car radiator fan as cabin fan?

centerline · May 5, 2016

End80 said:
Wow!.. I realize such products are already readily available.. Not trying to reinvent any wheels, just trying to not dent my pocket. My sole objective (right now) is a cheap alternative to effectively cool the cabin on hot muggy days.
Cash flow eventually begin running thin.. that's when I start to cut corners.
14" Marine fan = $70 / 16" radiator fan = $22

Ok, maybe it's a bad idea.

"Cash flow eventually begin running thin.. that's when I start to cut corners"....
its not uncommon for some people to think this way, but its backwards thinking and keeps one forever strapped for cash...

when the cash flow starts running thin is exactly the time to NOT cut corners.... when times are good and cash flow is fat, that is the time to experiment with different options.....
you can spend the 22 dollars now on the wrong product, and then when you find that it really does not work like you think it should, you will then spend the 70 dollars to get the right product..... or do without.
so now you will either have 92 dollars into the proper fan, OR, you will 22dollar radiator fan running your battery dead in a couple hours, and wishing you had bought the 70 dollar economical fan instead

... it can be a catch 22 for some people until they figure out that patience and budgeting, and spending their money on the right product the first time, is much cheaper than wasting their few dollars on something to just get them by....

Chris & Lenore · May 6, 2016

Canframo 747 moves 7000 cu ft per hour on 280 ma. This is the low setting - very quiet. Comes with fixed and moveable mounts.
Have two - best boat fans we have owned.
Tried various sizes and speeds of muffin (computer) fans, car fans, RV fans...
They (this model at least) is even made about 70 miles from where I live.

Chris

seadaddler · May 6, 2016

Cash flow is low than go to Walmart and get the clamp on fan with plug
and great setup but noisey more draw but had them until got the marine ones on sale.
I think around $12.00 but so easy to use nothing just use the clamp comes with them and even a plug.
Nick

Jim 5757 · May 6, 2016

OK End80...maybe this'll solve your problem? http://www.amazon.com/Oscillating-Marine-Fan-Boats-Oceans/dp/B00DIBAXMS
Probably not a high-quality item like Hella or Carframo, but we have a similar one on the Merry Bee since we got her; 10 years later it still works fine!

seadaddler · May 6, 2016

Walmart
12 volt fan great and cheap.
Good luck and heading back to warm Florida.
Nick

Brian S · May 6, 2016

Regarding Jim's Amazon fan, it specifies 200mts/min and "draws 1.2amps." I don't know what measure is mts/min.

Chris and Lenore lists the Caframo 747 at 7000cubic feet/hour, 280milliamps on low speed. I did not find these specs on their web site.

Regardless, having a little fan you can direct right on you at 280mA seems a good deal, especially from a battery use budget. To my mind (and I own one) the Caframo's blades look capable of moving more air than the closely spaced smaller 3 blades of that fan on Amazon. Incidentally, there are some bad reviews of that Amazon fan, from failures to being too loud for sleeping.

Brian S · May 10, 2016

End80 said:
I ended up ordering a Caframo 757 which is the "direct connect" version of the 747 (although I'm not entirely clear what that means)

The 747 has a cigarette plug end, the 757 just has wires that need to be hard wired to the electrical panel. Is that what you found on your 757?

seadaddler · May 10, 2016

I have the same fans and wired to near light connection rather than running wires all over and they are good and very easy to clean for sure.
I also have Hella turbo fans from many years ago and they are 2 speed and very quiet for
sleeping and caframo fans are also good too and all use low power.
I got the 757 from HD clearance a few years ago but no long have them and did get them for
$25 so got 4 before they were gone but one has died and the other are more noise than my Hella fans which got them at a Marine clearance depot here where I live $45.
If you shopp around for a sale the Marine fans much better and did try the cheap walmart black fans that have clamps and 12 volt plug but noisy and power hog.
Nick