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Old 07-26-2013, 08:53 AM   #1
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Bend , Oregon
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Fantastic Fan Times Two?

Just wanted to get comments from folks that may have 2 fantastic fans installed. I have a 2013 Sport 22 with one fantastic fan that came installed from the factory. Looks to be the basic model that only draws air from inside to outside. It cooled the trailer relatively well during my last trip where it was 90+ deg. I have 2 questions:

1) If I would benefit from adding a second that has bidirectional flow.
2) The second potential location would be at the skylight which seems to be bigger than a standard 14x14 opening. Can it be done with some sort of mount?

Thanks!s
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Old 07-26-2013, 09:06 AM   #2
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I have a unidirectional FF in the front and a bidirectional FF in the rear of the trailer. This works well for me to quickly replace the inside air with outside air. Close the windows, blow the rear FF in and the front FF out and all is good.

However, my trailer is 28' and already had 2 vent openings cut in. IMHO I think this is a good thing for longer trailers, but I don't think it is necessary for a 22' as there is less air volume to move. I would be especially hesitant since you would have to cut a new hole or modify your existing skylight.
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Old 07-26-2013, 09:35 AM   #3
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My 2014 FC 20' came with two FF's as standard, both with 'out only' capability. I changed the switches and wiring so they could do both 'in' and 'out'. Cost about $40 from FF for the two switches, and half a day's time to take them down and replace the switches (yes, I am slow)

I like the capability to move air in either direction with either fan. No real opinion as to if two FF's are needed in a 20' trailer, but they are nice to have.
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Old 07-26-2013, 09:41 AM   #4
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The key to comfort ventilation is having the right amount of airflow.

Bottom line up front, as the military folks say, you only need a second fan blowing air in if you want airflow with windows closed. But, opening a window at the far end of the trailer from your fan will accomplish the same thing, a lot cheaper.

ASHRAE standards for indoor air quality call for 1.5 cfm per square foot of floor space for an auto repair shop where engines run indoors. For commercial kitchens, it's only 0.7 cfm per square foot. Residential living spaces call for even less, about 0.35 cfm for whole-house ventilation.

For example, my Airstream Interstate has a MaxxFan Deluxe, that has a maximum flow rate of about 900 cfm (cubic feet per minute). The floor space in my Interstate is tiny, only about 18 ft long × 6 ft wide, or 108 square feet. Rounding off, that's about 9 cfm per square foot.

That means my one dinky fan— if I run it full blast with all the windows open to provide as much air coming in as going out— is about six times more powerful than I will ever need to keep the air quality up. The numbers pretty much match my experience, since for the 10-speed fan, I normally run it at setting 2 or 3 at most.

Indoor air quality is not cooling. It just means the air doesn't get stale, and there's no appreciable condensation. I submit that, if you're circulating enough air to exceed ASHRAE requirements, you'll create enough of a breeze to be comfortable. But don't mistake fans for air conditioning. Fans move air, and moving air feels cooler, but the actual temperature doesn't change enough to matter. So if you're looking for cooling from fans alone, you'll never have enough.
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Old 07-26-2013, 09:43 AM   #5
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I put in two bidirectional Fantastic Vent Fans in my 1972 27' International
Model 6000 RBTA 3 speed bidirectional, with thermostat and rain sensor.

They have been great! We have traveled in the west in summer and by pulling air in the back and out the front we can really cool the trailer well.

the thermostat feature is nice as it can be set to come on only when the trailer get too hot.

Not sure about fitting in a new trailer where there is a skylight, I replaced old original vents that just needed the hole squared off.

If you can find a way to install 2 I highly recommend it.

Steve
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Old 07-26-2013, 10:28 AM   #6
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I have the unidirectional (out only) I've found that both open, one on, one off is very effective in moving air through the trailer. If I want to cool off the living area I turn on the fan in the bedroom. No fan noise at the lounge and a nice breeze.
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Old 07-26-2013, 10:35 AM   #7
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I have 2 bidectional in my 61 tradewind, one in the kitchen area and one in the bed area. Turn them on and open only the windows in the area you are sitting and you get an impressive breeze. I use the one in the sleeping area blowing in at night and let the thermostat shut it down as the trailer cools.
I don't have the rain sensors.
They are a good product, particularly if you boondock a lot
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Old 07-26-2013, 03:18 PM   #8
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We loose the front (or second) fantastic fan with the factory installed second A/C. I was glad to hear about a variable speed reversible motor for the fantastic fan. I will check into that as another option to retrofit to the new trailer.

I will double check what is in the existing trailer when I return to that storage area to see which upgrade path to follow.
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Old 07-26-2013, 04:00 PM   #9
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I installed two bi-directional 3-speed Fantastic Fans (with rain sensors) in my 25 ft Safari. The work very well to move air and to bring the inside temperature down after it has been closed up. The breeze is nice and you can, as others have said, adjust which fan blows in, and which one sucks out the air, or just use one for a vent while the other does the work. But I would keep in mind what Protag said, it is cheaper to just open an opposing window to get the cross flow ventilation that you desire. Not sure about your question regarding the opening size of your existing vent. If you are looking for another fan, I saved big by going to Vintage Trailer Supply, versus a local dealer.
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Old 07-26-2013, 06:09 PM   #10
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The downside of inside

Fans don't cool the Air - Yes they do in some circumstances. If you're traveling in hot weather it's easy for your Airstream to heat up to 95 or higher. You pull over to a nice shaded space, open the door and pass out if you can't grope your way to the fan and switch it on. It will only cool down to the temperature of the outside air, but that's often better than the air in a closed up unit with no hookups.

I have two fans that only blow out - my prior coach had the bedroom one set as bi-directional and one night after boondocking for about a week I got out of bed, used the john, flushed and about gagged as the gases from the vent stack were sucked right into the adjoining bedroom. Turn the fan off or OUT before using the "oval office", wait a few minutes, then turn back on. Patrick Botticelli at Colonial mentioned that there was also the possibility that one could suck in propane fumes if your tanks/regulator had a leak or if you'd been cooking on the stovetop. An ounce of common sense?

I'm planning to make both of mine bi directional, but I agree you can easily open one and have it set not to run, and then use the other to exhaust - and get a nice breeze through the unit without fan noise right over your head.

In short, bi directional is not a necessity especially in a small coach, but if you want it, why not?

Paula
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Old 07-26-2013, 08:39 PM   #11
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I have two bi-directional Fantastic Vent fans with 3 speeds, thermostats, and rain sensors in my 25'er. This setup has the most flexibility of any venting system I have ever used. It definitely is the best fan setup I have ever had.

The only negative I have experienced is when there is a heavy dew and the temperature has cooled enough to turn the fan off. The dampness on the rain sensor will sometimes causes the cover to open and close in a cycle that is annoying in the early morning when I'm trying to sleep.
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Old 07-26-2013, 11:01 PM   #12
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I have a 31' ASCL with two each 3 speed Fantastic fans with temperature and rain sensors plus the bathroom vent fan. When I am parked in an unsecure area (truck stop; rest stop), and it is cool enough that the AC is not needed, I vent both Fantastic fans inward and open the bathroom vent (lid only) for exhaust which allows all windows to remain locked. That being said, all it takes is a prying screw driver under a window to shatter it; but that's a previous post.
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Old 07-27-2013, 12:22 AM   #13
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Another option is the "portable" fantastic breeze fan that you can simply plug in to your 12vdc Socket.
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Old 07-27-2013, 08:32 AM   #14
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The industry code compliance changed in 2005 for OEM installed RV fans. The fans are only allowed to exhaust out because of the possibility of taking in fumes from the LP refrigerator vent, grey tank vent stack and black tank vent stack.

Prior to 2005 the vans could exhaust or intake. An aftermarket Fantastic 6000 series fan will come standard with exhaust and intake.
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