Battery Fan Query

[Chrisvh]

I have a Knaus built on a Fiat Ducato. Engine starter battery in usual location under front passenger seat. On the control panel there is a fan icon, beside the battery charging icons, that can be selected or de-selected. When selected a fan starts up near the engine starter battery.
The image below shows the panel with the vehicle on EHU and charging. The fan icon has a cross through it showing it is de-selected.
My query is. Is this a cooling fan for the engine starter battery when charging? Should it always be used when on EHU or only in hot weather?
I have searched the forum but cannot find an answer. Many thanks.

 

[peterc10]

What habitation heating system do you have? On my Hymer I have Alde and Hymer fitted a heat exchanger and booster fan under the left hand cab seat which you can switch on to distribute more heat into the cabin area. Hymer fitted the switch for this on the side of the seat, which can be a pain as it is easy to catch as you walk past. Dethleff may have fitted something similar but incorporated the switch into the control panel.

 

[Chrisvh]

What habitation heating system do you have? On my Hymer I have Alde and Hymer fitted a heat exchanger and booster fan under the left hand cab seat which you can switch on to distribute more heat into the cabin area. Hymer fitted the switch for this on the side of the seat, which can be a pain as it is easy to catch as you walk past. Dethleff may have fitted something similar but incorporated the switch into the control panel.

Thanks. I have an Alde system. I have switched the fan on and off and nothing changes except the noise of the fan. I was unsure if it was an essential cooling component of the engine battery.

 

[peterc10]

Thanks. I have an Alde system. I have switched the fan on and off and nothing changes except the noise of the fan. I was unsure if it was an essential cooling component of the engine battery.

I have never heard of a cooling fan being used on an engine battery.

Run your hand around the base of both seats when it is on to see if you can feel air blowing out. If you do, just to make sure, put the heating on for and hour or two and try that again. If it is warm/hot air it is the same as ours.

Do you have a handbook explaining the control unit?

 

[Chrisvh]

I have never heard of a cooling fan being used on an engine battery.

Run your hand around the base of both seats when it is on to see if you can feel air blowing out. If you do, just to make sure, put the heating on for and hour or two and try that again. If it is warm/hot air it is the same as ours.

Do you have a handbook explaining the control unit?

There is no mention of it in the handbook. I assumed it was connected to the battery because it is displayed, and controlled, with the battery charging status on the control panel. Many thanks for your suggestions.

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[peterc10]

The other alternative is that it maybe you switching on the inverter, if you have one, as they are often fan cooled

 

[Chrisvh]

No inverter. I suspect you may correct and it is an additional heating fan. I just cannot understand why it is displayed and controlled from the battery charging control panel. Thank you for your time.

 

[paddymcc]

Could it be you have a battery to battery charger and this is the fan for that? The larger ampere ones I have seen have an integral fan that turns on automatically but this could be an override switch?

 

[peterc10]

No inverter. I suspect you may correct and it is an additional heating fan. I just cannot understand why it is displayed and controlled from the battery charging control panel. Thank you for your time.

It may be that they are advising you only use the fan when hooked up, otherwise it may run down the hab battery.

 

[Chrisvh]

Could it be you have a battery to battery charger and this is the fan for that? The larger ampere ones I have seen have an integral fan that turns on automatically but this could be an override switch?

Thanks for that. Certainly makes sense. I will have a closer look.
I suppose my next question is should the fan be used all the time or only in certain circumstances? Such as hotter climate?

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[Chrisvh]

I have a Schaudt WA 121525 B2B boost controller. Looked out the manual and it states that there is a fan installed. The suggestion to only use the fan on EHU makes a lot of sense and explains why it is operated from the battery charge screen. Thanks to Peter and Paddy for their time.

 

[mitzimad]

is under the seat the normal place for the starter battery last fiat i had it was under the floor center of the cab(57 reg so may have changed)

 

[paddymcc]

The B2B will only be working with the engine on so EHU is irrelevant from that perspective.

 

[Esky]

I have a Knaus built on a Fiat Ducato. Engine starter battery in usual location under front passenger seat. On the control panel there is a fan icon, beside the battery charging icons, that can be selected or de-selected. When selected a fan starts up near the engine starter battery.
The image below shows the panel with the vehicle on EHU and charging. The fan icon has a cross through it showing it is de-selected.
My query is. Is this a cooling fan for the engine starter battery when charging? Should it always be used when on EHU or only in hot weather?
I have searched the forum but cannot find an answer. Many thanks.

View attachment 453636

Hi. I also have a Knaus. The fan symbol switches the fan on/off for the mains to 12v converter/ charger Without the fan enabled the supply has a limited capacity so if you have a high demand such as watching TV out lots of lights on with the fan disabled you will eventually run you leisure battery flat. It is best to leave it so that the fan is automatic. Disable the fan if you want it to be quiet but be careful you don’t flatten your battery. Hope that helps

 

[Chrisvh]

is under the seat the normal place for the starter battery last fiat i had it was under the floor center of the cab(57 reg so may have changed)

Ours is under the floor immediately in front of the passenger seat. 2020 build.

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[Chrisvh]

Hi. I also have a Knaus. The fan symbol switches the fan on/off for the mains to 12v converter/ charger Without the fan enabled the supply has a limited capacity so if you have a high demand such as watching TV out lots of lights on with the fan disabled you will eventually run you leisure battery flat. It is best to leave it so that the fan is automatic. Disable the fan if you want it to be quiet but be careful you don’t flatten your battery. Hope that helps

Thanks for that. Very useful.