Hey everyone! I'm having some issues with my DC fan in my van and could really use your help troubleshooting. For the past few weeks, the fan has been acting up. Initially, I thought the motherboard was the problem, so I replaced it, but I'm still having issues where it faults out above a certain speed. I've been measuring the voltage at the fan and noticed a significant drop:
- Off: 12.8V
- Speed 1: 12.75V
- Speed 2: 12.65V
- Speed 3: 12.5V
- Speed 4: 12.3V
- Speed 5: Fault (should go up to 10V)
Could this be a sign that my battery, which is about 4 years old, is causing the issue? Is it normal to see this level of voltage drop? Thanks in advance for any insights!
1 Answer
It sounds like you've got a classic case of voltage drop! Just to clarify, are you measuring the voltage right at the fan? Since you're using a 155Ah battery and the fan is within 15 feet of it, you shouldn't see that much voltage drop. When you crank up the fan speed, the lower voltage indicates there might be a problem. Try measuring the voltage at the battery while the fan is at its highest setting, and compare it to the voltage at the fan. Also, check what gauge wire you’re using and how much current the fan draws—those factors really matter. There are also DC cable loss calculators online to help you out!
Definitely check those measurements! Also, remember to measure voltage at different spots, like directly at the terminals. It’ll give you a better idea of where the issue might be.