Fantastic Fan vs. Vornado 733

[GrayWhale]

I don't have the Fantastic Fan, but I have the Vornado ($50 at Costco). My van with the windows up has gotten up to 110-112 deg and East Coast humidity.  As I climb in, leaving 1 side door open, then propping open 1 rear window and turn on this Vornado to MEDIUM, it's just fine immediately. No sweatting, as the temp starts dropping little by little. 

I know you guys are stickler with 12V fans, but I don't think that even 2 of these Fantastic Fans can achieve the same as this Vornado. It has a massive, propeller type fan blades and does work as advertise. It creates like a whooshing whirlwind effect but the noise level is very mild. It's a low tone bass as compared to the high treble, buzzing of little 12v fans. I've had small, medium and big A/C fans in the van (as well as 3 different 12v fans), and they're annoyingly loud while not giving out the same amount of airflow. It does feel like the air is being circulated and bouncing around to hit you at different angles. 

Power consumption is not that bad (Killawatt). The highest setting I use is Medium. Going to Low, there is noticeably less cooling on such hot days and not worth it, since it's only a 4 watts difference. On High, it's pretty loud and blows paper and stuff around.

Vornado 733:  41.3w, 45.3w, 62.3w
Fantastic Fan: 20w, 30w, 44w
 
This may be a better solution if you're contemplating on running an 110v Air Conditioning unit off of a generator. On hot days with the full sun beating down on the van, I can sleep, watch movies, etc. w/o sweating. At night, I drop it down to low or use the 12v fans. 
http://www.amazon.com/Fan-Tastic-01...&qid=1437757322&sr=8-1&keywords=fantastic+fan

http://www.amazon.com/Fan-Tastic-01...iewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

http://www.amazon.com/Vornado-Full-...F8&qid=1437757295&sr=8-1&keywords=vornado+733

 

[akrvbob]

Thanks for the report. There's nothing wrong with using a good 110 fan in the van, I've know several people who did. You do use more power with a more powerful fan and the inverter waste, but if you have the power to spare that's no big deal.

Personally, I don't like a strong fan and since I'm never where it is extremely hot, my 12 volt fans work perfectly for me. Bit if I was where it was miserably hot, my story might change!!
Bob

 

[sprintersnale]

We carry a Vornado 633 in addition to the 12 volt roof fan. For those really hot 95+ mid-summer afternoons. More effective and portable than a box fan.

 

[MikeRuth]

For 110 volt use I have one of these, works great.
http://www.amazon.com/Westpointe-HV...sbs_201_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1F1TDFA9B4KF0KYXK0AZ

and CHEAP. Do you really need a fan that shoot the air 100 feet? at $79.00?

 

[GrayWhale]

For 110 volt use I have one of these, works great.
http://www.amazon.com/Westpointe-HV...sbs_201_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1F1TDFA9B4KF0KYXK0AZ

and CHEAP. Do you really need a fan that shoot the air 100 feet? at $79.00?

I have this exact, high velocity, metal fan and branded under "Hawaiian Breeze" at 33w, 37w, 43w (low, med, hi). It's very strong for it's size and was only $5 on clearance at Target. But it's horribly noisy and the airflow is not even close, but understandably so because it's much smaller and lighter. The Vornado just gives you a more soothing airflow with a mild noise level. That's why I forked over the $50 for this Vornado 733 and put a bunch of other fans into storage. It is steep at $79, but Costco had it for $50 which I couldn't pass up when I looked at the price on Amazon. Turns out to be a good move. 

It's also good at blasting away mosquitoes when outdoors. I don't need a standalone air conditioning unit any longer.

 

[SternWake]

I'm a 12v fan guy, and accept their limitations.

What I do find to be a great feature of fans are the steering vanes on the face which concentrate the air moved in a narrower column which can be directed where it is most effective.

For My van I have 2 approaches. Air exchange, and a directed breeze of that exchanged air.

I use a Silverstone AP182 in a conversion van sliding window with is a 180MM fan. It is in a tight fitting shroud so that any air it sucks in through the screen is forced inside the van and is not sending a portion of it in a loop back outside the same window.

The AP182 comes with a variable speed control, and is basically silent at its lowest speed, moves 60CFM or so, for 0.05 amps or about 0.62watts. This fan is right next to my head when in bed. I love breathing in the cool air. I also have a carbon filter on the outside of the screen which reduces flow, but is only a factor in super hot conditions in the daytime.

This same window shroud has 2 more 120MM fans, one is variable speed. These fans are not switched on often. It has to be seriously hot

My ceiling has 2 120MM inline fans which counter rotate. One is a silverstone FM121 which is variable speed, one is a single speed Arctic cool feeder fan. These push air through a rainproof Mushroom vent which used to have a barely effective self contained solar powered fan.

For interior air movement I use Vantec tornado fans. I put these on a Gooseneck which has a 2 inch spring clamp. They also have a voltage controller to act as a speed control.

These can be obnoxiously loud at 12 volts, I rarely use it at more than 9 volts. These move air in a nice narrow column, and the gooseneck and clamp allow me to position it precisely where most effective for my comfort.

I have both the 80MM fan and the 92MM Vantec tornado fan. One of them is mounted on my engine cover with the gooseneck and is great for driving on hot days.

http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-Tornado-TD8038H-80x80x38mm-Performance/dp/B000234VZK

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ANTC8K63JGBK0KY3MG8

http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-F...=1437860739&sr=1-1&keywords=silverstone+fm121

http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-P...=1437860767&sr=1-1&keywords=silverstone+ap182
I wish these silverstone fans were manufactured black. I have painted both black so they were less visible in my side window shroud, but the black carbon filter has negated that factor.

This 180MM fan is adjustable speed and a newer offering from Silverstone, and has impressive specs, but I have not experience with it:
http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-T...=1437860767&sr=1-2&keywords=silverstone+ap182


Here are the voltage controllers I use as speed controls on the Vantec tornado fans. As they use a Ciggy plug they are convenient, but still suffer from poor contacts and intermittent nature. They are also a bit loose in my recpetacles and some heatshrink tubing has been employed to keep them centered and from slipping out:

http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP...=1437861164&sr=1-3&keywords=powerline+voltage

These can reverse the polarity of the input wires which does not reverse a computer fan, but is nice if one screws up when connecting the fan to the controller.

One can use a PWM speed controller on nearly any 12vDC fan to control speed and amp consumption.

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1Y5MPM11ZETB738X0J28.

For those that prefer 120Vac fans, but find 3 set speeds to not be enough, One can use a router speed controller so turn the fan at any desired speed.

I was able to slow a 20 inch normal box fan to such a slow speed it only drew 1.3 watts via my router speed controller.

Anyway, I feel fan speed control is absolutely Key for comfort, noise control and current consumption.
I bought this one mainly to slow my Angle grinder for certain tasks, but have found it extremely useful for other powertools, or any 115VAC appliance that has an electric motor.

http://www.amazon.com/MLCS-9400-Sta...61721&sr=8-1&keywords=router+speed+controller

 

[SoulRaven]

For 110 volt use I have one of these, works great.
http://www.amazon.com/Westpointe-HV...sbs_201_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1F1TDFA9B4KF0KYXK0AZ

and CHEAP. Do you really need a fan that shoot the air 100 feet? at $79.00?

I only use 12v fans, but it isn't just about the breeze on you.  Any little fan can be okay for that.  For me, it's about how quickly you can bring down the temperature in the whole van.  Both my Fantastic  Breeze & O2-Cool high velocity fans are very good for that task.

 

[SoulRaven]

It's also good at blasting away mosquitoes when outdoors. I don't need a standalone air conditioning unit any longer.

ABSOLUTELY!  The best bug repellent in the world is to have a good fan blowing while outdoors.

Sometimes, if I get bugs inside, I will the screen off my window, aim the fan outwards, and within maybe 5 minutes, I will be bug free too.

 

[K1ngN0thing]

.56 amps per hour on the Vornado, not bad. Ripped my AC out today and might be sticking one of these in its place.

 

[66788]

I only use 12v fans, but it isn't just about the breeze on you.  Any little fan can be okay for that.  For me, it's about how quickly you can bring down the temperature in the whole van.  Both my Fantastic  Breeze & O2-Cool high velocity fans are very good for that task.

+1

 

[66788]

I bought the Endless Breeze first and then as a backup the RoadPro 12vdc fan. The Endless Breeze is well made and appears to be a more substantial fan, but after using the RoadPro I find it uses less amps, is quieter, and moves adequate air for my purposes.

The Endless Breeze is now my backup fan.

When on shore power I use a 110v fan to conserve battery.

 

[Tomcor]

Which model Roadpro fan?

 

[66788]

It's the one that Walmart sells under the name O2 I believe.

Less than half the price of the Endless Breeze so it's easy on the pocketbook.

 

[Tomcor]

Thanks. I bought the O2 Cool fan a while back thanks to this forum.
Using it at home right now with an ac adapter. Still working on my van.
Been a 110 degrees for too long. Should cool off pretty soon.
Mesquite, nv

 

[66788]

Side note: Here in Northern CA/Southern OR it felt as though someone had flipped a switch on Sept. 1 and fall arrived. Nights are markedly cooler and there is a fall dampness in the air.

Love this season.