Fabulous Operating Products range hood upgrade

[dznf0g]

Has anyone tried this range hood upgrade kit. It was in the April Trailer Life and is a (supposedly) higher volume, quieter squirrel cage fan upgrade for several existing hood models.

Fabulous Range Hood Upgrade Kit

FabulousOperatingProducts

[cwf]

Just read this in the mag. Need to check size of the hood fan and light unit!

[lsbrodsky]

I await some experts to see if this is a quick and easy replacement.
Larry

[dznf0g]

WAIT! I am awaiting some experts to see if this is a quick and easy replacement....and quieter, with more airflow!

I asked first....you're up!

[dznf0g]

I am thinking the flapper opening mechanism could be modified with a bellcrank to open and close the stainless vent flap too?????

[lsbrodsky]

OK Rich, I will weigh in here. I measured the fan box exterior at the top and it measures 18.5 x 12 x 2.5, the kit says it is for 12x9.5x4. Maybe if you pull our fan apart the tin box remaining up inside the shell is that size, but it is not obvious to me. Moreover, the external dimensions of the outside vent are 11.5x 5.5, the kit has a 12 x 5.25 dimension although I do not know the size of the hole in the AS shell.
So, the quick installation is not obvious to me from looking at the pictures or reading the instructions. If someone has installed this kit please speak up. It is still possible that the inside and outside holes in the AS shell are correct for this, but I do not know how to find out without taking everything apart.
Larry

[dznf0g]

Larry, I don't have my AS at home. What hood does yours have? Pic?

[lsbrodsky]

Baraldi. I replaced the halogen lights with LED but it is stock 2012 other than that.
Larry

[Al - K4GLU]

Sent e-mail inquiring about using this with the Baraldi but but no reply yet. I'm not a super DIYer but from what I can see it might be possible but it would take some major engineering to make it work.

[dznf0g]

OK, different than mine. Here's the only pic I can find that shows even part of the hood. I want to say it is Dometic and looks like the one in the TL article??



Sorry I don't have a better one.

hmmmm, pic shrunk down???????


EDIT: It is a Ventline...see here:
http://www.ventline.com/

[lsbrodsky]

You would hope the cutouts are standard for these fan units, but who knows?
Larry

[KJRitchie]

Probably won't fit the Baraldi vent hoods on later models. Mine has the boxy Ventline B model I think. It might fit mine but I don't like the shape and would rather have the Baraldi even if its a bit noisier. Ventline doesn't exactly win design awards for their vents.

Kelvin

[dznf0g]

Fine! I broke down and ordered one. My vent is a Ventline B series. I'll let ya'll know in a couple weeks.

[lsbrodsky]

Well OK, although that may not help me.....when you pull the old one, and the vent, please measure the cutouts and let us know.
Larry

[Al - K4GLU]

Installation in a 24" Baraldi is unchartered water at FOP in our short history.

Checking on line it appears the Baraldi Hoods are similar to a Heng's Trusty Series 9680L. Customers and we have converted 9680L hoods but they are a challenge. First I see no spot welds which is great, saves 1.5 hours conversion time. Our SAM-1 will physically fit in the 24" Baraldi but consider the following;

Fundamentally, the supply ground along with switch output hot leads to fan and light switch are diverted to our 3 circuit pig tail. Proper hook-up allows for the selection of fan speed and light settings on SAM-1 with Master on/off of fan or light via the un-touched original switches on hood. All fairly straight forward.

Next to consider; The large 22" filter must be deleted in order to access our lever switches. When the original filter is gone, the front full width blind stop the big filter installs against is exposed. It has sharp edges that I would tape (3M Nomex tape) because you will be bumping into that surface when adjusting lever switches or open/closing damper.

Final consideration to use or not use original light bar? It consumes over 2.5 amps when the 2-10 watt bulbs are on. Our LED illuminates the entire cook area wonderfully without the light bar and only uses .35 amp. (almost an 8 x reduction in amp draw). If one does not use the original light bar they should consider removing it, the space gained makes easier more comfortable access to SAM-1 lever switches.

Allen, feel free to contact me direct with questions or issues. My numbers are office; 1-810-969-4450 and cell 810-441-2633.

Regards,

Larry Milks



From: Adohen@aol.com
Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:51:13 -0400
Subject: Adohen Fwd: SAM-1 Compatability
To: lorin.fopllc@hotmail.com

Hi Larry,
Here is a question I can't answer. You can answer to Allen directly

[lsbrodsky]

Thanks, seems to be too much to lose with a Baraldi. I already have LED lights and the rest seems like too much uncertainty.
Larry

[dznf0g]

So the new fan came yesterday. It appears to be very well thought out and made.

It'll be a few weeks before I bring the AS home PERMANENTLY from storage.

Waiting on weather to break for concrete permits to be released for my parking pad project!!!

[lsbrodsky]

I got an email from FOP yesterday and they state that the kit is plug and play for Ventline but not Baraldi.

Larry

[dznf0g]

That's kind of what I am gathering, Larry. I had been looking for a deal for a Beraldi casually for a couple years, but am now glad I didn't find one. It looks great, but I don't think it is much of a ventilation improvement...or noise. I hope this mod is.

[Larry C]

For whatever it's worth to y'all, I ordered the SAM-1 last Sunday night, it arrived yesterday, and I installed it today. It took me about 3 1/2 to 4 hours from the time I removed the original fan, did the modifications that had to be done.

My range hood is the original to the '96 34' that I'm just finishing an interior and a bunch of other stuff. It's a Ventline, model "BM", all of the monitoring gauges, pump switch, etc., are on the front of the range hood.

The wiring was the easiest part, just take the connectors apart, and follow the instructions. There were some metal fabrication that was necessary to fit up the exhaust of the SAM-1 to the outside vent on the trailer. The SAM-1 exhaust vent was about 1 1/2" lower than the vent on the wall of the trailer.

I used the original outside vent for now, but will probably change that to the one that is supplied by Fabulous Products. There is a manual "gate" at the back of the SAM-1, that is better than the original vent on the trailer. Depending on the size of the opening the factory cuts into the sidewall, that may have to be opened up a bit....

Overall, it was a fairly easy job, with a couple phone calls to Larry Milks and Jim Woods at Fabulous Products, it was well worth the effort.

At last, we've got a fan that is extremely quiet, and moves a LOT of air. You need to crack a window to get the maximum airflow. The night light has a "high/low" setting so it can be used as a nightlight...

Larry C