12v caravan fans

A 12v fan has absolutely no need to run off an inverter and to do so would require the use of a plug pack BUT will require Van 12v converted first UP to 240ac and then down again to 12v for the fan via that plug pack power source.

Double waste of conversion energy before ever running a fan.

What is wrong with running a 12v fan from a 12v power source ie, the Van's batteries.

How and where did you get info a 12v fan runs quieter off and inverter? One being 12v and one 240Vac requires some intermediate and unnecessary gear. Can't see how they will be quieter as the fan blade noise is usually the issue.

A computer fan or two may do what you require and use far less 12v power than a K mart special. Two will cost less than $100. Two wired in series will run slower and quieter and move quite a bit of air for sleep areas.

Cheers
Ross M

Steve,

Can't beat a Caframo 12v fan from Whitworths. About 8", 3 speed, low current draw, quiet and has built-in timer, 2, 4, 6 & 8 hour timer. About $139 at moment.

No affiliation etc. we've got one in our camper, and it works well. Timer is neat too, set it for 2 or 4 hours, it's off when(or is that if??) the night gets cool.

Bob.

I got one of these when I was in Darwin. Much less than the $100 your thinking of. Mine only cost $60.00 from a caravan store, but I notice this same one on ebay is also the same price from a store.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-VOLT-BREEZEWAY-FAN-3-SPEED-3M-LEAD-great-for-camping-caravanning-boating-/111249775006?pt=Caravan_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19e700d99e#ht_1569wt_688

Steve,

12V Camfro Sirocco Fans; brilliant. We have two in our van and two in our camper. No need for an inverter and they draw virtually no current. They enable you to sleep really comfortably and you are able to direct their breeze almost anywhere.

Di

Ron - I understand what you're saying but I am talking about a kmart 240v $15 fan running off a sine inverter as I am told they run quieter rather than directly from the van's 12v sockets or a modified inverter.

I wasn't convinced about the effectiveness of a12v 8" fan and at $140.............


......now SDG, that looks more like it. ;) Will investigate after my beauty sleep

You don't need to carry an inverter as 12v fans doesn't require it. Moreover, do check your vehicle for any automatic transmission repair, as it may be affected if socket and other inverter is used for long.

The word is that good 12 volt fans are not cheap...but is worth buying a good one.

The idea of buying a 240v fan and running it off an inverter is plainly rediculous.

Ya talking about cheap fans...but then ya talking about buying an inverter....what the.

yes then we start talking about the inefficencies of running inverters and conversion losses.

The other thing is introducing an unnecessary source of unprotected 240V supply.

As for the computer or muffin fans...if you are feeling handy and dont mind fabing up a pivot bracket, you can get into a 5 inch computer fan that will shift quite a bit of air for under $30.
If you buy a good brand they will run continuously for quite a while....I've had em run 4 or 5 years contunuous in commercial applications....try that one with almost any domestic box fan.
The good ones are quiet.......look for one with magnetic levitation bearings.

If you take a 12 volt fan and run it thru a voltage regulator as a speed control they will run to below 6 volts, and when you drop the speed the noise level drops dramaticly as does the current drain.

If you want fixed speed and quiet, and dont mind a loss of air flow a 24 volt fan will run fine on 12 volts.

cheers

This is how I installed a fan in my caravan:

Installing a Fan

G'day Steve M1, as you already have the inverter and the 240v fan, go for it. I do exactly what you contemplate and all works well... just manage your battery state of charge. After all, it's not in use 365 nights of the year. I did try one of the cheaper 12v Breezeway fans that SDG suggests, but gave it away as it was too noisy, and I cannot justify (usage vs cost) the more expensive Sirroco fans that others suggest.

Cheers
Greg

It is easy to over complicate and over spend on this issue.

For many years we have used a Kmart $18 240 volt fan from Kmart using a 400watt modified sine wave inverter connected to the 12 volt house battery on a houseboat. The inverter was quite cheap at about $40. The fan is rated at 60 watts and runs just as quietly and efficiently using the inverter as on the household mains voltage. The inverter may not be extremely efficient, but considering the battery is 100ah plus, and the fan consumes only 60watts at maximum speed, we have never had a problem with a flat battery.

The inverter has also been useful in charging mobile phone and laptop batteries.

I suggest you try a cheap 240 volt fan first on the modified sine wave inverter that it appears you may already have and potentially save yourself quite a few dollars!