Fantastic Vent Fan

Branderson · April 10, 2019, 10:36:32 AM

So I finally got my fan going and I was just wondering how you guys/gals use your fan. I initially thought you only use the fan when in the bathroom for helping with humidity during shower etc. But as I read more about it, it appears that the norm is to set it at a temp and let it run whenever it runs even when driving if I wanted.

My bus really has a lot of humidity so my hopes is even during the summer with A/Cs running, using the fan is going to help in that dept. For those of you that use your fan, do you really notice a diff when it's running or not?

Thanks in advance!
-Brad

Geoff · April 10, 2019, 10:50:31 AM

I have two Fantastic fans. I can't use them when I'm driving because the vibration makes them close up. You don't want them open with the A/C's running either, as that draws in outside humidity.

Branderson · April 10, 2019, 10:59:10 AM

oh wow for real? I thought it pushes out stale/warm air? I figured that hot air rises and it would actually be cooler b/c it's sucking out the hot air. Am I incorrect?

richard5933 · April 10, 2019, 12:04:42 PM

Ours is turned on all the time when the bus is parked if we're plugged in with temp set to about 78 degrees. We also keep the nose vent open so that there is some way for fresh air to get back in. Our roof vent is in the center of the bus, and I've noticed that this method keeps the front half of the bus noticeably cooler than the rear. I'm still trying to figure out a safe/clean way to get fresh air to come in the bus interior in the rear of the bus while we're parked in a way where rain can't also get in.

We have used it on the road and it will suck out hot air, but I still have not figured out the way air flow patterns in the bus. I've actually found that the toll window has quite a negative pressure outside it, and if I open the nose vent and the toll window air flows across the driver. The roof vent being open changes that.

We have used the roof vent to help clear the hot air when first turning on the a/c, but after a few minutes we shut it down. The a/c seems to do better with it closed once the initial venting of hot air is done.

Branderson · April 10, 2019, 12:48:21 PM

Thanks Richard

You mentioned finding a way that rain doesn't get in. I thought that the cover that goes over the dome is for that? However, I'm betting if the rain is hard enough, it can get through. I actually just ordered a fantastic cover b/c the one I have doesn't allow the dome to fully open.

richard5933 · April 10, 2019, 01:06:50 PM

Quote from: Branderson on April 10, 2019, 12:48:21 PM
Thanks Richard

You mentioned finding a way that rain doesn't get in. I thought that the cover that goes over the dome is for that? However, I'm betting if the rain is hard enough, it can get through. I actually just ordered a fantastic cover b/c the one I have doesn't allow the dome to fully open.

Correct - the cover over the FF keeps the rain from getting in the opening at the fan. What I'm doing is trying to give the air someplace towards the floor to come back into the bus. We're sucking air out through the roof, which does a great job of getting rid of the hot air as it rises to the ceiling. The nose vent brings in fresh air toward the floor at the front of the bus, thus creating a decent flow along the floor from the nose to the middle of the bus where it leaves through the FF in the roof.

The problem we're having is in the bedroom in the rear of the bus. The only air intake back there is a one sliding window, and it's got two problems. First, it's more than halfway up the side of the wall, which means that the air under it is relatively stagnant. Second, it can't be left open if it's raining.

What I'm trying to do is find a place to mount some type of screened vent towards the floor in the wall to allow air into the bus - perhaps something like this turned sideways so it is horizontal:

https://www.millsupply.com/hingeless-aluminum-2-way-vent-t23170al.php?p=102217

These were meant for step vans up front, but I'm thinking that mounted sideways it would have it's own rain shield and bring air across the floor in the rear. Or, possibly there is some way to mount it in the floor over the rear axle - we wouldn't open it while in motion since water spray could get suck in, but while parked it would provide a sheltered place to draw in fresh air in the bedroom.

In the summer we camp a lot in places up north where a/c is not needed, but when it rains things can get really stuffy if we can't bring in fresh air as fast as the FF pulls it out.

Dave5Cs · April 10, 2019, 04:03:01 PM

We put a Maxx air vent cover over our FF and can leave the fan going even when it rains.

https://www.amazon.com/Maxxair-503-15-00-933066-White-Cover/dp/B000UUMM6K/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_bs_tr_img_1/138-2181246-9346065?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=D795FVW7709WHF4FVPSD

muldoonman · April 10, 2019, 05:38:18 PM

Don't have a cover over the Maxxfan I installed after one of my Fantasic's bit the dust. Have 2 vent fans on my bus. A wind gust hit it down at the Gulf coast and snapped the lid/arm off. Fantastic's have one arm and the new Maxx Fan has 2. Both have rain sensors and they do work and will close at the hint of rain.

Branderson · April 10, 2019, 05:47:12 PM

I need to upgrade my fans guts. Not sure if rain sensor works but my controller isnt made anymore.

MagnoliaBus · April 10, 2019, 05:47:27 PM

Quote from: Branderson on April 10, 2019, 10:59:10 AM
oh wow for real? I thought it pushes out stale/warm air? I figured that hot air rises and it would actually be cooler b/c it's sucking out the hot air. Am I incorrect?

Each cubic feet of air exiting the bus MUST be replaced by exterior air entering from god knows where, or else there would be a vacumm inside the bus. So you're throwing out cool dry air while warm and humid air come in to replace it...

richard5933 · April 10, 2019, 06:00:16 PM

Quote from: MagnoliaBus on April 10, 2019, 05:47:27 PM
Each cubic feet of air exiting the bus MUST be replaced by exterior air entering from god knows where, or else there would be a vacumm inside the bus. So you're throwing out cool dry air while warm and humid air come in to replace it...

If we have the nose vent and all windows closed and turn on the roof vent, that's exactly what happens. Open the entry door and you'll feel a rush of air coming in. There is obviously a small amount of air making its way into the interior through the stock HVAC vents/fresh air inlet, but not nearly as much as these newer FF roof vents are capable of sucking out.

We can definitely hear the change in tone the roof vent makes when we open the nose vent - almost like it's breath a sigh of relief not having to work so hard. I wonder if that is what causes some of these things to fail prematurely.

Jim Blackwood · April 10, 2019, 09:56:52 PM

I'm curious if anybody has tried to mount one of these vent fans and shroud through the top escape hatches?

Jim

MagnoliaBus · April 11, 2019, 03:23:15 PM

Quote from: Jim Blackwood on April 10, 2019, 09:56:52 PM
I'm curious if anybody has tried to mount one of these vent fans and shroud through the top escape hatches?

Jim

This is where i plan to mount them, front and rear escape hatches opening. I will need to weld a frame of proper dimension (14"x14") and add aluminum skin since the opening is close to 24" x 24".

richard5933 · April 11, 2019, 03:31:32 PM

Before you weld up an escape hatch to a smaller opening, you might consider if one of the hatches could provide a handy access to the roof.

I've wished more than once that we could just pop the hatch and get to the roof with a step stool from the inside - it would be much easier than dragging out the extendable ladder and getting there from the outside.

Jim Blackwood · April 11, 2019, 04:32:47 PM

I was thinking more along the lines of keeping the escape hatches functional. Think that would be possible?

Jim