fan-tastic Vent fan question

[TowPro]

this weekend we realized how well insulated our RV was. Outside was low 60's, with 2 of us sleeping in the front bedroom with the windows and bedroom doors closed the temps would hit around 80 deg. The thermostat is located in the main area of the RV so the AC would not come on. Just opening the 2 windows and the roof vent would help, but it would take a long time for the temps to drop.



sounds like a job for a fan-tastic vent fan! I think. As long as its cool enough outside.



How loud are they? are they quiet enough to have in a vent over the bedroom and not wake you up when they turn on? I know those ones that come in the bathrooms are real loud, sure could not sleep with one of them on.



I am thinking of going with the one without the rain sensor, and putting a maxs-air cover over it so I could use it even in the rain. your thoughts?

 

[Slow Six]

The fantastics are the only way to go. They should be standard equipment. They come with different speed settings. The low speeds are very quiet and even the higher speeds are not as harsh as the bathroom fan. They also move a lot more air because of the blade size and design. The ones we have in our unit also have a thermostat on them so that when things have cooled down they shut off. The fan direction is also reversible so you can bring in outside or exhaust inside air. The Max air cover is also the way to go. They are now available with a flip up top to make cleaning easier. If you get the Max air you won't need the rain sensor and besides it wouldn't work with the cover. In my opinion your choices are right on the money and you will wonder why you waited so long.

 

[byoslandry]

Fantastic Fan Noise

TowPro

The Fantastic Fans work very well if you are between the fan and the window. As far as the noise level if you mounted one in your bedroom, IMHO, it would be too loud. Mine has 3 selectable speeds plus In air flow and Out air flow. I have the rain sensor which works quite well. . If it rains, it'll lower the cover and the fan stops. When the sensor dries it'll raise the cover and start again. Also, mine has a thermostat on it. I do not have a MaxAir cover on mine as I think the fan lid may lift too high and hit the Max Air cover and then it would stain the lids lifting gearmotor or break the cover.

RV magazines show other fans that have covers with the fan built in that will raise and the fan comes on. I don't know if they have differnet speeds or a thermostat in them. Try checking Camping World or going through RV magazines for the companies.

Take care and happy camping

Byron

New Orleans, LA

this weekend we realized how well insulated our RV was. Outside was low 60's, with 2 of us sleeping in the front bedroom with the windows and bedroom doors closed the temps would hit around 80 deg. The thermostat is located in the main area of the RV so the AC would not come on. Just opening the 2 windows and the roof vent would help, but it would take a long time for the temps to drop.



sounds like a job for a fan-tastic vent fan! I think. As long as its cool enough outside.



How loud are they? are they quiet enough to have in a vent over the bedroom and not wake you up when they turn on? I know those ones that come in the bathrooms are real loud, sure could not sleep with one of them on.



I am thinking of going with the one without the rain sensor, and putting a maxs-air cover over it so I could use it even in the rain. your thoughts?

 

[Mr. Ken]

I fully agree with Slow Six.

 

[kelly4463]

I got one in my living room and bathroom in my cross roads, the one in the living room is a 3sp on high it's not bad at all.

 

[jeepit]

Ours has the thermostat setting also so you can set & forget it. It operates quietly enough for us that it doesn't bother our sleeping.

 

[Blu-meanie]

Our TT came with one over the bed and after a year or so, I replaced that loud thing in the bathroom with another one. They are quiet and move a lot of air. I agree with slow six; they should be standard equipment. Now if they only made a small one for that awful exhaust fan over the stove...

 

[Slow Six]

I got a heater switch from an auto parts store and cut it into the fan circuit for the range hood. This is not a perfect solution but at least it cut enough of the noise so that we can hear the TV or radio or talk to each other. The fan still seems to do an adequate job of ventilating.

 

[MABurns]

I mounted ours in the rear of the RV so it does not matter if it is on High or low, you can barely hear it up front in the bedroom.



I turn it on Low (exhaust mode) and then open the bedroom windows and roof vent and it draws the cool air in. Works like a charm as long as it is cool outside. Hot days, and nights, just use the AC.



Another benefit on very hot days is to have it operate while your driving down the road. At a minimum the interior temp is equal to the outside air temp (in the evening at the end of a days travel), as apposed to being hotter because the RV has been closed up and hotter inside than it is out.

 

[ATClark]

For those of us who are more financially challenged, I put in a whisper quiet fan used in electronic equipment from Radio Shack for $20. No thermostat, no rain sensor, not near the volume of air moved, but sufficient to cool my pickup camper and very very quiet.

 

[GerryDrake]

Got two and love 'em

We have one in the rear (living room area) and only on the max speed is it at all noisy. Have the temp and rain sensor. The loudest thing is when it cranks open or shut.



We also have one over the bed, and have the Max Air cover over it, so the rain sensor is moot. More often than not, when we go to bed I put that one on low or medium exhaust and cool air comes in the windows adjacent. Easy to sleep with it on. Only once in a while when the temp sensor closes it does it get loud enough to bother. I avoid that by cranking the temp sensor to the end of the limit so it just goes all night. .



On a hot day towing, I will put the front one on low intake and the rear on low exhaust and it does keep it cooler than without the airflow...

 

[PKnoerzer]

How do the Turbo/Maxx vents compare?

 

[Loren]

TowPro,



I hope this information isn't too late to help you, but even if it is, it may help someone else.



Here's where to buy Fantastic Vents:



http://www.members. aol.com/fantasticvent/



This is Adohen Supply. Their phone number is 440-937-5694. The owner's name is Scott.



I bought my Fantastic Vent from him and was very happy with the service and the price.



There is also lots of information on his web site about different models and installation. He seems to have every model, color, etc. that Fantastic Vent makes.



By the way, Fantastic Vents come with a lifetime warranty. I broke my wall-mounted thermostat a year ago. It was my own fault. When I called Fantastic Vent to order a replacement, they sent one free. Great company.



We also have one in the bedroom, and on the lower speeds it is very quiet -- easy to sleep under.



Good luck,

Loren

 

[Radshooter]

I have read several comments here about the fan lid hitting the Maxx-air cover. We have a cover on ours and it is not a problem. The lid on the Fantastic can be "programmed" as to how high it goes before it stops. It can open all the way, or just a few inches, all automatically. We set ours to where it just touches the Max cover when it stops. Don't ask me how to program it, it has been that long ago, but the instructions are in the manual that we got with ours.
I think they are well worth the money.

Steve

 

[TowPro]

Thanks Loren. That is who I was already looking at when I buy it. But I got side tracked, I added a central Vacuum and am getting ready to order a glass shower door. The problem is the wife and daughter have allergies, I can't even sleep with the windows open at home so the fan would probably not get used.

 

[Regcabguy]

Great product! We've got one by the back door and over the stove of our popup. Moves air really well and on reverse sucks the canvas sides in on our popup for immediate lowering of the top! Top notch product.