the converter.

So some set-ups have the converter feeding a fuse panel which has battery wire lugs on the panel too so either the battery or the converter can feed 12v to those fused circuits, and the converter also has a path to the battery via those lugs they share. Now you can add the solar controller's battery wires to those lugs too.

Only trouble with that is

-if the batteries are disconnected for some reason, the solar can supply those 12v circuits, which is a no-no with solar controllers that say only run a load with a battery connected, and

-your controller might end up being too far from the battery (although usually the DC fuse panel-battery wire will have fat enough wire so it can take the converter's higher (than the controller's) amps.
isotpe
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
wa8yxm wrote:
The fan comes on when the converter warms up.. You might try a good blow out with compressed air (NOTE: a Vacuum comes in handy here too Can get very dusty)

The humming is normal, the transformer is getting older and the varnish that holds the metal leaves of the core is drying out and cracking is all. It's not a problem. Eventually they all do that.

Switching converters do not however since they work differently.

NOTE: with a Parallex 7300.. You might consider an upgrade, that is a single stage converter, Replacing the "Guts" with say a Progressive Dynamics 9200 will make your batteries last longer. However the key word in this paragraph is "Consider" If it's working, I'd not fix it.. at least not yet.

Thanks for all the Information.
Since Fixing stuff in the RV is part of the fun, I might just replace the converter, it's just $200 afterall.
Good to hear that my Problem is not uncommon
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Oct 04, 2013
The fan comes on when the converter warms up.. You might try a good blow out with compressed air (NOTE: a Vacuum comes in handy here too Can get very dusty)

The humming is normal, the transformer is getting older and the varnish that holds the metal leaves of the core is drying out and cracking is all. It's not a problem. Eventually they all do that.

Switching converters do not however since they work differently.

NOTE: with a Parallex 7300.. You might consider an upgrade, that is a single stage converter, Replacing the "Guts" with say a Progressive Dynamics 9200 will make your batteries last longer. However the key word in this paragraph is "Consider" If it's working, I'd not fix it.. at least not yet.
isotpe
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
BFL13 wrote:
Maybe you just have to vacuum out the compartment the lower portion is in behind that vent.

Our 7355 has been doing ok for ten years now and it does not make funny noises.

If it ever did and I wanted to replace it, I would consider some others besides the PD with Charge Wizard. EG PowerMax has some to consider, and so do the other brands. PD might still end up being the right one for you in your scenario, but do look at the whole field first.

I thought about vacuuming too, but the noise is an electrical noise, like a resistor is about to blow up. Perhaps it's not a fault, but it's still anoiying.

I think about getting a solar Panel. Are there Converters where I can attach a solar Panel, perhaps I am doing some Googling about it.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
ScottnSherrie wrote:
Ditto on getting a Progressive Dynamics converter. Make sure it has intelligent charging feature. I think they come built in now. I had to buy the intelligent charging feature as a plug-in add on when I installed it about 9 years ago.

The 4600 model has the charge wizard built into the 12v distribution board that comes with it, but a 9100 pendant can be adapted if you prefer. The 9200 model comes with the charge wizard pendant included. The 9100 model, you buy the charge wizard pendant separately.
BFL13
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
Maybe you just have to vacuum out the compartment the lower portion is in behind that vent.

Our 7355 has been doing ok for ten years now and it does not make funny noises.

If it ever did and I wanted to replace it, I would consider some others besides the PD with Charge Wizard. EG PowerMax has some to consider, and so do the other brands. PD might still end up being the right one for you in your scenario, but do look at the whole field first.
ScottnSherrie
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
Ditto on getting a Progressive Dynamics converter. Make sure it has intelligent charging feature. I think they come built in now. I had to buy the intelligent charging feature as a plug-in add on when I installed it about 9 years ago.
tenbear
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
My Parallax 7345 never made a whining sound, but the fan was fairly noisy. I replaced it last year with the PD9260, not because it made noise but because it was so slow charging the battery.
mlts22
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
I have a similar model Parallax Power, and it makes the oddball whining noise as well. AFAIK, it is normal. Were I not planning to trade in the TT next year on a "B", I'd be yanking out the converter for a five-stage model or, perhaps a converter/inverter which means my 120VAC stuff would be always usable.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 03, 2013
moved from technology corner