Remote control for fantastic fans

[Spinonedad]

Amazon has a conversion kit available for fantastic fans that adds a remote
Has anyone had any luck finding a retrofit kit that would add this feature to the fans airstream uses in their trailers ? The Amazon unit replaces practically the entire fan and is expensive
I have a short wife and it would be cheaper to get a remote added instead of a taller wife,
The other feature the new kit has is a reverse function too

[WaLee]

I don’t know about the conversion kits but the taller wife comment was pretty damn funny

[rmkrum]

Not a safe comment around my house....

DW may not be tall, but she’s not known as the “Dragon Lady” for nothing...

[gandttimes]

When I wanted the reverse kit I just got hold of FF and got it from them. I believe they also had the remote available but as my wife is tall I didn't need it.😊

[glcmranger]

Just replace the entire fan with Maxxfans. Remote control and has a nice integrated cover. No need for the rain function.

[Mike1997]

Hey I replaced my original 1997 fan controllers (2 units) with the upgrade remote kit. Found it on Amazon and the install was easy.

My interior shroud had yellowed, cracked, and the rain sensor stopped working. The bedroom unit lift mechanism had broken also, however, the fans themselves were in good shape as well as the exterior cover.

The install took about an hour on first unit and half hour on second.

My original fans had a 3 speed switch visible from the inside. The bedroom unit also had a wall t-stat controller which I removed after the install.

The new remote controller says it has 12 speeds but mine only worked on high and low. It required a jumper switch being moved on the control board before the install which I did, but it still did not run at the various speeds. Spoke with company about this and they did not offer any suggestions other than moving the jumper.

Once installed they both work great and improved ventilation inside tremendously. They can be set for exhaust or intake. The new rain sensors are very sensitive and shut down quickly. Only thing you have to do on the outside is position the rain sensor, rest of install is done from interior.

Overall I am very happy with the remote operation but because they do not have a shroud cover over them, they will not run in wet or damp conditions. We had heavy due one night in FL and both units shut down before morning. That's a planned upgrade I will be making soon.

One last thing to keep in mind. Because they were changed to remote operation, there is constant current now going to them even when off. Inside the shroud at night you will see a red light glow that's similar to the antenna booster light. Just keep in mind the remote operation will cause it to draw current even when off where the manual operation did not.

[KelloggKid]

Originally Posted by Mike1997

One last thing to keep in mind. Because they were changed to remote operation, there is constant current now going to them even when off. Inside the shroud at night you will see a red light glow that's similar to the antenna booster light. Just keep in mind the remote operation will cause it to draw current even when off where the manual operation did not.

Actually the new units as supplied by AS have the same red led and draw power unless turned off. This is a function of the rain sensor not the remote.

[greghoro]

Perhaps you can reach out to Kiss to see where they get their high lift shoes.

[Spinonedad]

Hey
Great ideal
You just saved me $300

[MaxD]

If anyone knows where to get a remote control for wives please let me know (no matter how expensive).

[bradt]

I added a switch to totally turn off the power on both my fantastic fans for two reasons:
I have shrouds and like to use the manual feature to leave the lid to the vent cracked open for ventilation. The logic in the FF remote system causes it to close the vent every time power is interrupted and restored. I kept finding my vents closed.
The remote receiver and rain sensor are a small battery drain even when "off"

Added a switch on the stereo system too, for similar two reasons:
I like the stereo to stay "off" when i turn it off, but every time the power was interrupted and restored, it would initialize and light up. I kept finding the stereo on.
The stereo causes a small amount of battery drain even when "off".

Brad

[Mike1997]

Brad....glad you mentioned the radio cause I got the same problem. Its a newer unit and lights up in Demo mode when power is switched.

Where did you mount the switch disconnect for the fans and radio?

[Paprika]

I recently bought a couple of the Fan-Tastic 7350 upgrade kits. Yes, they are expensive, but as others have mentioned, you get a wireless remote control, reversibility, and a dozen speeds, including slow speeds that are whisper-quiet.

An important factor for me is that the new fans' solid-state speed controller draws way less power at low speeds that the old fans' inefficient resistor-based controller. The wireless remote uses infrared, but unlike most IR remotes it doesn't require super-precise aim. It has good range, too--I can control both fans individually from either end of the rig. For me the new fans were worth the money.

[glcmranger]

For that price, why not buy new MAXXFans?

[Spinonedad]

Did you basically have to swap out the original AS fan unit and replace the entire unit, or did you just change out the electronics and control board?
Just wondering since our current fans are so new (2016)

[bradt]

I mounted power shut off switches directly on the fan where the other controls are. Just remove the screws and the inner panel drops down and will hang by it own wires. I used a switch that requires a 1/4" hole. Just find a spot, drill the hole, insert the switch, and connect the wires.

My stereo is mounted next to an upper storage bin. I put the switch inside the bin so it would be out of the way. I had access to the wiring behind the stereo thru an access panel in the storage bin.

I'm glad I made these mods. Now these devices stay the way I set them.

Brad