Converter for Fan-tastic vent fan

[drewstall]

I am planning to take a 120vac to 12vdc, 6 amp converter taken from an electric cooler and connect it to a 12vdc fan-tastic vent fan that has a maximum amp draw of 3ish amps. Is this a bad idea.

[WesGrimes]

If it is rated for 6 and your draw is 3, you should be fine. Run it for a while and check to make sure the transformer is not getting too hot.

legal disclaimer: I am not an electrician, and if you burn your house down I was never here...

[drewstall]

If you don 't think anything catastrophic will happen with mismatched amp ratings then I will go ahead.

Thanks!

[Steve_Cox]

Fantastic fans have a great warranty program........

Go for it.

[drewstall]

Well, I tried it.
Good news is, nothing catastrophic happened.
Bad news is, almost nothing happened at all. No fan blade movement, no dome movement, it just makes the sound of a small motor.

I sure hope that doesn't mean it's broken. It's kind of a long ride back to camper world in indianapolis to return it.

[8ball_99]

Are you worried about the fan being broke or the converter? The converter probably just doesn't have enough juice to power the fan.. Hook the fan to a battery and test it.. If it works you need a better converter.. My fantastic fan pulls two amps On Low. I would be willing to bet that converter is just to small to run the fan. You don't really match amperage on DC stuff.. IE tons of people on here have 45 amp converters in their trailers even though they might only use 4 amps.. Same as if you have a generator rated for 2000 watts that doesn't mean you can't use it to run a 10 watt light..

[drewstall]

The fan needs 25watt input. 12v x 3amps = 36 watts. Am I missing anything?

[bobhenry]

2 six volt lantern batteries ( The big square ones) hooked in series



would give you enough juice for a long test.

There are baskets and baskets of 120 v AC to 12 volt DC power transformers at most of the Goodwills I frequent for a buck or 2. Might make a less than $10.00 ac with DC backup power source.

[bobhenry]

The fan needs 25watt input. 12v x 3amps = 36 watts. Am I missing anything?

Some small electric motors requirer almost 200 % of run amperage for start up . If you could flip the blade to give it a running start will it run ?

[drewstall]

Nope, it won't run after giving the blade a push to start it moving. The instructions for the fan specifically say there should be no more than 12v. So I don't really think it's start up amperage. I think I will have to try a bigger converter first.

[drewstall]

Hey guys guess what? This model of vent fan doesn't run the fan with the dome lowered. Also, the manual knob has to be pushed in for the first use or the motor that raises the dome will just keep running without stopping.
Boy do I feel stupid.

Thanks for all the help everybody.

[Shadow Catcher]

I know it is so un male but I read instruction books, have a binder with all of the instruction books sheets etc. for all of the hardware in the MM that goes with us. I have included things like how to clean and winterize the water system and how to back a trailer

[8ball_99]

Lawl

[wannabefree]

Shadow catcher: That's just sick. You probably know what everything cost, too.