Need help again please

[Mastiff_mama]

We are on our 3rd outing this year and today we hooked up and I could hear this fan running in the circuit box. Never heard it before in 3 years. I opened the box but could not see the fan but it's for sure a fan running behind. Hubby disconnected the two batteries outside and it stopped. Can any one tell me what could be going on. Should I be concerned about a fire? Thanks so much
Nathalie

[Old-Biscuit]

Mastiff mama wrote:
I think we may have a battery problem. We are hooked so no draw on the battery and the fan has been running all night. Should I take the batteries in to a garage and get them tested?

YES..have them load tested.

Mark battery cables (positive ^ negative) so they don't get hooked up backwards. If connected backwards the 'reverse polarity' fuses on converter will blow. Then no battery power to rig and converter can not charge batteries.

[AH64ID]

Make sure they got hooked back up securely. Check all the grounds as well.

[Mastiff_mama]

I think we may have a battery problem. We are hooked so no draw on the battery and the fan has been running all night. Should I take the batteries in to a garage and get them tested?

[rockhillmanor]

Mastiff mama wrote:
We are on our 3rd outing this year and today we hooked up and I could hear this fan running in the circuit box. Never heard it before in 3 years. I opened the box but could not see the fan but it's for sure a fan running behind. Hubby disconnected the two batteries outside and it stopped. Can any one tell me what could be going on. Should I be concerned about a fire? Thanks so much
Nathalie

As mentioned above that's your converter.

If your converter is mounted along side the bed or low on the dinette be 'sure' to not put anything up against it and cover the fan grate.

Mine is located along side the bed and guests are always shoving their bags along side the bed and covering the grate for the fan much to my dismay when I tell them NOT to.

And yes, that can cause a fire. My last guest even after telling them the DW put a big purse up against it and I woke up in the middle of the night to smelling wire's burning! There was her big fat purse up against the converter. It overheated the fan and did not trip the breaker all the way which caused resistance and started the fan wiring on fire. :R

[wannavolunteerF]

Your fan has likely been running previously and you just didn't hear it. My DS swears mine has a squeal that drives him crazy. I don't hear it.. I guess that is the advantage of being well past 50, I don't hear the high pitches he does.

[BarneyS]

westend wrote:
Inspect your batteries, make sure the electrolyte level is correct.

I think Westend is correct. Your batteries are probably low on electrolyte causing the converter to work all the time trying to charge them up.

Depending on the brand of converter, some will overcharge batteries if left plugged in all the time and boil out the electrolyte. If they are dry or have been quite low for some time it most likely will mean new batteries.
Barney

[richamor]

The fan and/or air intake could be dirty.

[colliehauler]

Fan runs when you have a large 12 volt draw as well. Example, lots of lights on, heater fan running, battery low.

[westend]

Inspect your batteries, make sure the electrolyte level is correct.

[diazr2]

You might be using more battery than you did before or your batteries are low for some reason or your batteries are not taking a full charge. What ever the reason its normal for the fan to run as long as the converter is pumping juice to the batteries. If it never stops your batteries are not taking a full charge.

[AH64ID]

Chances are that it's ran before and you just never noticed it.

It's also possible that the batteries where low upon arriving and it took more charge than normal for the batteries.

I wouldn't worry about it, it's doing it's job.

[Mastiff_mama]

Thanks, but I'm curious why it's never been on before.

[myredracer]

It's normal. The converter has a fan on it and when the current draw on the 12 volt DC system gets high enough, which doesn't take a whole lot, the fan starts to keep the components cool.

Just hook the batteries back up and you will be fine.

[Mastiff_mama]

Should I hook that batteries back up? It's been running for 6 hours? Thanks