Fantastic fan install in '63 questions

63air · 10-26-2009, 02:39 PM

I plan to install a Fantastic fan in my '63 Globetrotter and have some questions about the installation and what to get . Which trim will I need the flat or the curved and is the rain sensor worth the extra bucks?

Also I have some wiring questions. I have two seperate electrical systems 12v DC and 120v AC (no , I do not want to go entirely to 12v). The motor on the current fan runs on 12v and can be powered by 120v which is tranformed. In a previous post I was told by one person it is transformed into 19v AC and another that it is transformed into 12v dc. Which voltage is it?

Can I just wire the new Fantastic fan into my existing wiring even if it is transformed into 19v AC or do I also need to replace the existing transformer with a 120AC to 12 v DC transformer when I install the fan?

Overlander & Sea · 10-26-2009, 05:33 PM

First, I want to say, sorry, I cannot answer your question......

Like you, I have a '63 Globetrotter & I have a '61 Overlander, both with the same 12v/110v seperate electrical systems. I know what you want to do because I wanted to the same thing with my furnace on my '61 Overlander. The transformer was missing on my furnace, so I had to go with the 12v only (that's all they make now), and I added a converter at this time to keep my battery charged went plugged into shore power.

The PO installed a Fantastic fan in my '61, but it only works on the 12v(battery power). The transformer for this fan was missing because of the new installed fan.

I replaced my motor on my stove vent fan on my '61 Overlander-it also had the same city power(110v)/battery power(12v) switch/configuration. The old fan motor was stamped AC/DC, which made me believe that the transformer did transform the 110v to 19v DC. But I do not know that for sure.

So, all three (the ones that had transformers & were marked city power-110v/battery power 12v) of my fans work on my '61 Overlander, but only on the 12v setting. The converter works great charging the battery when plugged into shore power.

I have not tested the original roof fan in my '63 Globetrotter, on either 12v or 110v. Since the Globetrotter has only one of these fans, 110v/12v, I do not know if it would be worth the money to buy a converter.

goransons · 10-26-2009, 07:05 PM

If all 63's are the same, if you drop the L shaped trim around the existing vent, you'll find your 110 romex, but also a bright orange 12v wire. You can remove the transformer in the vent area to put your ff in, and simply install a small junction box to terminate the 110 wires where the old city-off-battery switch was on the ceiling and put a blank plate over it (FF's have their own switch right?). On the side note if your 19v AC transformer is still functioning I'd love to work out a deal to take it off your hands.

A-Merry-Can · 10-26-2009, 08:00 PM

mY '64 had that 18v AC transformer thing. When I installed the fantastic fan, the blade just jittered back and forth, so I ended up replacing the transformer with a new one so I could run the fan. If you plan on installing any LEDs, a new fridge, a new water pump, new anything, really... you'll need to convert to a 12V transformer as well.

JP

Overlander & Sea · 10-26-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Merry-Can

mY '64 had that 18v AC transformer thing. When I installed the fantastic fan, the blade just jittered back and forth, so I ended up replacing the transformer with a new one so I could run the fan.

JP

JP,

Are you saying that you can run your new fantastic fan on both 12v and 110v with your new transformer? Was your new transformer about the same size as the one so it would fit the same space?

Thanks,

Rick

goransons · 10-26-2009, 08:06 PM

JP - Do you recall the source for your transformer?

A-Merry-Can · 10-26-2009, 08:10 PM

like everything else on the pickle....

eBay!

JP

goransons · 10-26-2009, 10:22 PM

Ditto to Rick's question, and a photo please if you got it!

Overlander & Sea · 10-27-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63air

I plan to install a Fantastic fan in my '63 Globetrotter and have some questions about the installation

Also I have some wiring questions. I have two seperate electrical systems 12v DC and 120v AC (no , I do not want to go entirely to 12v). The motor on the current fan runs on 12v and can be powered by 120v which is tranformed. In a previous post I was told by one person it is transformed into 19v AC and another that it is transformed into 12v dc. Which voltage is it?

Can I just wire the new Fantastic fan into my existing wiring even if it is transformed into 19v AC or do I also need to replace the existing transformer with a 120AC to 12 v DC transformer when I install the fan?

Quote:

Originally Posted by goransons

Ditto to Rick's question, and a photo please if you got it!

I think that the questions that are being asked in the first post are:

1. If my old transformer works, does it have an output of:
(a) 12v dc? or (b) 19v ac?

2. If the old transformer does not work or the output is 19v ac, then where can I buy a new tramsformer that works with the new fantastic fan?

I know it would be nice to keep these older Airstreams two seperate electrical systems and not go 100% 12v like I had to do with my '61 Overlander.

Every time I've asked these questions, the answer has always come down to "buy a converter & go 100% 12v".

.....several people here on Airforums would like to know a source for these new transformers............

63air · 10-27-2009, 10:37 AM

My original transformer works fine so I want to keep it if I can. According to Andy of Inland RV ,the motor on my original fan (which still works fine but not as well as a Fantastic would) is a twelve volt motor but will run fine on 19v AC. Question is will the 12v motor on the Fantastic also run on 19v AC ?

I have not looked around for a new transformer (120 AC to 12 DC) but I would think small ones should be available. If nothing else I would think something for a door bell or low voltage lighting system would work.

If all else fails, I may have to call up a couple of my engineer friends and solve this while we have a few beers.

Overlander & Sea · 10-27-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63air

Question is will the 12v motor on the Fantastic also run on 19v AC ?

I have not looked around for a new transformer (120 AC to 12 DC) but I would think small ones should be available.

If all else fails, I may have to call up a couple of my engineer friends and solve this while we have a few beers.

Either way, please post the answer. I would like to know because I'll be starting on my '63 Globetrotter very soon (I've already bought the beer, so step 1 is done).

A-Merry-Can · 10-27-2009, 03:38 PM

Just go to eBay and search "RV Converter". I only need the 45 A version for my trade wind. All the lights are 12V in it, but run great off the converter (as does the fan).

upgrade! and yes... it's small.

JP

richinny · 10-27-2009, 10:52 AM

those small wall warts can be on the low side amperage wise so get one rated the same as the factory unit. fans use a lot more power than a bell.

munimula · 10-27-2009, 11:01 AM

i haven't seen mention of this yet...be sure to check out vintage trailer supply's version of the ff...

Fan-Tastic Fan Vent

--dave