Fantastic Fan Upgrade to 7350 - dramatic improvement in efficiency

ChrisFix

@sptucker @johnfconway
I'm currently returning the second upgrade fan kit from etrailer.
Both were received with the screen beat up from all the parts loosely thrown in the box - the first one with zero instructions of manufacturer's user guide - both with greasy finger prints on the trim ring, and scratched up.
But with all that said, they are out of stock until September according to the customer service rep i just spoke to.
Good luck if you try to get one. Etrailer has been a reliable vendor for me in the past, so I don't know what's up with this product. Seems almost black-market from the lack of support from Dometic (call them and they deny this upgrade exists), and the slip-shod products I've received for approx $230.

johnfconway

ChrisFix said:

@sptucker @johnfconway
I'm currently returning the second upgrade fan kit from etrailer.
Both were received with the screen beat up from all the parts loosely thrown in the box - the first one with zero instructions of manufacturer's user guide - both with greasy finger prints on the trim ring, and scratched up.
But with all that said, they are out of stock until September according to the customer service rep i just spoke to.
Good luck if you try to get one. Etrailer has been a reliable vendor for me in the past, so I don't know what's up with this product. Seems almost black-market from the lack of support from Dometic (call them and they deny this upgrade exists), and the slip-shod products I've received for approx $230.

It does give you pause. A fair few seem to have gotten a decent kit and fought through installation of fv807357 in spite of questionable directions (which are for 7350). Has anyone cut the corners off of a 7350 kit and successfully installed it in a late model T@B 400?

sptucker

This is definitely not encouraging news.  I kinda wanted to have this upgrade finished before camping season is over.  Alas.  
I actually had a square corner 7350 kit in hand and sent it back -- now I am wondering if I should have just cut it to fit...

DenisP

I cut my upgrade to fit and other than that modification it has been great for over a year.  Very pleased. 

Denny16

sounds like you got a return kit both times, mine came well packed, all parts clean, with no issues.
cheers

johnfconway

DenisP said:

I cut my upgrade to fit and other than that modification it has been great for over a year.  Very pleased. 

Looks like I will be once again "cutting corners"! I wondered about that possibility looking at product photos. Refrained since "once you cut it, you own it". Placed order this morning. Have to say that etrailer.com tries hard to avoid cancellations. You have to phone in, but then they do process the refund. Thanks @DenisP for responding!

johnfconway

Spent a lot of time this morning installing the kit. Have to agree with other posts that the installation directions are lacking and photos are pretty much worthless -- even with double reading glasses! In the end, the unit is not working. Tried two sets of new batteries in remote. As with @ChrisFix the screen was torn slightly, but all of the parts were in original packaging.

Will reverse the installation tomorrow to see if there was yet another thing in the directions not mentioned. Even though kit was purchased through Amazon, the vendor is not covered under Amazon's simple return process. Hoping I made a simple mistake or blew a crimp somewhere!

Dutch061

One of the important things is the Jumper on the circuit board must be put in the proper location depending on which style fan motor you have. I think the instructions point this out pretty clear.

Tall and skinny = brush type

Short and pudgy = brushless

I have installed my it in my previous 320 and in my current 400 and had to move the jumper due to the different fan types. Not sure if that would prevent operation but it certainly would prevent "proper operation".

Brad

johnfconway

Went by the photo and it looked like the "pan-style" motor vs. "canister". Took the jumper off. Kind of makes you question your logic as to what you're seeing!

riooso

If you power on the unit and you have the wrong jumper configuration it will not work even if you change the jumper. You have to take the power off the board and then reapply power to get it to work. The computer on the board has to reconfigure itself during a reboot.

johnfconway

Break circuit between trials by removing fuse?

riooso

johnfconway said:

Break circuit between trials by removing fuse?

However it is done. Your could switch off power to the entire trailer. Me personally I did not install the fan till I made sure it worked. I hung it off the ceiling with a string and only made temp connections. Did freak me out at first.

careh

Would anyone have a copy of the installation instructions - which are a 2 page color document?

johnfconway

Hopefully the PDF will attach...

Video is decent. Could be edited down to 5 minutes!

careh

Thank you for the pdf - much appreciated...

johnfconway

One "don't do what I did". While connecting wires on new unit and installing rain sensor, a wire or string holding the shroud (frame) up so there is no weight pressure on wires is helpful. There are holes in shroud to poke a wire through and the bottom of the lifter arm is a good attachment point.

careh

The installation documentation described a 'jumper' that is required to be in place to connect 2 pins on the circuit board if one has the tall black canister style fan motor and not the pancake style motor.  I did not see this jumper on the circuit board nor in any of the enclosed packages of screws etc.  Was your jumper installed on the circuit board -or- loose -or- not present at all?  I needed the jumper - as I have the tall black canister style fan motor - so I ended up soldering the 2 pins together.

ChrisFix

@careh
The two units that I've received from etrailer both had the jumper installed on the circuit board. It is very small, in case you're not familiar with them...about 3/16" black plastic square.
EDIT: Having re-read your post...since you soldered the pins, I'm guessing you know what a jumper looks like!!

johnfconway

Jumper probably is there/not there kit by kit. Mine had the jumper already on pins, which in my case needed to come off.  Unfortunately installation did not work. Suspect problematic circuit board. Have another kit coming. Do most test the fan and arm-raiser motor before finishing the installation?

I noticed there is a knock-out for the lock/unlock manual knob. Nothing in the instructions addresses this. Has anyone not reconnected this? Any ramifications?

Denny16

No, do not reconnect the lock, it is not used on the upgrade, as the motor keeps the lid closed.
cheers

careh

ChrisFix said:

@careh
The two units that I've received from etrailer both had the jumper installed on the circuit board. It is very small, in case you're not familiar with them...about 3/16" black plastic square.
EDIT: Having re-read your post...since you soldered the pins, I'm guessing you know what a jumper looks like!!

I used a multimeter to test the 2 pins for the jumper as the pins had a bit of black plastic at their base...which I thought could be the jumper. There was no continuity - so - no  jumper.  After I soldered the pins I got continuity. 

The kit I received also did not have the remote control in it -nor the color sheet with the installation instructions (which member johnfconway supplied ...many thanks for that).  The box also had evidence of having been opened then re-sealed (multiple short lengths of tape closing it up) ... so - before I do my review of the vendor -I wanted to verify if the jumper was also missing.

Denny16

Sounds like it was missing.  You can buy the remote separately, and try to charge back the vendor for the cost.

Cheers

careh

I notice my fan sometimes fluctuates in speed - when running in auto - on an infrequent basis.  It will speed up momentarily then slow down -speed up / slow down ... then it runs constant for a while ... until that cycle repeats again.

careh

Denny16 said:

Sounds like it was missing.  You can buy the remote separately, and try to charge back the vendor for the cost.

Cheers

I already got the vendor to send out a remote - that was when I also noticed the 2 page color installation instructions were missing - and then when I went to install the fan - noticed the jumper was also missing.

johnfconway

careh said:

I already got the vendor to send out a remote - that was when I also noticed the 2 page color installation instructions were missing - and then when I went to install the fan - noticed the jumper was also missing.

@Careh did the installation go well or are you holding off 'til remote arrives?

I think Dometic had not manufactured kits for awhile. There was a mixed inventory of truly new and returned kits among retailers. Once they realized how short supply was, they raised prices. There's one currently available for $853! I think I'll wait until the newly manufactured kits come online at the end of August at the former high price!

careh

I installed mine - and it is working.  Thank goodness for the youtube video I linked to in a prior post - and the instruction sheet that was posted here.  It helps to have a second person holding the unit up while you make the wiring connections or stuff the wires up inside the enclosure...

A couple of issues I see - are the fluctuating fan speed in 'auto' mode - and when I first turn it on - it intermediately goes into 'manual' mode at 100% speed - every time - even though I had previously used it in 'auto' mode....or even if I used it in manual at 50% speed.

careh

Anyone else experiencing the fluctuating speed on 'auto'?  This is where the fan is set to auto mode - the fan runs at one speed for a while - then every so often (I still have not tracked the exact interval) it speeds up for a few minutes - then slows down - then speeds up - then slows down...

XenanMe

I don’t have the speed fluctuation issue you are seeing.  Or at least I haven’t noticed it.  I do have the 100% manual mode issue you mentioned previously.  Every time I turn the fan on it immediately starts at 100% and I have to rapidly press the remote to turn it down.

Denny16

In auto mode the fan runs and changes speeds based on the ambient air temp at the sensor.

Cheers

johnfconway

Got the second attempt 7350 upgrade fan installation in. Along the way (with failed installation) the 7.5A fuse had blown. Quite a relief when the fan started whirring when fuse replaced. Unfortunately this fan only wants to blow air out. All else works fine. If I hit the "In/Out" button fan will stop, but not reverse itself. For SW NM it's not a particularly windy day, but there is enough to gently spin fan blades.

Anyone else experience this?

Is wind affecting fan a factor on in-blowing mode?

Or... Is it likely the circuit board?

We have Vornado 5303DC Energy Smart Small Air Circulator Fan with Variable Speed Control that runs off the inverter (which itself converts 120V back to 12V). We can aim its air. Its power needs are tiny. Rather than going through a third installation (my shoulders ache just typing about it), should I throw in the towel and use the 7350 for out-blowing exhaust air and Vornado for people cooling?