Best 12v Fan for below deck...

[Steve]

I have a small clip on fan for below deck, but would like a bigger one to push more air. Any recommendations?

[kmclemore]

Hi, Steve - I hadn't seen you here for a while - welcome back!

There was a thread on this a while back, and I posted that the Hella Fans really are the quietest, lowest amperage fans available - I have a Hella Jet and love it. They draw very little current (0.29 amps), so there's hardly any impact on your battery. They are single speed (but that's all I need), and they have models in white or black. I mounted mine to a clip so I could move it around.

Instead of a bigger fan, why not get a few little ones that draw about the same current as your existing one?

Previous thread link: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... la#p153019

I got the idea from Moe, who also liked Hella fans.

Hella fans: http://www.hellamarine.com/?t=3&pcid=44

Jet Single Speed Fan - Series: 6239

Economy fan with similar styling to the popular “Turbo” models. Can be turned and pivoted in all directions, and locked in position.
- 130 mm diameter fan blade with guard
- Switch in front of the blade guard
- Side, upright or pendant mounting.
- Can be fixed in any position.

12V / Black Housing
Part Number: 8EV 006 239-002
USA: 87175
AUS: 6102

12V / White Housing
Part Number: 8EV 006 239-012
USA: 87178

Output
40 litres / sec

Power consumption
3.5W

They also make the Hella Turbo Fan, and it has two speeds, but draws twice the current, albeit a still very low 0.54 amps.

Output
Speed I: 70 litres / sec.
Speed II: 95 litres / sec.

Power consumption
6.5 W

[Moe]

These are the Hella Turbo fans, now mounted just forward of the quarter berths in our Capri 18:



I measured each at about 140 mA on Low and 220 mA on High when fed by a battery at 12.8 VDC (fully charged). They probably draw more current when that battery is being charged with anywhere from 13.2 VDC (float) to 14.6 VDC (bulk) mode. Typically, "12 volt" appliances are rated at 13.8 VDC, but it varies.

One warning though for those who have children...there is no grill to keep fingers out of the blades on the back side.

--
Moe

[kmclemore]

One warning though for those who have children...there is no grill to keep fingers out of the blades on the back side.

Thanks for chiming in, Moe. Nice boat!

BTW, the lighter-duty "Hella Jet" fan *does* have a rear grill. Now why they put a rear grill on their less powerful fan is something I'll never understand.

[Steve]

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... &id=924985

[Steve]

Found these online for $21.99 each, ordered two. Looking forward to getting these mounted for the coming weekend. Now just have to decide where to put them!

[Moe]

One warning though for those who have children...there is no grill to keep fingers out of the blades on the back side.

Thanks for chiming in, Moe. Nice boat!

Thanks, Kevin. This is where the fans blow:

BTW, the lighter-duty "Hella Jet" fan *does* have a rear grill. Now why they put a rear grill on their less powerful fan is something I'll never understand.

I know, and it's ironic. I've gotten my fingers in there and it hurts!

--
Moe

[Russ]

My wife found this cool rechargeable fan at Walmart or some such place. It runs on built in battery, D cell batteries or AC adapter. I plugged the "adapter" into a 12v outlet and it runs great.

It's cheap, quiet, portable, adjustable, has great velocity and I can choose what will power it. I'm going to get another one.


--Russ

[kmclemore]

Looks like a nice fan, Russ, but I'd have two concerns - how much current does it draw, and how heavy & bulky is it? Both are at a premium on our boats.

[MadMacX]

My wife found this cool rechargeable fan at Walmart or some such place. It runs on built in battery, D cell batteries or AC adapter. I plugged the "adapter" into a 12v outlet and it runs great.

It's cheap, quiet, portable, adjustable, has great velocity and I can choose what will power it. I'm going to get another one.


--Russ

Hey Russ,

FWIW, I went through four of those fans last summer. I purchased one at WalMart in the spring and it lasted about 2-3 weeks, then it's replacement failed, and it's replacement failed and on and on. Finally I just asked for my money back. What seemed to happen was the switch failed and the fan would run when it felt like it. When it worked, it was a great little fan, but........

Pat

[Russ]

Looks like a nice fan, Russ, but I'd have two concerns - how much current does it draw, and how heavy & bulky is it? Both are at a premium on our boats.

I couldn't tell you and I'm sure the Chinese manual doesn't state.
But this is the second season and it's still works. If it works off of D cell batteries it can't draw much power and I prefer to use it that way.
It's not very bulky. A fixed mount would solve storage, but my wife loves this junky thing and so do I. It is pretty easy to store, but we keep it on the "galley" of our M most of the time. For the price, I'll take a "disposable" unit.

--Russ

[Russ]

My wife found this cool rechargeable fan at Walmart or some such place. It runs on built in battery, D cell batteries or AC adapter. I plugged the "adapter" into a 12v outlet and it runs great.

It's cheap, quiet, portable, adjustable, has great velocity and I can choose what will power it. I'm going to get another one.


--Russ

Hey Russ,

FWIW, I went through four of those fans last summer. I purchased one at WalMart in the spring and it lasted about 2-3 weeks, then it's replacement failed, and it's replacement failed and on and on. Finally I just asked for my money back. What seemed to happen was the switch failed and the fan would run when it felt like it. When it worked, it was a great little fan, but........

Pat

Wow! That's horrible.

All I can say is this one still works. We bring it home on the "off season" and it has been working for over a year. Chinese made as it is, I don't expect much of it.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I've had good luck with this 10" O2 purchased at West Marine. Runs on 120v AC, 12v DC, built in rechargeable batteries, or alkalines. Very light weight, easy to store, and moves a lot of air. Uses very little power.



http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... lassNum=36

[Love MACs]

Looks like the same fan mentioned by RussMT Wonder what the price difference was between CampingWorld and West Marine Bet the "Marine" fan was more expensive


Allan

[Kelly Hanson East]

Imagine the price and slow fan speed if it were blue...