Fantastic Fan Upgrade Problem

[kkinna]

I am upgrading our basic fantastic fan to one that has a reverse switch. The problem is that the instructions do not include what to do with my current white wire that appears to be a ground, or a small white wire on the upgrade kit. Has anyone done this upgrade that can help? Thanks, Kim

[padlin]

Are you talking a Maxxair or a Fantastic Fan?

[kkinna]

Fantastic Fan. The upgrade is to a 1250 model with the reverse switch.

[cpaharley2008]

Sorry Kim,
Escape no longer uses Fantastic but now install the MaxxAir fan. However there are several members here that have owned other units, myself included that had Fantastic Fans. I have done several upgrades in the past, mainly installing resisters to slow it down and still have some control boards someplace. Can you take a picture of the set up so we can try to help?

[kkinna]

Here are some pictures. One is showing the existing wiring, one is the old fan, and one is the new fan. The old fan only used the red and black wires. The white wire went to a ground?

The Maxx fan got broken and this is what went in when that happened.

Thank you

[rubicon327]

Just taking a shot in the dark here but does this video starting at 2:25 help at all? All you should have is two power wires from the trailer (power and ground) landed at the fan controls and then two wires that go from the control up to the fan motor itself.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YA7YYG...e_continue=156

[kkinna]

Thanks. I watched this several times today, and he never shows the exact wiring that goes with the change over to the upgrade.

[cpaharley2008]

What I heard him say is that all FF have 2 wires providing power to the motor and 2 wires providing power to the upgrade, all the other wiring is already done in the upgrade, so you should have a power source wire black and white and a black/white wire to the upgrade which also connects to the motor with a black and white wire. Is there a red wire on the upgrade? The black and white are your power supply, white is ground black is power, sometimes black and red are power and connected. You can play with the wires without fear of electric since these are low voltage and the power should not hurt you like the 120v power wires, but be careful you do not short the negative(ground) to the positive (black) wire.

[kkinna]

I have a black wire that I know is power. I have a red wire that went to the speed knob, and I have a white wire going to a ground. The new fan has a black and white wire that are long, and a short white wire with a "bullet" end connector and no instructions as to where it goes. I know the black can connect up to the existing black wire, but cannot see where the long or short white wire might go. I am also not sure where the red wire goes, but one video suggested that it be extended and attached to the new three way switch. I think that since the motor is already grounded by the existing white wire that goes to the roof that I might not need the new white wire at all?

[rubicon327]

A couple of the Amazon reviews appear to describe the correct wiring after frustration with directions. Do these help??

http://www.amazon.com/Fan-Tastic-801.../dp/B00IKMBWCA

[kkinna]

Hi Jim. The red wire is coming from the trailer and was attached to the speed control knob.

[kkinna]

Thank you. It looks like I need to extend the red wire to connect to the new switch. Still not clear what to do with the short and long white wires.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by kkinna

Thank you. It looks like I need to extend the red wire to connect to the new switch. Still not clear what to do with the short and long white wires.

Yes, it appears the red wire that was removed from the old speed switch is relocated/extended and goes to the new reverse switch terminal. The short white wire that is coming off the reverse switch is shown in the Amazon reviews as going to a "dome or on/off switch" up on the fan. This must eventually lead through to the fan motor. It looks like you do not have this feature so then this wire would need to be connected straight to the 2nd wire coming from the fan motor. The long white and black wires are simply connected to your +12V power and ground coming from the trailer power center. ***Think I see the confusion...you need to cut your white that currently goes directly to the fan motor ground. Connect the trailer side of this ground to the "long white" and the fan motor side of this wire to the "short white" off the reverse switch. This is needed because the reverse switch reverses polarity to spin the fan the other way Hope this helps.
The bottom middle picture in this gallery shows what I'm trying to say fairly well.
https://www.amazon.com/review/review...sin=B00IKMBWCA

[kkinna]

Thank you. That makes sense. The existing white ground wire goes up to the roof, where it is grounded. I would have to cut that and attach the new white wire to the two ends of that, I think? Looking possible now!

[kkinna]

Made all the connections and nothing. Guess it's time to call Fantastic fan tomorrow.

[cpaharley2008]

Are you sure the motor is still good, can you get it to operate to verify?

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Are you sure the motor is still good, can you get it to operate to verify?

That should be easy enough. All that is needed is to take the control panel out of the way and temporarily hook the trailer black +12V power to the red wire on the fan and the trailer white ground wire to the white fan ground. Fan should spin.

[kkinna]

Yes, got the fan to come on finally, but it blew a fuse when I turned it off and tried to put it into reverse. Not sure why it would blow the fuse. I was prety excited there for 30 seconds or so.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by kkinna

Yes, got the fan to come on finally, but it blew a fuse when I turned it off and tried to put it into reverse. Not sure why it would blow the fuse. I was prety excited there for 30 seconds or so.

Kim,
Did you allow the fan to fully stop? I can see that others report blowing fuses with the Fantastic Fan if putting the fan into reverse before the fan fully stops. It apparently is not like the MaxxFan that stops the fan itself before reversing direction. Was it the glass fuse in the fuse holder right on the fan that blew or a fuse in power center?

[kkinna]

Thanks. No, the fan was not fully stopped. It was the fuse on the fan. I will try again with a new fuse!