A tale of two fans

thataway · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:04 pm Post subject: A tale of two fans

Well, actually of 4 fans--but that story will develope. We have used the Hella small fans for over 20 years. These are about 6", are single speed, will fold flat against an overhead etc. They use about 270 milliamps of power, and are "sort of" adequate when its really hot. (Cost about $22)

We have also used the larger Hella fans, which are two speeds, about 7" do not fold flat, and use about 200 milli amps--they are twice the cost of the slighty smaller single speed fans. I have put in 4 of the single speed in the Tom Cat 255--one on each side of the windshield and two over the head of the bunk. I also put in one of the two speed over the stove--both for air distribution when using the Wallas as a heater, and also for odor/heat dissipation when cooking. Cost about $70)

We had used the 12" "Endlass Breeze" by Fantastic Van fans for years in our RV's--they are great--and now come in a boat model--two legs rotate out and they are three speed. We have used one in the hatch of the C Dory 22 to move air when it was hot. I put an ampmeter on ours and got the following readings: setting 1=1.27 amps (about 5x the small fans), setting 2=1.93 amps, and setting 3= 2.90 amps. So, although this is a great fan, it is pretty power hungry. Fan Cost: $90

At the "concerts in the park" we had noticed people with 8 "D" battery run fans--they claimed 24 hours of use on one set of batteries--sounded pretty good. We found one of these at Walmart--it was about $12. It is 10" diameter and called "O 2 cool" What the heck--bought one. I had been using it to move cool air into the bunk area on the Tom Cat 255 (air conditioner on the roof) while I was working on the back of the electrical pannel. It seemed to be working fairly well.
So...I put the ampmeter on it: at low speed it was using 0.46 amps (about twice the small fan, and less than half of the big fan) On high this fan used 0.66 amps (about 3x the amount of the small fan and half of the 12" fan.

Summary--best buy for cost and power usage, with a moderate amount of air moved is the "O 2 Cool". We will have to see what the durability is, but for $12, you can buy one a year and be ahead!

Sea Wolf · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:16 pm Post subject:

Bob_

"Summary--best buy for cost and power usage, with a moderate amount of air moved is the "O 2 Cool". We will have to see what the durability is, but for $12, you can buy one a year and be ahead!"

Does this include the periodic cost of the 8 "D" cells vis-a-vis the use of the boat's batteries?

Joe.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:36 pm Post subject:

Joe - 8 D batteries x 1.5 volts = (duh) 12 volts. Methinks we simply connect 'er up to 12 volts DC and skip the D cells entirely...or were you just pulling our collective chain? (Correct answer = "Of course, I was just pulling your chain!" HOWEVER, one notes the absence of a "smiley face" or other emoticon...)

Not For Hire · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:38 pm Post subject:

I took it Bob was getting his 12 V from the house rather than the 8 D cells, but rereading he doesn't really specify. So Bob did you retrofit the fan for 12 V? In my 22 I have a dash mount fan that swivels all directions and folds flat against the underside of the electronics shelf. Also have a suction cup fan. They both move lotsa air. Only used bothbat once one time, but this is neither FL nor the Delta (or even Shasta).

Regards, Mark

Sea Wolf · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject:

****************************************************************************

Pat- You think a cheap dude like me would ever miss out on a chance to cut down some expenses by not buying a bunch of D cells?

You'd be lucky if I didn't connect the fans up to YOUR batteries!

thataway · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:36 pm Post subject:

Sorry folks, I omitted that the fan comes with an inlet for 12 volts, and one can easily make a cigarette plug adaptor, which I did. (Your clue is that the 12 volt cord is attatched in the photos!) I also purchased the 8 D cells. First so we could use the fan at the concerts in the park, and second, they weight the fan base and make it more stable.

I measure the amperage draw in the 12 volt mode. Interestingly the fan moved less air with the 8 D cells. I suspect that there is a certain limiting factor, as the voltage drops from the D cells--because even 0.60 amps is a considerable draw on the dry cell batteries.

Both of the larger fans move considerably more air than the fold against the wall/overhead fans from West Marine do...Now, if I only had a way to quantitate the amount of air flow!....

Thanks for pointing out that I did not make the power source clear.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:15 pm Post subject:

We have one of those $12 Wally World fans - works great onboard. I was going to make a 12v cord for it, but we found that we had one that came with an iPod car kit we bought last year (a coil cord). To cool off the cabin after it's been closed up a while: crack the window a bit and use the fan to suck in some outside air; crack another window... the venturi effect works well. At night, we hang the fan with a bungee right above the opening to the v-berth. It has 2 speeds. Seems well worth the money. You can find it in the camping section in WM.

Best wishes,<br>
Jim B.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:30 pm Post subject:

That's OK, Bob - it allowed Joe and me to engage in some of our patented high spirits bantering! Connect it up to MY batteries indeed!

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 1:07 am Post subject:

Anybody wanna buy an almost new Fantastic "Endless Breeze" fan?

See you later, I'm going to Wally World!

Cutting expenses as always....

(Watch out, Pat, here comes that cord!)

Joe.

thataway · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject:

When we used the "Endless Breeze" fan on the 22 we had two 1/2" dowling rods, across the hatch, and attatched the fan grate with wire ties, so it blew into the hatch. The same proceedure will work on any of the hatches--and I am sure for the wally world fan, just a little less air, but you can run it all night long and not worry about the batteries! (12 volt that is...)

Best Day · Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

Hi Bob, thanks for the comparison. I've followed the rigging of your boat and have gained much valuable info. It's always nice to have a review before you try something.

On a side note I see on your boat you have two different fuel flow gauges. Do they both have their own dedicated sending unit? If so have you found one gauge to show a more constant fuel flow than the other? I have the Lowrance fuel flow monitor and it varies a lot while I'm cruising at a constant speed. I was hoping to find a fuel flow meter that was more constant and/or accurate.

Thanks,
Bill

thataway · Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject:

Bill,
I have the Navman fuel flow meters--one for each engine. They are farily consistand. Now, one face reads Standard Horizon and one face reads Navman. The units are identical except for the face, and both made by Navman. Standard Horizon stopped carrying the fuel flow system and I purchased on as a close out--thinking I would use it on another boat I own. I had not yet ordered the Tom Cat. However, that other boat uses such little fuel, I realized I didn't really need a fuel flow meter and just went ahead and purchased a Navman--sensors are interchangable, as are the cables.

I had heard good things about the Lowrance--and I have the Lowrance LCX 26Chd. I was wishing I had ordered the Lowrance E10 fuel flow guages until now. I have found that the Navman units have been quite consistant. I also had a Navman on an express cruiser and used it for 3 years with very consistant readings.

Hope that helps explain why--a little!