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Old 02-28-2020, 04:23 PM   #1
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Maxx Fan - open half way

Have an Escape 19 with Deluxe Automatic Maxx Fan. How do you open the vent lid just 1 inch, or half way? Using the remote or buttons, it only opens completely, or closes completely. When trying to turn the black knob, it makes a motor sound (door opening motor), and I don't want to damage the motor.


Thank you.
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Old 02-28-2020, 05:35 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by StM2019 View Post
Have an Escape 19 with Deluxe Automatic Maxx Fan. How do you open the vent lid just 1 inch, or half way? Using the remote or buttons, it only opens completely, or closes completely. When trying to turn the black knob, it makes a motor sound (door opening motor), and I don't want to damage the motor. Thank you.
On the auto models the lid is really designed for only fully open or fully closed. You are working against the motor gearing with the knob. The knob is there to be used if 12V power loss. I wonder if you kill the power if you would have the same resistance or if it is reduced. That might be a workaround albeit not very convenient.
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Old 02-28-2020, 06:04 PM   #3
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I believe if you pull down on the knob, it releases it from the automatic mode and your can then turn to open/close manually....
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Old 02-28-2020, 06:50 PM   #4
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I tried pulling the knob down, but it doesn't pull down. Thanks for the reply.
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Old 02-28-2020, 07:10 PM   #5
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The instructions that came with the fan indicate you pull down and turn to open lid manually. Pull straight down....it will make a motor sound as it opens.....
Also please update your avatar to show your new Escape model...
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Old 02-28-2020, 08:07 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
The instructions that came with the fan indicate you pull down and turn to open lid manually. Pull straight down....it will make a motor sound as it opens.....
Also please update your avatar to show your new Escape model...
The manual is somewhat confusing as it lists the operating instructions for the manual and the automatic version together.

KNOB, VENT LID OPEN/CLOSE

Manual Opening Models
Pull to unlock prior to turning. Rotate Knob
clockwise to Close Vent Lid; Rotate Knob
counter-clockwise to Open Vent Lid. Push
“IN” to lock when Vent Lid is open or closed.

Automatic Opening Models
Allows closing of the vent lid in the event
of RV power loss. This knob does not
lock. Do not push in or pull out. Rotate
knob clockwise to close vent lid; rotate knob
counter-clockwise to open vent lid.

So for the automatic model 7000k, the knob does not pull out (I tried it ).
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Old 02-28-2020, 08:13 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StM2019 View Post
Have an Escape 19 with Deluxe Automatic Maxx Fan. How do you open the vent lid just 1 inch, or half way? Using the remote or buttons, it only opens completely, or closes completely. When trying to turn the black knob, it makes a motor sound (door opening motor), and I don't want to damage the motor.


Thank you.
Turning the knob won't hurt the fan - Airxcel says to turn it if power is lost to the fan so it should be OK. Unless you are operating the fan, there is no power to the motor and all you are doing is just spinning it through the gears.


When I want to crack open the fan cover, I just turn the knob until I have the cover open where I want it. No worries!

ps. if you are running the fan, it will go full open - no way to stop that.
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Old 03-03-2020, 06:16 PM   #8
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Maxx fan issue—turned itself on

I hope it is ok to add a fan related question to this thread.
We have been traveling in our new 2020 19’ for 8 days as we returned from Chilliwack. The trailer has been completely without problems until we got it backed into the storage.
When I went in to get some things the fan had turned itself on. I could not turn it off, reverse, slow it down—nothing. I called ETI and spoke with Dustin who told me to turn the battery off at the master switch to reset the fan. That worked, and I waited 10 minutes or so to turn it back on. The fan came back on but this time I could turn it off and it stayed off, at least for the next 40 minutes or so we were unloading.
My question: is this likely to be a one-off thing or is it likely to recur? We normally leave the unit plugged in. I opened the fan vent in case it happens again as I don’t want the motor damaged. We will be going camping again in a couple of weeks and boondocking so it would be a pain to deal with on the road.

Any thoughts? I find the wisdom of the forum quite helpful so hope to hear from the experienced.
Thanks all,
Catherine
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Old 03-03-2020, 06:19 PM   #9
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I forgot to add that this is a manual version fan. We only used it once on the road and it worked just fine at that time.
Catherine
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Old 03-03-2020, 06:29 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by outwiththedogs View Post
My question: is this likely to be a one-off thing or is it likely to recur? We normally leave the unit plugged in. I opened the fan vent in case it happens again as I don’t want the motor damaged. We will be going camping again in a couple of weeks and boondocking so it would be a pain to deal with on the road.
Not sure but I know some have had issues with their control boards going bad. Some speculate the high system voltage that can occur with a solar system set to allow equalization. Do you have solar?

You won’t damage the fan if it runs with the vent closed. It is designed to run that way. Read your manual. I think they call it ceiling fan mode.
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Old 03-03-2020, 08:46 PM   #11
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You won’t damage the fan if it runs with the vent closed. It is designed to run that way. Read your manual. I think they call it ceiling fan mode.
Excerpt from manual
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Old 03-04-2020, 09:41 PM   #12
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Thanks Rubicon,
In my concern about the fan self-starting I had forgotten about running it with vent closed. I guess we’ll just go with it and see what happens. You are right about the solar, we do have it.
Best, Catherine
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Old 03-05-2020, 07:53 AM   #13
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I guess we’ll just go with it and see what happens. You are right about the solar, we do have it.
I hope everything works out ok with the fan, but if you continue to have problems these threads will be informative:

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...lem-14910.html
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tor-14667.html
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...ems-12314.html
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Old 03-05-2020, 10:23 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
I hope everything works out ok with the fan, but if you continue to have problems these threads will be informative:

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...lem-14910.html
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tor-14667.html
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...ems-12314.html
Just an update on this issue. Since I installed voltage regulators on the following devices, I haven't had any further failures.

Suburban SW6DE - voltage range 10.5-13.5 volts
Maxxfan 7000K - voltage range 10.6-13.7 volts
Atwood AFSAD12 - voltage range 10.5-13.5 volts
2017-2018 LED lights - voltage not to exceed 12 volts

The other issue with the Maxxfan was condensation forming on the lid and dripping down through the hole that the motor wires run through right above the circuit board. A little proflex sealing the hole and some conformal coating on the board fixed that.

It isn't perfect yet but it's getting closer.
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Old 03-15-2020, 07:45 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by outwiththedogs View Post
I hope it is ok to add a fan related question to this thread.
We have been traveling in our new 2020 19’ for 8 days as we returned from Chilliwack. The trailer has been completely without problems until we got it backed into the storage.
When I went in to get some things the fan had turned itself on. I could not turn it off, reverse, slow it down—nothing. I called ETI and spoke with Dustin who told me to turn the battery off at the master switch to reset the fan. That worked, and I waited 10 minutes or so to turn it back on. The fan came back on but this time I could turn it off and it stayed off, at least for the next 40 minutes or so we were unloading.
My question: is this likely to be a one-off thing or is it likely to recur? We normally leave the unit plugged in. I opened the fan vent in case it happens again as I don’t want the motor damaged. We will be going camping again in a couple of weeks and boondocking so it would be a pain to deal with on the road.

Any thoughts? I find the wisdom of the forum quite helpful so hope to hear from the experienced.
Thanks all,
Catherine

We had strange occurrences with our Maxxfan starting up on it's own several times. The last time this happened, the motor opening the cover did not stop and twisted the opening mechanism. Fortunately Maxxfan sent me a new controller and opening mechanism for free even though the fan was 2 1/2 year old. I recommend calling them about replacing the controller board.

BTW, I've added a 12 volt regulator, since I think my problems started when my solar controller was doing it's high voltage equalizing charge.
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