Cubey
Arkansas
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Joined: 10/20/2007
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Hopefully this is the right forum to post this to since its a pretty generic RV problem.
My converter makes a hissing noise for some odd reason sometimes. I have to put some load on it (ie: a 12v light) before it'll stop. Its not the fan that is causing the noise.
This is the converter I have:
http://www.progressivedyn.com/prod_details/rv_conv/rv_converter_pd9145a_2.html
The entire 12v electrical system in my trailer was done by me as the original system only consisted of two 12v dome lights. (See sig for my TT pic). I have added several more 12v lights, 12v outlets, a hard wired 12v fan up front and an LP detector. And of course, an RV converter.
I am familiar with doing basic electrical such as I did with the 12v system. Everything is all wired up to the correct polarity, it used, has proper gauge wire and the converter is outputting the correctly.
I had a loud hissing problem with it that was traced to the porch light bulb type. I will have to replace that light bulb holder since all bulbs of that type seem to cause it. Normal #1141 bulbs work fine in other fixtures. The porch light I installed is an odd bulb type. A sort of small, flat'ish bulb with little thing wires for its connections and pushes into the bulb socket. The number escapes me at the moment.
The LP detector I installed also causes some hissing unless I keep a 12v light on at the same time. However, the converter seems to also start hissing with no load on it when the battery is well charged.
Somewhat inconvenient that I have to go unplug the converter or turn a light on to stop the loud, annoying hissing.
The area where I have the converter installed has good open space for air to circulate in. Here is a photo of the installed converter:
http://shasta.illiop.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/converter-fuse-center.jpg
You may notice there is a green wire wrapped at the end with black tape at the end going to negative on the converter. I simply ran out of the proper gauge black wire so I used a piece of green in the right gauge and marked it with black tape so that isn't a source of the problem.
The space extends to the right of the photo quite a bit and goes deep down so there is good amount of air space in there so it shouldn't overheat unless ambient air is hot. It has a thick wood cover that goes over the area so its kept out of sunlight which should keep the space a bit cooler as well.
But anyhow, does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? Maybe the system isn't grounded well enough? A failing converter? Or just normal activity for an RV converter that I will have to learn to deal with?
2003 Ford Taurus SE Wagon + Eddie Bauer 2-Room Mammoth Tent (14x10)
I am open to chatting about traveling on a budget & boondocking related topics.
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CallMeD
Calif
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Joined: 06/07/2007
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mine humms only on gen. power. kinda bugs till I block it out. I'd love to find out why....
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Piney Boy
TN
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Joined: 05/24/2007
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Mine does the same thing. It has done it since new.
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LLeopold
Camarillo, CA USA
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Moved from Beginning RVing...
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Learjet
Louisiana
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normal under lite load
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PaulJ2
Northwest Oregon
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Joined: 12/23/2005
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I worked on this type of power supply many years before retirement.
They are common today in many types of electronic applications because of their small size and efficiency. Without getting into a bunch of theory, they have a small transformer that operates at a high frequency (20KHZ in my case). This, as a sound, is a very high "squeal" or "hiss". In most cases it is caused by a physical vibration of the transformer coil and core. The fix was to epoxy the windings solidly to the transformer core. Heck I even jammed a stick into some to quiet them.
You are right in that in will hiss or not depending on a certain load.
Nature of the beast.
In your case I supect if it is annoying and you complain enough you could get the unit replaced. Maybe the replacemant will be built a little bit better.
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Cubey
Arkansas
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Joined: 10/20/2007
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Actually, under light load it doesn't do it (ie: a bunch of 12v lights). It does it either with only the LP detector on (doesn't if the LP detector and at least one light on) or with no load when the battery is well charged. Actually, the hard wired 12v fan makes it do it actually as I recall.
Its as if very little to no load causes it. The more load I put as far as lights, it stops. Even a single #1141 bulb will stop it.
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farescb
Springboro, Ohio (South of Dayton)
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Joined: 04/02/2007
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My TT has done this since it was new. Placing a small load on it does make it stop as well. I have learned to just just ignore it and I am pretty tired when I go to bed from camping.
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Wayne Dohnal
Bend, OR.
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Joined: 03/09/2003
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Search for the phrase 'pulse skipping'. One of the threads has an explanation.
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