Dirty and filtered DC?

[rabbit]

Installation instruction for Fantastic Fan recommend picking up 12VDC feed from the "filtered side" of the converter to avoid noisy op due to dirty DC. Now I've had the entire converter/service out of the hole and I see no distinghishing feature that would indicate fuses for "filterered" DC. Would the unused terminals marked "Radio" present a good probability of providing filtered DC? How should I indentify a source of clean current? TIA for any insight or experience!

jack

[floyd]

Originally Posted by rabbit

Installation instruction for Fantastic Fan recommend picking up 12VDC feed from the "filtered side" of the converter to avoid noisy op due to dirty DC. Now I've had the entire converter/service out of the hole and I see no distinghishing feature that would indicate fuses for "filterered" DC. Would the unused terminals marked "Radio" present a good probability of providing filtered DC? How should I indentify a source of clean current? TIA for any insight or experience!

jack

What brand and model of converter do you have?
Does your fan have remote control or any automatic features?

[rabbit]

Originally Posted by floyd

What brand and model of converter do you have?
Does your fan have remote control or any automatic features?

Newmark converter circa 1998. 4000R without thermostat.

jack

[floyd]

Originally Posted by rabbit

Newmark converter circa 1998. 4000R without thermostat.

jack

Well, I can't find any info on your particular converter but a filtered power supply probably only refers to a consistent regulated source. Is there a dedicated charging circuit which may be higher voltage and less regulated to avoid?
I have installed several of that particular model of Fantastic fan, wired in various ways, and have experienced nothing but consistent quiet operation. In fact the fan runs great when wired directly to the battery with the battery wired to a charger. Even in this configuration, the fan worked perfectly when hooked to shore power and also when boondocking, all the way through the range of voltage drop overnight.
Maybe someone else may have an answer, I don't even recall the that particular recommendation or any problems associated with it.

[Darwin Maring]

Personally I don't think the fan motor will know the difference so Wire like Floyd did above because the Fantastic fan is self fused so a switch on a converter is a moot point AND
It is the closest to clean DC that you will get.

[rabbit]

Originally Posted by Darwin Maring

Personally I don't think the fan motor will know the difference so Wire like Floyd did above because the Fantastic fan is self fused so a switch on a converter is a moot point AND
It is the closest to clean DC that you will get.

Thank you both. I've had many troubles in my life and most of them never happened. By the by, is the supplied "closed cell" gasket (looks like Ethafoam) the way to go? Is tried and true putty tape better?

jack

[floyd]

Originally Posted by rabbit

Thank you both. I've had many troubles in my life and most of them never happened. By the by, is the supplied "closed cell" gasket (looks like Ethafoam) the way to go? Is tried and true putty tape better?

jack

Use the putty tape, seals and stays sealed.
I use that plastic decking spindle material for the inside frame it looks like wood and can't rot , plus it holds screws profoundly! Those light spots where the brads went into the frame took liquid gold as touch-up before delivery

[Raz]

Originally Posted by rabbit

Installation instruction for Fantastic Fan recommend picking up 12VDC feed from the "filtered side" of the converter to avoid noisy op due to dirty DC. Now I've had the entire converter/service out of the hole and I see no distinghishing feature that would indicate fuses for "filterered" DC. Would the unused terminals marked "Radio" present a good probability of providing filtered DC? How should I indentify a source of clean current? TIA for any insight or experience!

jack

Dirty DC is not a standard term. I suspect they mean unfiltered or pulsating DC which a converter may use to charge a battery. Filtered DC is the converter output that replaces your battery, for lights, etc. Most converters will have several filtered outputs each with it's own fuse similar to the various circuits in your home. The one marked "radio" is most likely fine. Since it is unused, you will may need to insert a fuse somewhere on the converter to energize the circuit. Good luck, Raz

[ken h]

Dirty dc Plug your rig in to shore power and you put your meter on the dc output circuits but put the meter in a/c mode and you have a small reading of a/c on the d/c line you have dirty d/c. Electronics and fan motors do not like that at all. Best to go on battery feed that will filter the voltage

Hope this helps

[rabbit]

Originally Posted by ken h

Dirty dc Plug your rig in to shore power and you put your meter on the dc output circuits but put the meter in a/c mode and you have a small reading of a/c on the d/c line you have dirty d/c. Electronics and fan motors do not like that at all. Best to go on battery feed that will filter the voltage

Hope this helps

Afraid "dirty DC was not in the instruction pamphlet; my usage. I know just enuf to be dangerous. Where some find electrcity complex, I find it shocking. I took the trim bezel off the present vent and ran a piece of heavy gauge steel wire back to the closet next the stove as a fish tape. That's right over the converter box and it's actually easier to get at the box connectors on the DC side than on the AC. I added a 110 receptacle for the M-wave so I know of which I speak. It's a Burro so no cosmetic problems in new feeds but there is foil-covered glass batt between the inner and outer shell so sometimes fishing is easy and sometimes not. I have several empty DC terminals and the Fan fan is fused, so I assume a fuse of same or greater resistance should be fine. But to be absolutely "current" about this, Ken, are you saying I should tap the house battery directly?

jack

[ken h]

Hey Jack ,
The radio circuit on your converter would be a filtered one I'm sure . I didn't mean to complicate things - was just explaining what was meant by dirty d/c . Most converters have a little, should be fine under 6 volts a/c , had a fridge doing funny things very sporadic it turned out it was the converter it had 9 volts a/c on the no filter side and it was confusing the module board on the fridge. The little bit of a/c doesn't bother the lights but it does bother the electronics so I was told to change it over to the filtered side and I have had no problems since.

Take care,
Ken