Posted 2010-05-26 12:18 PM (#120605) Subject: Should this Invertor and Fan Setup Work?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
I bought a used trailer that had fans added to the horse compartment. It is obvious it wasn't orginal to the trailer. The guy that I purchased from said the fans never worked for him. There were a couple of other things he said didn't work for him that I was able to fix quickly and this may also be an easy fix. It is a three horse but only two fans. I am able to run one fan with no problem, it ran for 7 hours on a trip this weekend and does seem to move some air.
The fans say the following: 120V, .5 amp, 60 watt.
There is a 400 Power Invertor that the fans plug into. As I said one runs with no problem, as soon as the second it plugged in a red light comes on and both go out. Should this setup work? Would a bigger invertor help?
Posted 2010-05-27 6:04 AM (#120639 - in reply to #120607) Subject: RE: Should this Invertor and Fan Setup Work?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Originally written by hosspuller on 2010-05-26 12:26 PM
Does the second fan run without the first fan being connected?
Checked it out last night and each fan will run independantly but when both are connected the light on the invertor immediatly turns red and both go off.
Posted 2010-05-27 7:30 AM (#120640 - in reply to #120639) Subject: RE: Should this Invertor and Fan Setup Work?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by blackcows on 2010-05-27 7:04 AM
Originally written by hosspuller on 2010-05-26 12:26 PM
Does the second fan run without the first fan being connected?
Checked it out last night and each fan will run independantly but when both are connected the light on the invertor immediatly turns red and both go off.
Mike
How good are the batteries? Have they been load tested and recharged?
Posted 2010-05-27 8:19 AM (#120646 - in reply to #120605) Subject: RE: Should this Invertor and Fan Setup Work?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
By its stated capacity, your present 400W inverter should have enough capacity. What I'm saying, is that the wiring to both the fans and inverter are suspect of having too little capacity or poor connections. Both fans work, the inverter is working and has a higher capacity than you need.(120W) But with a heavier load, the inverter becomes overloaded and defaults. If the wiring is proper, then the inverter itself may be in poor shape and may need to be replaced
Posted 2010-05-27 9:31 AM (#120648 - in reply to #120605) Subject: RE: Should this Invertor and Fan Setup Work?
Veteran
Posts: 123 Location: Indiana
Probably should have done that right after checking both fans. Make sure taht when you buy the invertor that they won't charge you a restocking fee if you bring it back.
Posted 2010-05-27 12:50 PM (#120655 - in reply to #120647) Subject: RE: Should this Invertor and Fan Setup Work?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by blackcows on 2010-05-27 5:32 AM
The invertor looks kind of cheap and it makes a whine when it runs....maybe I should just try another one and see what happens.
Blackcows... I believe you would be better served by changing the fans to 12 volt dc. You avoid another inverter cost AND you get better use of the battery power. The inverter is not 100% effective in converting battery power to 120 volt a/c.
You're only going to run the fans while traveling ... ???
If you plug into a utility source and still need the fans, a battery charger can power than new dc fans, While charging your battery for the trip home.
Posted 2010-05-27 1:12 PM (#120656 - in reply to #120605) Subject: RE: Should this Invertor and Fan Setup Work?
Member
Posts: 11
Location: Syracuse
the start up amp load is considerably more than the run load is. if the invertor is rated to just cover the run load, it will not handle the start up of the 2nd fan. when replacing make sure you are oversized enough to handle start up. another option would be to install 12 volt fans like the old school buses had and forget the invertor.
Should this Invertor and Fan Setup Work?
Make sure taht when you buy the invertor that they won't charge you a restocking fee if you bring it back.