12v fan recommendations

[VegasVanGuy]

Hi, just looking for 12v fan recommendations. I have a 22 ft RV. I want one for the overhead bunk (not too loud) and one for the cabin.

 

[DannyB1954]

Most people speak well of the fantastic vent series. http://www.fantasticvent.com/
They go from basic up to close by themselves if it starts to rain. The larger the fan blade, and the slower it turns will be the less noise it makes. Small high speed fans = noise, large slow = quiet.

 

[SUV_RVing]

If you want a freestanding one that you can plug into a cigarette lighter socket, this one is great.

 

[speedgene]

Road pro makes one like the Fantastic portable that is as good and less costly. I use a vent fan to get hot air out and a portable to cool me directly.

 

[SternWake]

A fan in a window or roof vent works best when it has a shroud so that the air moved cannot make a 180degree turn, and run back through the window only to be sucked in by the fan again.

 Positive air displacement via a tight fitting shroud works to keep a rig cooler.

I make widespread use of computer fans, but to move a lot of air, these generally will be loud.

Speed control is very important to me, and I use the 'Loud' for when it is just searing hot, or I need to drown out screaming kids or barking dogs, ect.

These two computer fans come with built in manual speed control:
https://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-FM121-Control-Designs-120X120X25mm/dp/B000BWEIFU

https://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-...=1468828280&sr=1-1&keywords=silverstone+fm181

This 180Mm silverstone fan is very quiet even on highest speed, moves a good amount of volume on highest speed (~150cfm) at ~0.28 amps and is practically silent  at lowest speed, 0.08amps and ~50cfm.

This following 180MM fan is far more powerful, but it does not like running at its highest speeds at battery charging voltages. Mine failed, but salt air corrosion was a factor along with a few times early on exposed to 14+ volts at max rpm and the hub got stinky plastic hot.

https://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-...=1468828468&sr=1-1&keywords=silverstone+ap182

I keep one 180mm fan and 2 120MM fans  individually switched and speed controlled in a conversion van window with a shroud.  Rare that I need all three running full speed but much appreciated when i do.

Other computer fans can be speed controlled with a PWM motor speed controller.  This controller should have a 19 or higher Khz frequency, otherwise the PWM signal makes the fan whine annoyingly.

21 KHZ but 10 amps is overkill on most fans.  Unless one perhaps wants to go for a smaller radiator fan.

https://www.amazon.com/Controller-A...ontroller&qid=1465288414&ref_=sr_1_35&sr=8-35

Some other computer fans are called PWM fans, these have 4 wires and one of these requires a PWM signal be fed to it to control the speed. The other wires are + and - and a speed sensor to feed to a computer motherboard.  it is said it that it is better NOT to control a PWM fan with a PWM motor speed controller on the + and -wires but to use the PWM wire.

I will soon be utilizing this 4th wire on a Noctua Industrial IP52 rated 3000 rpm 120mm fan, and perhaps also be able to tame the screaming banshee fan to tolerable levels. This NOctua has nearly double the static pressure rating as the 120MM silverstone but about the same CFM rating, meaning it will be good at forcing air through resistance better than the SS fan.

This 120Mm fan is insanely powerful, and LOUD, so I call it the screaming banshee:

https://www.amazon.com/Original-Del..._SR160,160_&psc=1&refRID=G9AY74H1485VEC1PDDVM

I don't think this fan, if it can be tamed to a quiet enough level for low airflow, would be very efficient, electrically, but turning that dial to high could exhaust all the air in my van Approximately every 2 minutes.

the screaming banshee only slows to about 60% speed before shutting off on a PWM motor speed controller, so i hope to feed the PWm wire separately, and achieve slower speeds.

My interior fans are smaller Vantec Tornado fans in 80 and 92MM sizes.  These are very powerful fans too.  i have them on a gooseneck attached to a 2 inch spring clamp, so I can mount and aim them anywhere.

https://www.amazon.com/Vantec-TD923...=1468829392&sr=1-1&keywords=vantec+tornado+92

To control the speed on these Vantec tornado fans, I use a ciggy plug style voltage controller.

One very similar to the one below. These fans fed only 3volts are very quiet and draw very little juice.  However they might not start turning on 3v when first plugged in, so start at a higher voltage then back off.  These fans send a dense narrow column of air a good distance.

https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-C..._SR160,160_&psc=1&refRID=EDPMM0VY1NHRCD4XBNDN

I am hesitant to post the above link. the plug design is faulty and in some 12v ciggy receptacles ,can be tweeked sideways shortig + and -, and blow the fuse to the ciggy 12v receptacle.  I solved this with appropriate sized heatshrink covering all but the spring loaded 'nipple' center (+) contact and these  now have thousands of hours on them since purchase.

These two internal Vantec tornado fans are basically the only time I use the 7 different ciggy plug receptacles I installed all overmy rig  before I knew better, but as these fans pull only one amp their high resistance and intermittent nature poses little issue in this application, and are convenient.

 

[Willy]

I picked up one of these at the flea market for $10 and, even at full price, it's well worth it.. pukes out air. ..Willy. https://www.amazon.com/O2COOL®-10-I...ie=UTF8&qid=1468854185&sr=8-8&keywords=O2COOL

 

[VegasVanGuy]

Thanks for all the great info.

 

[MrNoodly]

If you want a freestanding one that you can plug into a cigarette lighter socket, this one is great.

Or one of these: http://www.o2-cool.com/fans

I'm very satisfied with my O2Cool fan.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

+1 on O2-Cool fans.  I have a USB fan and a battery/ciggy plug fan.  I combine those with a MaxxFan ceiling fan.

 -- Spiff

 

[Willy]

If I had a roof vent in my rig, I'd mount my O2Cool fan in it and save big bux. ..Willy.

 

[VegasVanGuy]

Looks like the O2 fans are AC not DC.

 

[MrNoodly]

Looks like the O2 fans are AC not DC.

http://www.o2-cool.com/battery-operated-fans


They might have juggled their product offerings since I bought mine three years ago. I has a 12V plug and had a canister for D cell batteries. I suspect their current battery powered fans could be easily wired with a 12V plug.

 

[Mobilesport]

Computer fans work good for me , I plug it into a cigarette lighter and set the fan about 8 inches from my face , makes a nice cool breeze to put me to sleep , I run it full blast and draws less then a amp . some might not like the sound but I like it ,,   it reminds me that I have cool air ,  same thing goes for my generator , air conditioner and furnace , I like the sound of all of em. 
Its when the sound stops that things get uncomfortable , cold in the winter and hot in the summer , spring and fall Is piece and quiet.
I should wire in a timer to shut the fan off after it runs about a hour , I don't need it on after i am a sleep but its hard to get to sleep without it.

 

[Hippiechk]

I picked up one of these at the flea market for $10 and, even at full price, it's well worth it.. pukes out air. ..Willy. https://www.amazon.com/O2COOL®-10-I...ie=UTF8&qid=1468854185&sr=8-8&keywords=O2COOL

Same one I have...pushes a lot of air. Mine was a gift from ice_maiden last time I visited her in Texas. *thanks twin*

 

[ZoNiE]

X2 on the road pro. $40 at truck stops. Can also run on D batteries

 

[SternWake]

https://www.amazon.com/O2COOL®-10-I...ie=UTF8&qid=1468854185&sr=8-8&keywords=O2COOL


This fan uses 6 D cell batteries.   I assume they are in series, not parallel.  Lets assume Alkaline disposable batteries These are rated at 1.5v each, but the alkaline ones are basically ~ 1.62v new, and ~1.3v when they can no longer support the load/ draw.
Nicad and Nimh rechargeables are about 1.42v fully charged and 1.2xv something when they can no longer support the load on them
1.62 x 6= 9.72
1.2 x 6 = 7.2v
So if the 6 d cells are wired in series the DC voltage range the fan motor can expect is ~9.75v to 7.2v.
it would be interesting to see the output specs on the AC adapter, and actually test it's output too loaded and unloaded..
This fan can likely handle voltages outside this range too.


I know D cells are certainly convenient, but they hardly are cheap for decent alkaline cells, and getting Nimh cells requires a charger for them.
I say Bypass the Alkaliines, feed the fan 9.75V from a voltage buck converter wired to the 12v vehicle or house battery.
There are sooo many DC to DC buck converters, one needs only one of a high enough amperage rating to handle the fan, so the specs listed on the AC adapter would be helpful in this regard as well.
This one is pretty new. i like the plastic enclosure:
https://www.amazon.com/Yeeco-Regula...08361&sr=8-13&keywords=voltage+buck+converter
if someone frugal and with some soldering skills Knew their fan could not draw more than 2 amps:
https://www.amazon.com/Generic-DC-D...908549&sr=8-6&keywords=voltage+buck+converter
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st_...+converter&qid=1468908361&sort=price-asc-rank
I just hate to think people might be opting to burning money on D cell alkaline batteries when the top link option pays for for itself in one set of duracell D cells.
It is likely a fan designed for 9Vdc could also handle 12vdc direct from the auto battery.  it will spin faster move more air, and consume more amperage, and the motor hub might get too hot, or it might not.

 

[rvpopeye]

Been using mine for years. Got 2 ! The second one I got at Wally's on clearance at the end of season clearance for $10.

It comes with a wall wart power supply and of course the batteries will run it too..
I made a cord that has the same plug as the wall wart on the fan end and plug it into a cig lighter socket or clip it to the battery.

I'd still recommend a Fantastic vent fan for the roof too !

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I also got my O2Cool fans at Wallyworld end of season clearance.  The big one has 8 D cell batteries and a wall wart.  I cut the wall wart off and grafted a ciggy plug on and use it that way most of the time.  Noisy, but moves a surprising amount of air.  The batteries are used mostly for ballast since I hang it from a shelf to blow across me when in bed.  Don't remember the amp draw, but it is not much.  The smaller one plugs into my BlueSea USB socket.

I prefer the MaxxFan for its integral rain cover.  I have had it open in some hard driving rain with no problems.  Well, I did have it on sucking air in during one frog strangler and it sucked the rain right in.

 -- Spiff

 

[Willy]

Looks like the O2 fans are AC not DC.

 Nope, not the one I linked to on Amazon.. though it does have a wall-wart AC adapter for use without batteries. I made a mistake, however, insofar as mine is the 8 D cell version which can be run off straight 12v. ..Willy.