ri-f
Senior Member
Yes, you should install a voltage regulator to protect the boards on your MaxxAir fans. Eventually, a charging voltage over 13.6v will fry the board. It may not appear to be a problem initially, but over time you might start to see strange behavior at inconvenient times. It's recommended by MaxxAir to install a voltage regulator as well, as they've had numerous failures. They don't say this in their marketing material, but if you call their tech support they will confirm this. If you don't install one you will need to swap out the board when it gets wonky and then you'll be installing both the new board and a regulator. I've got some info about this on my page (see link below). Not what you want to hear, I know...don't shoot the messenger. : )pods8 said:Poking in here to see what the word was on fans these days, noted the fantastic-fan reputation when downhill bigtime. Settled on the maxxfan for our trailer, just putting in the 4 speed basic one. I had read the reviews on the circuit boards and was saddened but at the same time the mechanicals of the fan seemed the best. I am putting in 3 of them (and 400W of solar) so probably going to need to sadly look into a voltage regulator (in my case I think I can put one in the main supply line, I think the lights are a separate circuit, need to double check).
Anyway the main point of logging in and commenting: my thought is worst case in the long run if the circuit boards fry is just trash can that and put in a PWM dial instead and have a manual dial to speed up down linearly. (Frankly I am not really fired up about the push buttons in the first place but not going to mess with anything while it works). As long as the motor and crank are working the basic electrical portions can my fairly easily overhauled in the base model.
BTW: if anyone is wonder about the aluminum truck camper build, it'll resume here sooner or later. We moved last summer and between fall freezer filling and such I didn't have a chance to rewire the garage (it had ONE outlet...) I just finished that up with a couple new 20A circuits and a 50A plug for my welder. Also purchased a travel trailer for the more spacious family trips and have been busy getting that all squared away as we have a lot more family trips now with that being a bit more suited to 3 kids! I will still build my truck camper though because I LOVE having a truck camper for my solo and/or 1-2kid excursions.
Rich