Noisy converter fan

Uwharrie · 04-29-2014, 07:19 PM

2003 Solaris T1950
I noticed this weekend my converter fan is getting noisy. Loud enough to wake me up. I could hit the cabinet and the rattle would stop for a while
Can the fan itself be replaced or will it have to be the whole converter?
Also the fan runs constantly when the camper is on shore power. Is this normal?

**JohnB** · 04-29-2014, 07:50 PM

What you are describing is the Centurion/American Enterprises cement mixer syndrome... I had that. It would strike about 03:00am...

It will wake the dead when it gets just right.

The fans are shot. Looks like this

See the black panel behind the new Progressive Dynamics convertor. Does your look like this?

Parts for the converter itself are not available any longer unless you have an electronic buddy to trouble shoot at the board level. The fans are computer cooling fans and if you search enough on the PC supply market you can find them.

However the converter itself is not the best. Many of us have converted to a better one. If you want to go the cheapest way out, take a fan to a computer repair store, they may be able to help.

I was getting setup to go boondocking and needed a good converter to run with a generator to do quicker and more reliable charging so I gutted the converter and kept the breakers and fuse panel.

Here are a few who have converted
http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f6...ues-14073.html

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f6...rade-8888.html

And try this ( a Google custom search on our site)
progress dynamics - Google Search

Good luck and hope this helps

John

Uwharrie · 04-30-2014, 04:21 AM

Thanks John! My guess is we will just replace the converter. Is it normal for the fan to run 24/7 when hooked to shore power?

dtstanton · 04-30-2014, 05:25 AM

Don't you love the sound of bad fan bearings when you're trying to sleep?

krazedave · 04-30-2014, 05:35 AM

It sounds like your converter is going bad. The fans should not run 24/7. They would normally only run when using about one third or more 12 volt dc items

**JohnB** · 04-30-2014, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uwharrie

Is it normal for the fan to run 24/7 when hooked to shore power?

On the older ones, yes it can be. The fan control was dumb on the older ones. If it picked up any kind of heat, the fans would start running. My older American Enterprises (CS-6000) one did that too. After about 1 minute of being plugged in the fans started. I also had a T2499 that was built in May of 2004, it had the next generation American Enterprise converter (CS-6000XL) and was much better. But it is still not as good at the Progressive Dynamics I have now.

My new one, (Progressive Dynamics )I never hear it. First off it has variable speed fans to match the heat load and then the heat sink on the converter is so big it just plan does not run a whole lot. If it ever runs. Since I cannot hear it running, I do not know how much it really runs. I'm not often using full capacity so that may be why.

These folks have many options/brands. http://www.bestconverter.com/
While I did not get my new converter from them, I did buy other things from them and had a positive buying experience. Very helpful.

The PD brand now offers conversion units, they did not when I bought mine. This one may drop right into the housing you have now, can save the 12 volt fuse panel and the 120 VAC breakers of your exisiting one. Have to verify the dimensions though. If this does not fit, they have many other good brands.

http://www.bestconverter.com/4600-se...its_c_133.html

Good luck. Many have done the conversion and there is no 1 size fits all pending the brand, model and space you are starting with.

John

Uwharrie · 04-30-2014, 04:49 PM

Thanks again for great information!

rodsun · 06-21-2014, 02:31 PM

I also have a 2003 T1950.. my fan got noisy.I opened the converter panel and found 1 fan was seized ant the other bearings were bad..I went to RV store and fans were no longer being made. My solution was I went to computer store and bought 2 computer fans of the same size. the original fans are plugged into a circuit board. I unplugged the fans and spliced the connectors to the noiseless computer fans. 1 blowing in and one blowing out. runs quietly. Problem solved.