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Old 05-10-2017, 06:54 PM   #1
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Breaker panel

Am getting ready for the Escape rally, anxious to try our new foam toppers for the bed. The best place to store them is under the table. Is there any issue with them covering the access panel to the breakers?
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Old 05-10-2017, 07:05 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by Wanda2 View Post
Am getting ready for the Escape rally, anxious to try our new foam toppers for the bed. The best place to store them is under the table. Is there any issue with them covering the access panel to the breakers?
Blocking the air flow of your converter / breaker panel is not a good idea . There is a fan in the converter / breaker panel to cool the internal components . If your traveling or not hooked to shore power it may not be an issue but when parked and connected to shore power it's a no no. If you look in the manual for the converter it will tell you how much free air is required in front of the converter / breaker panel.
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Old 05-10-2017, 07:10 PM   #3
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The breaker box referred to has a metal cover on the front. And, forced to check, I see it has vents too.
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Old 05-24-2018, 09:40 PM   #4
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Anyone know why the fan in our breaker panel stays on while we're plugged in to "shore power"? We're in a cool mountain town, it's late May, so temps are F 60's daytime, F 40's night. The fan won't shut off. Thanks for any help anyone can offer. lloydjdorsey@gmail.com
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Old 05-24-2018, 09:54 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by lloydjdorsey@gmail.com View Post
Anyone know why the fan in our breaker panel stays on while we're plugged in to "shore power"? We're in a cool mountain town, it's late May, so temps are F 60's daytime, F 40's night. The fan won't shut off. Thanks for any help anyone can offer. lloydjdorsey@gmail.com
The fan is cooling the charger. It kicks on when charging because the charger produces alot of heat. The fan running has more to do with whether or not you're charging than it does with the ambient temperature where you camp. In the WFCO it can be a bit annoying because they don't use the highest quality and low noise fan, but we seldom notice it.

If I ever get around to installing the PD board in mine, that issue will be even less noticeable, because PD uses better fans with more CFM of airflow, there are two of them for better cooling, and they're quieter.
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Old 05-25-2018, 04:13 AM   #6
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I hear mine only when it first comes on or is charging at a higher rate then float. I rarely camp in high heat so I've not noticed ambient temp effecting it but it would make sense.

I did however have the converter's fans (2) in my old Starcraft stay on anytime it was plugged in, started when it was a few years old. Talked to Randy at Bestconverter who recommended replacing it, which I did. This was an Elixer converter as opposed to a WFCO so it may well differ. The Elixer's fans were kicked on by the temperature of the components, as in heating up under load, at higher loads the 2nd fan would kick in. Both would run all the time whenever it was plugged in.

As you are under warranty I'd suggest you call ETI.
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Old 05-25-2018, 02:18 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lloydjdorsey@gmail.com View Post
Anyone know why the fan in our breaker panel stays on while we're plugged in to "shore power"? We're in a cool mountain town, it's late May, so temps are F 60's daytime, F 40's night. The fan won't shut off. Thanks for any help anyone can offer. lloydjdorsey@gmail.com
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Originally Posted by rbryan4 View Post
The fan is cooling the charger. It kicks on when charging because the charger produces alot of heat. The fan running has more to do with whether or not you're charging than it does with the ambient temperature where you camp. In the WFCO it can be a bit annoying because they don't use the highest quality and low noise fan, but we seldom notice it.

If I ever get around to installing the PD board in mine, that issue will be even less noticeable, because PD uses better fans with more CFM of airflow, there are two of them for better cooling, and they're quieter.
I did what Robert mentions above and swapped out the WFCO main board for the Progressive Dynamics PD4655LMBA WildKat replacement. Doesn't require the DC board to be replaced. Much larger heat sink and two variable speed fans make this thing super quiet. Problem solved for $213 + shipping from BestConverter. Other major benefits are true 4 stage charging and the ability to select the charge mode using the Charge Wizard.

PD 4655L MBA WildKat 55 Amp Main Board Assembly for WFCO 8955 or Parallax 7155 (Includes 4600 Remote)

www.escapeforum.org/forums/f38/progressive-dynamics-14-8v-charging-rate-11942-2.html#post237217
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Old 05-28-2018, 07:37 PM   #8
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Many thanks, rbryan4 and others. Helped me understand things I'm not savvy about. That's why I turn to this forum. Safe travels.
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