Cooling Fans In Off Road Camper Trailers

Mike,

Can't really help with the info you're after - Mind you I've been looking hard at the Coleman fan (held over flyscreen with magnets) for our camper. I think this will be the go as they obviously don't cool as such, but the breeze the create combined with the movement of hot are out should reduce the temp in the camper.

I'll be watching this post to see if anyone has good/bad points on the above!

Tim - Stratford.

Have a look at 12v computer fans the ones they use to cool power supplies towers etc very low current draw quite and move an enormous amount of air for their size
can usually get them at computer repair shops for very little if not free they are designed for continuous use are caged so you cant get your fingers in the blades
i use two to circulate the air inside the camper
Regards Kev

Does not seem to be much on the market (12v wise) I have only seen the tent fans in the shops.
We just went for a 12v fan like we used to put on the dash of the HR's years ago and mdified the bracket so we can attach it to one of the poles. In saying all that we tend to keep our summer wandering south and close to the beach.

A 12 volt fan will use far more power than a 240v /with inverter.

Buy a cheap fan (Type that is enclosed in a box type frame with revolving front guard) and use a 150 or 300 watt inverter. We also take the front revolving guard off (no kids) and this increases the air flow by 50%.

We stopped using our 12 volt fans as this 240v system moved 200% more air for less than half the power usage. Much quieter too! Our $19 fan only uses 40 watts!

Mike

Try visiting our cousins in the boating fraternity.
www.whitworths.com.au/main_home.asp
has a good range of stuff online, as other boating stores do.

12 Volt Shop www.12volt.com.au/ would also be a good option.

Have a look at some of the inline fans, not just the oscillating ones. They seem a bit more robust that the oscillating which might shake to bits in a camper unless packed.

Tim

Mike
Get a 12 volt fan from Dick Smith..$10. A variable Regulator also from Dick Smith..Product No.M9889 for $29. You will have to cut the plugs off and rejoin the Variable Regulator to the Fan. You will then have a Fan that you can vary the speed from 1.5volts to 12 volts. On 3 volts it moves the air without making any noise. It's excellent when you experience a warm humid night.
It will work great in your Tvan Mike.
With regards.
Ian

Andrew,

I have two 8" 12 volt fans over our double bed in our caravan. We are living full time in our van traveling around Oz.

I do not know the exact wattage or amps our fans use, but I do know how much our 200amp AGM battery is depleated only after a few hours usage with the 12 volt fans. I would guess they use at least 5-6 amps each per hour. Very noisy and don't shift much air. So we stopped using them and can run the 240V fan through the inverter all night with little loss of voltage from the battery. By morning, after watching TV, lights, water pump and running fan all night, voltage is down to about 12.3 to 12.4v. We have 5 x 115watt solar panels for charging, but also run an Engel 40litre beer frideg and a Waeco 160 litre two door fridge freezer, so we have to watch our power usage.

I do know the cheap 240v fan we run only uses 40 watt max. We run on the low setting most of the time.

After all the wisdom in the replies above I don't know if this is much help but I saw 12v automotive fans with base & clamp for $24/$25 in K-Mart last week. They have a cig lghter plug. Was thinking of buying one when there was 15% off of something, & replacing the 240v medium sized fan + inverter system we already have for the caravan, but am now re-considering. Like the idea of the Dick Smith fan + regulator. Hmmm, don't know. I guess its noise v air movement v power consumption.