Ford RV Converter Fan Not Working (Possible Solutions!)

Last Updated on December 31, 2022 by Leepu Da Maxim

There are some common reasons why a Ford RV converter fan may not work. One common reason is the defective fuse. Sometimes this type of problem occurs when the wearing of the fan is damaged. Moreover, if the thermostat is not functioning properly then the Ford RV converter fan won’t work.

Key Takeaways

• Sometimes the Ford RV converter fan won’t work if the fan motor is seized
• If there is any debris on the fan then it could block the fan blades from turning and stop the fan from working
• You can use a multimeter to test the fan motor and easily find out if the motor is functioning properly
• If the Ford RV converter fan is not working properly then it could lead to overheating and damage to the converter

Inverter Generator – Common Signs of Problems

Signs	Problem
The cooling fan does not work properly and the temperature increases	Excessive temperature increase
Internal vents are not working or are clogged	Accumulation of dirt and dust in the interior ducts
Interior lights are dimmed after being turned on	Battery too low
Warning lights on the dashboard turn on and off	Faults or flaws present in the converter

How To Tell If A Converter Fan Is Bad?

First, it is necessary to test the batteries to make sure they work properly. Then, there are some very simple steps you can take in a short time.

1. Disconnect the vehicle from any external power source. This way, you can use your vehicle only with the battery on board. Otherwise, you will not be able to detect any obvious battery failure.

2. In this case, the batteries are connected in parallel and should be disconnected from each other. In fact, the batteries can be connected in parallel or in series. When the battery is connected in parallel, each positive terminal is connected to the next positive terminal. The negative terminals are connected in the same way.

3. Wait for 20-30 minutes for the batteries to rest. You’ll get a more accurate reading and stabilize the charge.

4. Use a multimeter to test one battery at a time. When a constant load is not obtained, it means that one of the batteries in the converter is faulty.

How Can I Test The RV’s Converter’s Cooling Fan?

To test the converter’s cooling fan where you see it with a multimeter, you must use your multimeter probes on the fan connection terminals.

If you do not have any readings, then the converter is failing or the fan is off. The fault may also be in the temperature sensor or in the thermostat that regulates the fan operation. You can also test the 110 volt line to detect any problems.

If you use your multimeter on each of these problems that are separate from the main 110-volt line. This way, you will know exactly where the problem is with a failed cooling fan.

How Do I Test My RV Converter?

The converter of an RV is an important component to have all the functions of this vehicle. When the service life is somewhat worn out, then it is necessary to check the proper functioning of this component. There are a few steps you can take to do this very easily.

You don’t need to be an expert on the subject to obtain good results. In principle, it is necessary to consider that this vehicle could be connected to a generator or a ground outlet. In these cases, the converter charger is being fed with a 120-volt current as long as it is in good working order.

In the same way, the task of this component is to transform this electricity into a 12-volt current for the various functions of the vehicle. So, by following each of the following steps, you will be able to check if you need to apply maintenance or repairs to this component.

1. Use A Voltage Meter

First of all, it would be convenient to use a multimeter or voltage meter to test the terminals. Here, you should test the AC terminals that have 120 volts. In particular, this step can be useful to check that the converter charger is receiving the necessary electrical current.

You should either connect the generator or have a grounded outlet connected to the RV. Also, the wires are usually black or blue when you use a grounded outlet. Also, the white wire is usually neutral.

You should be able to check a 120-volt reading specifically for alternating current. If you can’t see this reading then really check the proper operation of the dedicated converter charger circuit breaker and the status of the fuse.

2. Use A Voltmeter

As a second step, we must analyze the RV battery to check that everything is under control. In this case, the most important wires will be the black wire or the red wire. In turn, the white wire is usually the negative of the battery. To check the battery correctly, the reading must provide 14 volts of direct current.

If you are unable to detect this reading, then it means that there is some kind of failure in the converter’s charger. By taking the reading from step 1 and the reading from step 2 you will be much closer to detecting what the real problem is.

3. Check The Features Of The Converter Charger

The most important thing here is to check the outputs of the converter and note if they are separate for the 12-volt systems of the charger and the vehicle. When doing this, the generator or ground outlet should be plugged in at all times. Use a lamp or vehicle plug to get a 12-volt reading.

Here, we can detect that the converter charger is defective if you notice a 14 volt reading on the 12-volt accessories. Even this usually happens if next to the 14 volts reading the battery charge terminals do not show the same reading.

So, this could mean that the battery your RV is using is failing and therefore is damaged. However, we are not finished here and must perform two more steps.

4. Testing The Transfer Switch

Here, you will notice that this component allows you to send charging voltage exactly to your RV battery. So, this component called the solenoid should be energized if the generator or the ground outlet is connected. When the power comes on then you should have heard a click.

If you don’t hear this sound, then disconnect power from the charger to the converter. Here you should take the converter charger box and remove it to work on it. Use an electrical contact cleaner to spray exactly on the transfer relay switch. Once you do this, you can then reconnect everything and turn on the power to hear the click.

5. Use The Voltmeter To Test The Transformer

As the last step, we can check the proper functioning of your RV’s transformer. In particular, the input terminal should show a reading of 120 volts of alternating current. On the output terminal, the reading should be 14 volts DC.

The transformer may be damaged if it doesn’t have the 14-volt reading but gets the 120-volt reading. Conversely, when you fail to get a reading from the input terminal then there is some fault before the transformer. One of the possible reasons is that the diodes may be damaged and malfunctioning.

At the same time here it is necessary to consider that depending on the recreational vehicle up to 4 diodes could be included in the whole electrical system. The resistance gates or the resistor could also be defective.

In this case, it will be necessary to hire an expert electrician to test the resistance gates, the resistors, or the diodes. However, by performing all of the above steps, you will be much closer to knowing exactly where the problem lies.

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Will An RV Converter Work Without A Battery?

As mentioned above, a converter requires 120 volts of AC power at the input terminal. In particular, this energy is then converted to 12 volts of direct current for each of the vehicle’s components.

However, the various components of the RV cannot be operated without a battery system. There may be some exceptions here and some functions may continue to function normally. Beyond that, in the vast majority of RVs, almost all components inside will not work without a battery.

If you have a generator, you still need to think about your vehicle’s battery. Otherwise, it will simply not be possible to use the various components or lamps in the interior.

References:

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29389647/print/true.cfm

https://itstillruns.com/troubleshoot-rv-converter-fan-7662476.html