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Matt Johnson · 05-02-2014, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt'n Ricko

I set up my boat for DC Efficiency... you should be aware of the HUGE Power Draw of this fan...

From an Amazon Review:

"...What you don't know is its power draw and that's a big deal to those of us living inside battery constraints. I have measured it and I'll share:

low: 15 Watts or 1.25 amps @ 12 VDC
medium: 27 Watts or 2.25 amps
high: 35 Watts or close to 3 amps"

Hella Turbos, Caframo 747 & 757, etc only use .5 amps or less

That fan would break me!

Yes, but on high is 900cfm vs 210cfm for the 747. Also, with heat typically comes sun, and solar more than makes up for the 3 amps.

Matt

Capt'n Ricko · 05-02-2014, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by funjohnson

Yes, but on high is 900cfm vs 210cfm for the 747. Also, with heat typically comes sun, and solar more than makes up for the 3 amps.

Matt

465/ft min @ .55 amps - Caframo 747
350/ft min @ .54 amps - Hella Turbo
365/ft min @ .38 amps - Caframo Sirocco

http://www.practical-sailor.com/news...CABIN-FANS.pdf

How big is your Battery Bank?

Suijin · 05-02-2014, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVAndante9

Thanks so much for the info. I was hesitant about the "uncaged" ones having stuck fingers in the back of our old hella. It didn't cut off my fingers but it was more than a startled sensation! But I'm liking the price and size of the smaller ones.

Cheers,
Alison

I ended up sticking my fingers in them a few times, mostly when reaching behind them to turn them off, but you pretty quickly develop some muscle memory and it has not happened to me in half a year. Also, the blades are sort of soft/flexible and pretty much stop dead.

Another plus for these is that they are extremely easy to clean. Just pull the blade off and wash it, and wipe down the motor unit and base.

Downside of them is that to adjust the direction/swivel you need to loosen some knobs. They don't have a friction hinge where you can just nudge it with your hand to change their position.

jkindredpdx · 05-02-2014, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

... Given the ridiculous prices this is a very bad bargain. I have switched to using 120mm square electronics fans (12VDC) with guards front and back - available cheap at your local computer store or online...

Greg

I've used compute case fans in various applications... mostly as a fixed mount vent/exhaust fan. They are $10 cheap, quiet ~19dBA, generally don't spark, but only move about 40-50 CFM... they will run forever and withstand pretty harsh conditions.

Matt Johnson · 05-02-2014, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt'n Ricko

465/ft min @ .55 amps - Caframo 747
350/ft min @ .54 amps - Hella Turbo
365/ft min @ .38 amps - Caframo Sirocco

http://www.practical-sailor.com/news...CABIN-FANS.pdf

How big is your Battery Bank?

210 cfm is what every site shows for the 747. You're quoting lfm vs cfm

We are a bank of 420 with 475watts of solar.

Matt

CarinaPDX · 05-02-2014, 14:06

This is the model I have been buying: SILVERSTONE FM121 Case Fan - Newegg.com

Note that it has a max 110CFM. Also it has 2 ball bearings for long life. Noise as low as 17dB but if you crank it up it gets close to 40dB - still fairly quiet. It is ideal for individual cooling, not for cabin ventilation.

Greg

svWindfall · 05-02-2014, 14:15

We have several Caframo sirocco fans aboard Windfall, BUT...we have had several failures and returned for exchange. The contact points where the fans swivel become bad with the salt air and fail. We've gone to wiring directly to avoid the contact point and not return the much needed fans (as other cruisers who showed us how). The fans are really overpriced, BUT they are wonderful, quiet, and move a lot of air. We hope they redesign this connection problem.

Capt'n Ricko · 05-02-2014, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by funjohnson

210 cfm is what every site shows for the 747. You're quoting lfm vs cfm

We are a bank of 420 with 475watts of solar.

Matt

OK. Well, I have 440 (about the same as you), with 2 - 140W Kyocera (280 solar) and an Air Breeze Wind Generator (Wind/Solar Hybrid System) with an eMarine Controller Panel.

It still seems to me that 3 amps would be too much especially if you have other things like a Frig to run... But that's me... I just wanted others to know the trade-off here.

And if it works for you...

Cheers! and Fair Winds!

Matt Johnson · 05-02-2014, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt'n Ricko

OK. Well, I have 440 (about the same as you), with 2 - 140W Kyocera (280 solar) and an Air Breeze Wind Generator (Wind/Solar Hybrid System) with an eMarine Controller Panel.

It still seems to me that 3 amps would be too much especially if you have other things like a Frig to run... But that's me... I just wanted others to know the trade-off here.

And if it works for you...

Cheers! and Fair Winds!

You'll have plenty of power... we have only hurt for power when we were in a marina with buildings blocking our sun (and hurricane Sandy). At the time, I didn't have access to shorepower.

We live on the hook, run watermaker, fridge, laptops, microwave and T.V and wouldn't notice the 3 amps when the fan was running. It's not like that's a 24/7 item...we have a lot of other fans for direct cooling.

Matt

**skipmac** · 05-02-2014, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt'n Ricko

I set up my boat for DC Efficiency... you should be aware of the HUGE Power Draw of this fan...

From an Amazon Review:

"...What you don't know is its power draw and that's a big deal to those of us living inside battery constraints. I have measured it and I'll share:

low: 15 Watts or 1.25 amps @ 12 VDC
medium: 27 Watts or 2.25 amps
high: 35 Watts or close to 3 amps"

Hella Turbos, Caframo 747 & 757, etc only use .5 amps or less

That fan would break me!

Yes but, one Endless Breeze, even on low, will move more air than 2-3 Caframos and, as noted, are easy to set up to pull fresh air in through a number of ports or vents so your not just blowing hot air.

On my last boat, 32' with an aft cabin, I set one up in the hatch in the forepeak blowing up/out. Then by opening and closing different hatches and ports around the boat I could cool the entire boat with one fan. If you sleep in the forepeak and want real quiet you can set up the fan and the noise in the main companionway blowing out, sucking air in the forepeak hatch so you would hear nothing more than the air coming in.

So sure, if only use one fan and never two or more and you're on a really tight power budget then get the Caframo. Otherwise for me I think you get way more air and versatility from the Endless Breeze.

Capt'n Ricko · 05-02-2014, 14:50

PS: MJSailing - nice Blog & Web presence...

Enjoy Mexico & Beyond!

https://www.facebook.com/CaptainRickoAndTheSvSecondWind

onestepcsy37 · 05-02-2014, 15:21

i bought four fans from walmart's automotive department five years ago. $8 each. still have two. now they're $13 each. they plug in to cigarette lighter sockets and have clamps that let you move them around to where you need them.

Canibul · 05-02-2014, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

The typical MTBF for one of these fans is 40,000 hours - I don't need to replace very often. It does requires a little creativity for mounting - I am currently experimenting with a brass lamp gooseneck.

Greg

Interesting idea. I know the muffin fans you're talking about, and the MTBF is pretty high. As for mounting, are you familiar with 3D printers? I know I could come up with a manually adjustable swivel wall mount for one of these pretty quick. I've been designing and printing ABS part and gadgets for the boat and I am going to put a 3D printer on board. It's a great tool. I drew up and printed three Lewmar hatch stop blocks just this morning. A fan mount would be a piece of cake.