Fan Noise At Fuse Box

[Professor Steve]

Howdy,
Just picked my new 3560 Montana up from storage - battery was low and I have a new fan noise, just to the right of the fuse box. Any ideas what this is?

Thanks

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Professor Steve

Howdy,
Just picked my new 3560 Montana up from storage - battery was low and I have a new fan noise, just to the right of the fuse box. Any ideas what this is?

Thanks

Not sure on your model but it is very common for the converter that charges your batteries and has a small fan for cooling. Sometimes converter is built into the fuse/circuit breaker box sometimes it is stand alone unit mounted nearby

On some floor plans your furnace will also be mounted nearby but I would expect it’s fan noise would be more prominent from air intake grill

[Professor Steve]

Yes, seems as though you are correct. Flipped circuit off and noise stopped - also noticed a warning light. Any idea on fix? Can I live without it for a while?

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Professor Steve

Yes, seems as though you are correct. Flipped circuit off and noise stopped - also noticed a warning light. Any idea on fix? Can I live without it for a while?

It charges your batteries and helps run anything 12 volt. You can manage if you get a decent battery charger and only use anything 12volt every now and then. All your lights are 12 volt and using jacks or slides requires it. Your thermostats are 12 volt too.

We recently had same issue but managed to camp with just a battery charger by using plug in 110 volt AC lamps and the 12 volters just for very short time. If you have residential fridge be sure inverter is off it is the biggest power hog.

[mtlakejim]

As for fix, I would first look up in owners manual for converter what the light means to start. It could be overheat if your fan is going out (which would explain the noise) but there are a lot of variables. Depending on your comfort level I can walk you thru the checks. I’m sending you a PM

[rohrmann]

I would not be concerned about fan noise coming from your converter. If the batteries are low, the converter is working hard to bring them back up to full charge and there will be a lot of heat generated while the charging is in progress. Once the batteries are charged, the fans will shut off. The multi stage charger in your rig is the best way to safely charge your batteries.

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

I would not be concerned about fan noise coming from your converter. If the batteries are low, the converter is working hard to bring them back up to full charge and there will be a lot of heat generated while the charging is in progress. Once the batteries are charged, the fans will shut off. The multi stage charger in your rig is the best way to safely charge your batteries.

That’s what I ended up telling almost exactly. He is trying it out overnight. Also recommended disconnecting battery cables when in storage (no power to trickle charge)

[Professor Steve]

Gents-
Thank you - very helpful info. Just need to figure out the storage piece- they have these new batteries covered with plastic covers, bolted down with about 6-8 screws each. I guess I will just take them all off so I can access the batteries.

[jcurtis934]

Yes on the covers. And if putting monte in storage lot...always disconnect the negative cable that grounds out to chassis.

[Professor Steve]

Hi,
Is that different than removing cable at battery? I had heard disconnect positive at battery terminal. Thanks again

[jeffba]

Bolted down with 6 screws? WOW mine wasn't of course it just made it easier to install battery disconnect.

[beeje]

Install a good disconnect switch on the negative battery cable going from the battery to the camper frame. When you store your unit, simply turn it off (disconnect) the batteries. If they are fully charged up they should stay charged for quite some time. If you are storing it for the winter I would remove the batteries and store them at home on a trickle charger over the winter.

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Professor Steve

Hi,
Is that different than removing cable at battery? I had heard disconnect positive at battery terminal. Thanks again

I always switch the positive side. That is standard practice

Marine industry uses master disconnects. Perko makes one where you can choose either battery or both

[beeje]

I could be wrong, standard practice to disconnect + side ?.
When working on any thing with a battery involved, I always disconnect the neg terminal first

[Lenny K]

I always disconnect the negative cable first from the battery and last on when reconnecting. My disconnect switch however is on the positive cable leading from the battery.

[mtlakejim]

Ok let me clarify. It is standard practice to remove negative wire then positive and put negative back on first when you are WORKING on system and you should remove both wires from the battery. BUT you always install fuses and switches on the hot/positive/+ wiring!! That is standard practice! There is a good reason for it. The chassis is grounded. A switch on the negative ground wire could be bypassed IF an appliance touched the chassis!

[Lenny K]

Originally Posted by mtlakejim

Ok let me clarify. It is standard practice to remove negative wire then positive and put negative back on first when you are WORKING on system and you should remove both wires from the battery.

Did you mean to say you put the positive back on first Jim when reconnecting?

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Lenny K

Did you mean to say you put the positive back on first Jim when reconnecting?

No the negative first. Negative is first off first on per auto mechanics at least. In the old days we used to pull the positive only

I would have thought that pulling the positive first before work would be the logical thing to do but the auto mechanics/engineers say there is an issue (computer?) they have never explained to me with doing that??

Since there are computers on board the RVs (jack controls for instance) I am assuming same for RVs??

[Lenny K]

Sorry Jim, but if you check out sources on the internet you will find that the proper way to disconnect and connect a battery is negative cable is first off and then last on. That is the safe way of doing it.

[jeffba]

sometimes I see a posting and I cannot help,but have fun with it

Originally Posted by Lenny K

Sorry Jim, but if you check out sources on the internet you will find that the proper way to disconnect and connect a battery is negative cable is first off and then last on. That is the safe way of doing it.

Well I just saw a source on the internet that says to remove the positive and another that says to remove the negative.

Is me of the internet that is confused?