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67twinkie · 02-23-2010, 01:29 PM

Is a range hood absolutely necessary? We will be installing a new 3 burner cooktop (no oven - microwave instead). Thanks.

Inland RV Center, In · 02-23-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67twinkie

Is a range hood absolutely necessary? We will be installing a new 3 burner cooktop (no oven - microwave instead). Thanks.

It's the only way the excess heat can be eliminate, unless you don't mind it if the coach gets excessively hot.

Airstream would not have installed it unless it was absolutely necessary.

Andy

Al - K4GLU · 02-23-2010, 02:38 PM

Don't know why it would be. Although I don't know of anyone removing the range vent hood from their Airstream I do know that when I had my Casita several people removed theirs and had no problems. So don't know why it wouldn't work with an Airstream also.

TomW · 02-23-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67twinkie

Is a range hood absolutely necessary?

Back when your Airstream was built, people cooked a lot more than they appear to do now.

I will never part with my range hood. We cook on the cooktop every trip, and the hood does a fine job of letting the rest of the campground know what meal we are about to enjoy. It also keeps the smoke detector from alerting.

If you do decide to remove it, you still have the hole in the skins to deal with.

Tom

TomW · 02-23-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

It's the only way the excess heat can be eliminate, unless you don't mind it if the coach gets excessively hot...

Range hood
Solardome
forward powered vent
aft powered vent

The range hood is the most convenient way of getting rid of cooktop aromas.

Tom

silverleeper · 02-23-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomW

Range hood
Solardome
forward powered vent
aft powered vent

How about open the windows or door.

TomW · 02-23-2010, 03:30 PM

Ya know Lee, I almost posted those options. But I didn't because I run the AC in summer, and heat in the winter, and those options would not be something I would do.

Tom

silverleeper · 02-23-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomW

Ya know Lee, I almost posted those options. But I didn't because I run the AC in summer, and heat in the winter, and those options would not be something I would do.

Tom

In the Pacific NW a good fan is about all you need in the summer. Sometimes a heater to take the edge off in the morning.

Sorry 67twinky, Off topic here. Keep the range hood if you can it does come in handy but you can live without one.

StingrayL82 · 02-23-2010, 03:48 PM

Does anyone know if the range hood fan runs exclusively on 12v, or does it switch over to 110v, when hooked to shore power? The reason I ask is because ours always seemed to be weak, when we used it.

silverleeper · 02-23-2010, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StingrayL82

Does anyone know if the range hood fan runs exclusively on 12v, or does it switch over to 110v, when hooked to shore power? The reason I ask is because ours always seemed to be weak, when we used it.

The fan should be 12 VDC. The fan could be gummed up and need a good cleaning.

TomW · 02-23-2010, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StingrayL82

Does anyone know if the range hood fan runs exclusively on 12v, or does it switch over to 110v,

In 1967, the fan only ran on 12 volts.

I would be surprised if there was a 120 vac model for RVs.

Tom

Squid · 03-05-2010, 10:39 AM

So when you raise the lever for the range hood a fan should come on? I guess the one in my Minuet is broken...it just raises the door on top. Best way to access to repair?

adonh · 03-05-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67twinkie

Is a range hood absolutely necessary? We will be installing a new 3 burner cooktop (no oven - microwave instead). Thanks.

In 2 different Airstream going back to 1985 with countless meals prepared on the stove top (no oven) I never used the range hood vent in either the 1969 or 1976 A/S. Very noisy and didn't move much air. I have never had any problem with excess heat or cooking odors. In the summer the AC seems to keep the air moving and in fall the fantastic vent keeps the air moving. I removed the vent fan in my 1976 and increased my overhead storage.

Newer models may have improved systems

Don

Mikethefixit · 03-05-2010, 11:50 AM

On ours the lever comes down,opens the outside vent and the fan begins to run.

TKNELLE · 04-05-2010, 03:07 PM

Range Hood-Vent Group,
Does anyone know if there are available replacement "switches" for the new style Baraldi Swing Pro hoods that would change the fan & light switches from just ON/OFF to be able to control the fan rpm's and dim the 2 halogen lights?
Thanks,
TKNELLE

"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." Mark Twain

DFK · 04-05-2010, 03:46 PM

Regarding the fan voltage in 67 Airstream. Tom's statement is not entirely accurate. The factory rangehood fan in my 67 caravel runs on 12v DC and 19 v AC. The 67 Caravels (at least according to the owner' manual and my personal experience) did not have a true univolt system. Instead when connected to shore power, a step down transformer converted 110 v AC to 12v AC and 19v AC (or there abouts can't remember the exact voltage but it was more than 12v). The 12v AC tap ran the lights and the 19v AC tap ran the fan in the range hood and the overhead vent. Not sure if it also ran the water pump since the original had been replaced when I bought the trailer and the replacement pump did not like AC. I seem to recall a post by Inland Andy several years back explaining that electric motors designed to run on both AC and DC current require a higher AC voltage to operate properly.

solarjames · 10-22-2012, 07:10 PM

TKNELLE
I installed a Motor PWM controller to try to quiet the fan, it would quiet the fan, but the motor started buzzing since some motors don't like PWM's. I ended up pulling it out. I switched my G4 halogen lights to warm white LED's and I don't have a need for a dimmer anymore. I like the look of the Ranghood, but other than that I don't like this unit at all. Fan is noisy, switches are hard to operate (especially with wet hands while cooking and the switches break easily. I have another idea on quieting the fan that I might try.

dznf0g · 10-22-2012, 07:20 PM

You must use a PWM "dimmer" or speed control for electric motors with a high frequency. 18,000 - 20,000 hZ. (I think it's hertz, brain fart.) I experimented with this for my furnace fan. High frequency is outside the range of human hearing.....and doesn't bother my dog either.

TKNELLE · 10-23-2012, 09:42 AM

solarjames,
Thanks for the comments. I contacted the US distributor for the Baraldi Swing Pro hoods regarding the topic of slide type dimmer / fan motor rpm control switches & got no help. Suggested he contact the Italian manufacture on topic - no response in over two years.
He did tell me the fans are quiet at about 56db sound level -- yea right. That would make the fan quieter than my Honda Handi 3kw generator!
Let us know regarding your other "idea".
Regards,
TKNELLE
Alamo, CA

windfallsp · 02-21-2013, 11:21 AM

Hmmm. If Airstream thought a range hood was so absolutely essential, they shouldn't have installed the curbside awning over the exterior vent for the range hood when they built our 1985 Classic 345 MH.

Since our pristine range hood is inoperable, we're always careful to at least crack a window when using the stovetop. We also don't cook anything indoors that's likely to permeate drapes, upholstery. etc. with strong cooking odors.

Art