Has anyone tried this idea for a creative/inexpensive vent fan solution? - Good Old RVs2024-03-28T11:17:10Zhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/forum/topics/has-anyone-tried-this-idea-for-a-creative-inexpensive-vent-fan?commentId=2093474%3AComment%3A312403&feed=yes&xn_auth=noFirst, that's cool. Very goo…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-22:2093474:Comment:3128332017-04-22T23:47:49.761ZDawn Michellehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/DawnRobuck
<p>First, that's cool. Very good information to know. I'll look for those.</p>
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<p>Second, um, hate to admit it out loud but my fan mod is going to be considered half assed anyway :-) Course I'm not planning on selling my rig anytime soon–and she's not a canned ham where I might be concerned about rehabbing her. She's just for me to be comfortable. I will say, I'm kind of surprised I decided to go this way because it is a tad clumsy and I tend to be a perfectionist especially where…</p>
<p>First, that's cool. Very good information to know. I'll look for those.</p>
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<p>Second, um, hate to admit it out loud but my fan mod is going to be considered half assed anyway :-) Course I'm not planning on selling my rig anytime soon–and she's not a canned ham where I might be concerned about rehabbing her. She's just for me to be comfortable. I will say, I'm kind of surprised I decided to go this way because it is a tad clumsy and I tend to be a perfectionist especially where you see things, but I felt it was necessary to get some air circulation in place and there are a lot of other things I need to spend that money on. I figure it will get me down the road a year or two, I learned more skills, and then in a couple of years I'll replace them with with fantastic or similar fan units. </p>
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<p>Got the bathroom fan in today so will write up a blog post in a bit so you can see the results (no snickering - I'm proud of my creativity!!)</p> Each vent fan is of course fr…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-22:2093474:Comment:3125292017-04-22T22:36:21.847ZHenryhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/xn/detail/u_2xblovv1ca91m
<p>Each vent fan is of course framed around it's perimeter which makes getting a wire to it an issue to the lay person. As an RV tech I used a 5 foot long flexible drill bit to push through a pre drilled hole and slid it across the RV ceiling till it hit the wood framing of the vent I was wanting to pull a wire to. then drilled a hole through it the flex bit has a hole on both ends to connect a power wire to and pull it back to the vent. these bits can be bought at Lowes or Home Depot then…</p>
<p>Each vent fan is of course framed around it's perimeter which makes getting a wire to it an issue to the lay person. As an RV tech I used a 5 foot long flexible drill bit to push through a pre drilled hole and slid it across the RV ceiling till it hit the wood framing of the vent I was wanting to pull a wire to. then drilled a hole through it the flex bit has a hole on both ends to connect a power wire to and pull it back to the vent. these bits can be bought at Lowes or Home Depot then saved for future wire pulls. The cost about $15 but saves you from doing a half assed looking surface mount wire that cuts down the resale value of your RV. Fishing walls is a little different I used ball type pull chain like you see on pull chains in ceiling fans it finds it's own way down a wall with loose insulation in it. Good luck.</p>
<p> </p> Well that doesn't sound good…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-21:2093474:Comment:3126532017-04-21T18:47:55.948ZDawn Michellehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/DawnRobuck
<p>Well that doesn't sound good about the solar options! I can see one day replacing the units fully, but right now the expenses are mounting up so going to fix and use what I have. My parameters in choosing the Road Pro ultimately was because of the cigarette lighter connection already wired - I don't have cab a/c so having a fan to prop up in the cab while driving might be a blessing. So I'm figuring out how to do it so that I don't have anything permanently sticking out.</p>
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<p>My…</p>
<p>Well that doesn't sound good about the solar options! I can see one day replacing the units fully, but right now the expenses are mounting up so going to fix and use what I have. My parameters in choosing the Road Pro ultimately was because of the cigarette lighter connection already wired - I don't have cab a/c so having a fan to prop up in the cab while driving might be a blessing. So I'm figuring out how to do it so that I don't have anything permanently sticking out.</p>
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<p>My thinking now that I have the fan (I have to clean and paint the trim and regasket before I put them in is to put eight small eye hooks into the inside of the vent (carefully as that plastic is brittle), two on each side about two inches from the corners. There's room because the road pro isn't as big as the vent opening. Then I can run four 10 inch bungies across that will fit to the side of the circular opening, but prop up the fan and make it easy to slide out and turn over (manual reverse) as needed. I may add some sort of wire clips so I can leave them in when on the road. </p>
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<p>Then also run some wire clips down the side (there will be extra when i flip) - i'll either mount a female 12 v connector or the bathroom I may hardware. One for sure I'll use the connector so I can remove and use in the cab.</p>
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<p>No, it won't be the prettiest thing (but hey, I'll use matching bungies, okay?!) but really I don't think once I have everything else in the interior modified it's going to look too bad.</p>
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<p>Biggest issue is the crank - it's fine on one side because the fan is inset - it's when it's reversed it may be an issue. I may also make some sort of wider garnish (as Richard got me thinking) with a foam insert so that there aren't gaps when I use it, make the airflow more effective.</p>
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<p>So, I will post a blog with pics when finished! I haven't finished my sealing yet (waiting on the a/c shroud and dicor to come in and a few more dry days) but as soon as that's done I'll get up a blog on that process and all the things I learned (like to do the sealing front to back so you don't keep sticking your hand down in the vent you just sealed!). </p> Now that's an interesting ide…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-21:2093474:Comment:3125012017-04-21T18:33:24.421ZDawn Michellehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/DawnRobuck
<p>Now that's an interesting idea - hadn't thought about making a new one... </p>
<p>Now that's an interesting idea - hadn't thought about making a new one... </p> I was able to make the trim a…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-21:2093474:Comment:3124952017-04-21T04:56:50.610ZRichard W. Cobbshttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/xn/detail/u_32z78dfy6wa5w
<p>I was able to make the trim around the bath vent out of plastic rain gutter from Lowe's. As I recall, the biggest problem was the lift mechanism. I had to replace the crank with a push rod set-up.</p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p>I was able to make the trim around the bath vent out of plastic rain gutter from Lowe's. As I recall, the biggest problem was the lift mechanism. I had to replace the crank with a push rod set-up.</p>
<p>Good Luck</p> They DO have solar vent fans.…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-21:2093474:Comment:3124162017-04-21T03:48:41.264ZLakota Wolfhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/LakotaWolf
<p>They DO have solar vent fans. Downside.. not the best quality as a one piece unit. The draw back I have noticed when I tried one is,,,, The life expectancy is about 3 to 6 months. The solar cell is basically to small and underpowered and recharge rate is about 50-60% and the 3 rechargable batteries die and corrode quickly. With the solar cell facing, it gets Dusty etc, and recharge voltage is effected. I personally haven't tried the D cell battery type, so I wouldn't know how long you could…</p>
<p>They DO have solar vent fans. Downside.. not the best quality as a one piece unit. The draw back I have noticed when I tried one is,,,, The life expectancy is about 3 to 6 months. The solar cell is basically to small and underpowered and recharge rate is about 50-60% and the 3 rechargable batteries die and corrode quickly. With the solar cell facing, it gets Dusty etc, and recharge voltage is effected. I personally haven't tried the D cell battery type, so I wouldn't know how long you could run them before having to change the batteries out. I prefer the direct wire to 12 v, running off the cabin battery,(charged by the inverter\ converter). Now I have found, after shopping around Flea bay (E-Bay), some of the standard 16 inch roof vent W/fan. And including thermostat control, were comparably priced the same as single speed fans. When I say a 16 inch vent I know the openings are 15x15. </p>
<p>Also in a comment up above, it is true several RV manufacturers did have a pig tail wire for the option of a fan in the vent, usually tagged with light fixture outlet. If not.. they do leave slack in the wiring with screw nuts to tap into.</p> You know - all the ones they…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-20:2093474:Comment:3124032017-04-20T02:04:28.492ZDawn Michellehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/DawnRobuck
<p>You know - all the ones they make now (at least that I looked at on Amazon) have 6 of the D cells - and that's closer to 9v I understand? That said I think the roadpro is actually manufactured by 02 (I could be wrong but i found that on a forum on the internet - has to be correct, right?!)</p>
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<p>Very glad to hear you are using one as a vent fan :-) </p>
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<p>Nicaragua - country with a difficult past but heard it's quite a nice place to expatriate to now? </p>
<p>You know - all the ones they make now (at least that I looked at on Amazon) have 6 of the D cells - and that's closer to 9v I understand? That said I think the roadpro is actually manufactured by 02 (I could be wrong but i found that on a forum on the internet - has to be correct, right?!)</p>
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<p>Very glad to hear you are using one as a vent fan :-) </p>
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<p>Nicaragua - country with a difficult past but heard it's quite a nice place to expatriate to now? </p> I have four O2Cool fans from…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-20:2093474:Comment:3124002017-04-20T01:19:22.723ZRichard W. Cobbshttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/xn/detail/u_32z78dfy6wa5w
<p>I have four O2Cool fans from several years ago. They may have changed, but all of mine took 8 D cell batteries which adds up to 12 volts. I'm in Nicaragua and right now one is operating as a vent fan in the bathroom and another is circulating air over me. I got these fans when I was in Virginia in 2009,so they last pretty good.</p>
<p>I have four O2Cool fans from several years ago. They may have changed, but all of mine took 8 D cell batteries which adds up to 12 volts. I'm in Nicaragua and right now one is operating as a vent fan in the bathroom and another is circulating air over me. I got these fans when I was in Virginia in 2009,so they last pretty good.</p> Interesting thought...
In th…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-20:2093474:Comment:3125872017-04-20T00:18:02.104ZDawn Michellehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/DawnRobuck
<p>Interesting thought...</p>
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<p>In the meantime I just ordered a 12v roadpro to try out here in the bathroom. Figured it's a $30 mistake if it doesn't work. Like my $30 fiberglass kit to try to repair the a/c shroud....we all gotta learn right? I learned sometimes I gotta pony up and just replace something!</p>
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<p>My unhappy news was that Ventline no longer makes the garnish for my vent - the front one is cracked and chipped. Going to have to live with it (the bathroom one…</p>
<p>Interesting thought...</p>
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<p>In the meantime I just ordered a 12v roadpro to try out here in the bathroom. Figured it's a $30 mistake if it doesn't work. Like my $30 fiberglass kit to try to repair the a/c shroud....we all gotta learn right? I learned sometimes I gotta pony up and just replace something!</p>
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<p>My unhappy news was that Ventline no longer makes the garnish for my vent - the front one is cracked and chipped. Going to have to live with it (the bathroom one is a different size). Either that or replace the whole vent unit and I'd rather spend my budget and time in other places :-) </p>
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<p>I spend a lot of time researching solar (which doesn't mean I have a wealth of knowledge, more that it's indicative that it takes me awhile to wrap my head around this stuff) and am really looking forward to that phase of my reno!</p> they make solar powered roof…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2017-04-19:2093474:Comment:3126382017-04-19T22:05:57.034Zrichard nancehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/richardnance
<p>they make solar powered roof vents.i wonder if one of those could be adapted.</p>
<p>they make solar powered roof vents.i wonder if one of those could be adapted.</p>