Converter Fan

[Fulltimer50]

I guess now that my DRV warranty is over, I'll start having all the problems that I have been reading about.
The cooling fan on my Inteli-power PD 9280 is running all of the time. It is holding 13.2v according to the monitor, and the noise doesnt bother me, but I know it is not right so it does bother me. Warranty is good for another year.
Any one with this problem get it replaced or fixed under warranty? All comments welcome.

[rynosback]

If I was you, I would contact the manufacture that makes the Inteli-power PD 9280 and see what they can do for you.

[Big Willy]

If you have a residential fridge, is your Magnum inverter set up to charge the batteries? If so, the converter and inverter will both be trying to charge them. I disconnected my converter soon after we bought our unit, and let the inverter handle the charging.

[Fulltimer50]

This tends to enforce what I have found also. I had both on, which I dont usually do. When I turned the inverter off the cooling fan on the converter went off also. Dont know if it happened right away or not, but it is now off.

[Laco]

You may or may not have a problem with that fan, but expect it to run a lot, especially when the weather is warm. To test, you could put ice packs in front of the air intake for it, just to see if it will shut down.

[Fulltimer50]

Owners Manuals are wonderful things when read.
I found that turning off the inverter does not turn off the charger.
From the description of operation it looks like the inverter battery charger is pretty good. I dont know, however, how good it is to use the charger to operate
the 12V needs. Now that I have the charger off, I'll try the converter again.
It's really not that warm here for it to be cooling all of the time.

I wonder which charger would use less AC electric?

[Laco]

Originally Posted by Fulltimer50

Owners Manuals are wonderful things when read.
I found that turning off the inverter does not turn off the charger.
From the description of operation it looks like the inverter battery charger is pretty good. I dont know, however, how good it is to use the charger to operate
the 12V needs. Now that I have the charger off, I'll try the converter again.
It's really not that warm here for it to be cooling all of the time.

I wonder which charger would use less AC electric?

The way Thor wires their coaches, the inverter and converter/charger are separate. My former DP had a 2500 watt inverter/charger all one unit. On Thor coaches, your converter will never directly supply your 12 volts on board, as that will always come from your batteries. While plugged in the converter will replace the current you use inside, so the amount of energy it uses will be variable, depending on your use of 12 volts. I leave my coach plugged in, unless of course I'm traveling, but leave the inverter on always. The inverter fan runs intermittently depending on inverter temperature. Even in hot weather it cycles on and off.

[Big Willy]

Originally Posted by Fulltimer50

Owners Manuals are wonderful things when read.
I found that turning off the inverter does not turn off the charger.
From the description of operation it looks like the inverter battery charger is pretty good. I dont know, however, how good it is to use the charger to operate
the 12V needs. Now that I have the charger off, I'll try the converter again.
It's really not that warm here for it to be cooling all of the time.

I wonder which charger would use less AC electric?

I don't think that the AC usage will be much different for either. I just unplugged my converter. The charger in the inverter has been running our 12 volt loads since we bought the rig - no problems.

[gmc]

Originally Posted by Laco

...
On Thor coaches, your converter will never directly supply your 12 volts on board, as that will always come from your batteries. While plugged in the converter will replace the current you use inside, so the amount of energy it uses will be variable, depending on your use of 12 volts.

Well... not exactly... If the battery is in 'Store' - the converter does provide 12v to the coach directly... at least on many of the Thor rigs.

[Laco]

Originally Posted by gmc

Well... not exactly... If the battery is in 'Store' - the converter does provide 12v to the coach directly... at least on many of the Thor rigs.

That may be true on some Thor coaches, Cant say for sure, or speak for every one out there, but on mine for sure, if that use store is in store, there is nothing electrical going on inside, nothing!!!!! No 120 volts anywhere, no 12 volts anywhere, (except on the dash powered by the chassis battery) plugged in or not. Also even if plugged in, no battery charging happening either. Move it to use, and it all comes to life.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Laco

That may be true on some Thor coaches, Cant say for sure, or speak for every one out there, but on mine for sure, if that use store is in store, there is nothing electrical going on inside, nothing!!!!! No 120 volts anywhere, no 12 volts anywhere, (except on the dash powered by the chassis battery) plugged in or not. Also even if plugged in, no battery charging happening either. Move it to use, and it all comes to life.

So you're saying the USE/STORE switch disconnects your Shore Power?

[Laco]

Originally Posted by Tfryman

So you're saying the USE/STORE switch disconnects your Shore Power?

It certainly does on mine.

[gmc]

Originally Posted by Laco

It certainly does on mine.

Nothing like consistency...

On mine, it only disconnects the batteries from circuit.
All shore power is on.
Converter supplies 12v to rig
Batteries do not charge (they are removed from circuit)

Possibly unique to Gemini? Haven't heard behavior like that on Axis/Vegas, Windsport/Hurricane, Ace, Challenger.....

[Porkchop]

The USE?STORE switch has absolutely nothing to do with shore power. NOTHING. It disconnects 12v, not 120v.

Bill

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Porkchop

The USE?STORE switch has absolutely nothing to do with shore power. NOTHING. It disconnects 12v, not 120v.

Bill

That's been my experience, but Laco says his is different.

Sure would like to see how that is wired or what monster relay they use.

[Laco]

Going to store kills all internal power with a pretty good relay thunk!!! Its not a problem for me, at least the way we use it, its virtually never in store, and unless I'm on the road, its plugged in and live. On the road, inverter supplies what little 120 power I need, engine alternator keeps all batteries up.

[wingnut60]

Sounds like some mixup between fifth wheels and motorhomes above....

[Porkchop]

Yea, I don't think Laco realizes he is on a 5th wheel forum

Bill

[Laco]

I knew we were talking about a fifth wheel, just describing how the power works on mine, guessing the same logic would apply. Guess not, though.

[gmc]

Even with motorhomes, Laco's setup is unique from everything I have seen... But we have all seen unique is the normal when it comes to these rigs - MH or 5er...