Fogged windows.

[dogon dory]

[tpbrady]

I vote we name Joe (AKA Sea Wolf) as Mr. Wizard.

Are you sure you haven't done a TV show with kids and common chemicals around the home?

[Larry H]

Here is a home made solution for window fogging.





Computer fans come in different sizes, draw very little power and cost less than $20.00 each. The bracket shown came from a transom mount for a depth transducer.

(Please excuse the dust, the boat was in storage.)

[breausaw]

[Sea Wolf]

[Doryman]

Can anyone clue me in to what the functional differences are between these various Ecofans?

Thanks!

[journey on]

We use the Caframo Model 747 fan. On the link it's shown as a permanently wired fan. The good thing is that it uses 0.6 amps and puts out a good stream (2 speeds.) Also, for those of you who are so inclined, it has rubber blades. One can purchase replacement blades at West Marine, since apparently I'm so inclined.

I mounted it on a 6" square piece of wood and put a cigarette plug on the end. When we're moving, it's always on, and keeps the windows clear. When we're at anchor, we can run it all night for only 5 amp-hours.

Boris

[C-Dawg]

Are those Ecofans placed right on the Wallas burner plate with the lid up?

[Doryman]

[Sea Wolf]

[JamesTXSD]

[drjohn71a]

Several different factors are involved in window fogging.

1 - The moisture in your breath, sweat, and cooking/coffee must be cleared from the cabin. Just blowing wet air around is not the answer. Try to set up a natural flow of air from low to high by opening windows a bit, drawing wet air out and drier air into the cabin. If you are moving, crack the front center window and the two front side windows to draw outside air across the inside of the windshield. Also open the back cabin windows a crack to eliminate any moist air back there.

2 - While most soaps do have surface tension reducing components in them, the bath soap bars also have ingredients that are 'thicker' and will hold the surface tension ingredient in place longer than liquid soaps. Take a bar of good bath soap, lather it up and very thickly wipe it onto the windows. Then use a very dry cloth or paper towel or keenex to just wipe the streaks off. That coating will last longer than liquid applications. I , too, use Rain X, but the thick soap application is more resistant to fogging to my experience.

3 - Warm air holds more moisture and the cold temperature of the cabin glass precipitates moisture more than a warm glass. I have tried the 12V defroster fans in heavy fogging/cold situations and they barely keep a small hole open. However, if you turn on the Wallas and blow the Wallas' hot air onto the windows, they will fog less. The Wallas moisture from combustion is vented outside so it will not fog your interior, but portable propane heaters will fill the cabin with moisture from combustion.


So... summary would be to put on a coat, crack the windows, soap the windows, and blow hot air on the windows.

If you have a Honda i2000 genset aboard, get a portable room A/C unit and turn it on "Dehumidify" and your problem is solved!

John

[Alasgun]

In the recent Passagemaker I came across this site of interest.
www.dryzone.ca , they offer a good looking system which utilizes twin descant trays coupled with some low energy fans. The claims are great but so is the price. Currently these run into the $toomuch range.
(over $4,000) My initial contact with the company went well, quick response, good info etc. They tell me that next year a smaller version is in the works and in 2010 an even smaller unit (more appropriately sized) will be offered.
That leaves lot's of time for fan debates
Mike

[MOOSE]