Maxxfan 7000K voltage regulator

[gbaglo]

Can't wait to read the posts on crappy Chinese regulators.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Can't wait to read the posts on crappy Chinese regulators.

But in all seriousness this looks like a nice clean mod for those that determine they need it.

[wetzk]

Dometic sent me information on voltage levels for the Power awning.


Hello and good morning. The voltage from low to high is 10.5 – 15.5.

Thank you,


So mine will be OK as the top voltage output is 14.4 volt on the Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power 4655.

[cpaharley2008]

So it appears the MaxxFan is the weakest link...other the the last years LED's.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

So it appears the MaxxFan is the weakest link...other the the last years LED's.

Per the manufacturer's recommendations:
Dometic 2554/2663 9.6-18 volts
Suburban SW6DE 10.5-13.5 volts
Maxxfan 7000K 10.6-13.7 volts
Atwood AFSAD12 10.5-13.5 volts
Dometic 9500 10.5 – 15.5 volts
2017-2018 LED light <=12 volts

The ones in red should be considered weak links.

Ken (wetzk) contacted Dometic to get the voltage range for the awning and asked about having other devices on the same power circuit as the 9500. Here is their response:

Dometic.com Support Form - US - productsupport - rv - b2c

Hello and good morning. No there should not be anything else connected to the wiring for the awning..

This is stated in the Dometic 9500 installation manual as well but the Dometic rep confirmed it. The Dometic 9500 must be on a dedicated power circuit. This could be a justification to void warranty if Dometic pushed it.

I bet if you check your trailer wiring, you will find multiple devices being powered by the awning circuit. My trailer has the range vent fan and half the lights on it. So the mission to clean up the wiring continues.

[sclifrickson]

I wonder if there’s a replacement for the WFCO that has built in voltage regulation for everything that runs through it? I’m not a fan of the built in charger anyway and have considered a PD upgrade...

[cpaharley2008]

I thought it was the solar equalization/desulfuring cycle doing it?

[sclifrickson]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I thought it was the solar equalization/desulfuring cycle doing it?

Even the routine Absorption phase is too high for many of these components. Interstate specifies 14.8V Absorption for the current dual 6’s. And Absorption was 15.3V for the previous generation of batteries.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by sclifrickson

I wonder if there’s a replacement for the WFCO that has built in voltage regulation for everything that runs through it? I’m not a fan of the built in charger anyway and have considered a PD upgrade...

Haven't seen one, but could something like this be put between the battery and the 12V board in the WFCO? Provides a constant 12.5VDC output with an input voltage range of 9-18VDC. This would cover the high voltages from a solar system that is wired directly to the battery. The potential issue I see is that when you are on shore power you would typically be reversing the flow of electrons in the wires to/from the battery bank to provide power to charge the battery. This device might not like/allow that. Hopefully the electrical whizzes can weigh in...

30 Amp 360W 9.2/18VDC to 12VDC Fully Isolated Converter | IDC-360A-12

[rotorbudd]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Haven't seen one, but could something like this be put between the battery and the 12V board in the WFCO? Provides a constant 12.5VDC output with an input voltage range of 9-18VDC. This would cover the high voltages from a solar system that is wired directly to the battery. The potential issue I see is that when you are on shore power you would typically be reversing the flow of electrons in the wires to/from the battery bank to provide power to charge the battery. This device might not like/allow that. Hopefully the electrical whizzes can weigh in...

30 Amp 360W 9.2/18VDC to 12VDC Fully Isolated Converter | IDC-360A-12

With Amazon wanting $280 for one I'd think that just having one of the voltage regulators like I'm adding to the Maxxfan at each appliance that needs regulated voltage would be a lot cheaper.
At $10 each on Ebay you could afford to keep several spares.
I've got a bunch coming and will keep this thread posted when I get them and start adding them into the circuits needed.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by rotorbudd

With Amazon wanting $280 for one I'd think that just having one of the voltage regulators like I'm adding to the Maxxfan at each appliance that needs regulated voltage would be a lot cheaper.
At $10 each on Ebay you could afford to keep several spares.
I've got a bunch coming and will keep this thread posted when I get them and start adding them into the circuits needed.

i didn’t look at the price and forgot how much these were. Ouch!

[rotorbudd]

Also as Tom mentioned earlier, it's better to not a single point of failure. (especially if it costs that much)

I just finished the fan install and I'm wondering if the little red power LED is going to shine thru the white plastic when it's dark.?

[Oldtimer]

If it does it will help you see in the night

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by rotorbudd

Also as Tom mentioned earlier, it's better to not a single point of failure. (especially if it costs that much)

I just finished the fan install and I'm wondering if the little red power LED is going to shine thru the white plastic when it's dark.?

Originally Posted by Oldtimer

If it does it will help you see in the night

It does glow a little along the edges - if it bothers, just put a small piece of electrical tape over it.

I didn't pay any attention to it as there are so many other things that are glowing in the trailer, I'm used to it.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by rotorbudd

Also as Tom mentioned earlier, it's better to not a single point of failure. (especially if it costs that much)

I just finished the fan install and I'm wondering if the little red power LED is going to shine thru the white plastic when it's dark.?

But, but, where are your pictures?? The more the better we learn.

[rotorbudd]

Just took one pix. I hot glued the regulator and wires to the fan frame.

All the other regulators won't be here for weeks. Ebay from China you know.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by rotorbudd

Just took one pix. I hot glued the regulator and wires to the fan frame.

All the other regulators won't be here for weeks. Ebay from China you know.

why didn't I think about hot glue? That would have been a lot easier than trying to get the velcro up in the corner.

I see you put it in the corner opposite the control board - was the wires long enough?

I put mine in the corner with the thermister.

[cpaharley2008]

But, is it not harder now to wire everything while it is attached to the shroud?

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Also, the mod becomes universal - not everyone on the board needs to have voltage regulation on their lighting (just 2017-2018).

So is this because they changed the lights so they deal with the voltage fluctuations better? And if so, I missed why this mod is needed on the Maxxfan. Has there been a rash of failed Maxxfan circuit boards? Thanks for any background you can provide.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by arniesea

So is this because they changed the lights so they deal with the voltage fluctuations better? And if so, I missed why this mod is needed on the Maxxfan. Has there been a rash of failed Maxxfan circuit boards? Thanks for any background you can provide.

The earlier versions of the Maxxfan 7000k/7500k had a max voltage of 13.7 volts - the failure rate was a little high as a lot of converters put out more than that. The newer version of Maxxfan 7000k/7500k has a max voltage of 14.4 volts - a little better but still not great for the owners with solar chargers that put out up to 15.6 volts.

The failure rate on the Maxxfans got to the point that Escape took the 7000k/7500k off the options list.

So, Yes - there has been a rash of failed Maxxfan circuit boards.

edit: by the way, when I say newer version of Maxxfan - my 2017 came with the older version with a max voltage of 13.7. The replacement control board (yes, the old one blew) has a max of 14.4 and is marked 2018.6 so it's only been out about 6 months.