Caravan inverter

Submitted: Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 13:43
ThreadID: 142860 Views:7305 Replies:9 FollowUps:10
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What would be better for batteries, a 12 volt fan or an inverter & a small 240 volt fan, wanting to use outside of caravan
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Reply By: Member - Racey - Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 13:48

Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 13:48
12 volt fan to avoid the losses when using an invertor.
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Reply By: Stephen L (Clare) SA - Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 14:31

Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 14:31
Ray

Get yourself one of these, extremely low current draw of less than 1 amp, and work fantastic, and the best part of all, so quite you do not know its running, they are just brilliant.

Sirocco Fan
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Follow Up By: Stephen L (Clare) SA - Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 14:32

Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 14:32
And by the way, you can get them in white also
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Follow Up By: Member - PhilD_NT - Monday, Nov 22, 2021 at 01:43

Monday, Nov 22, 2021 at 01:43
Great items. I installed 3 of them in our van. You can also get a 12V small plastic ceiling style fan to hang from a hook.
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Reply By: Member - Jim S1 - Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 14:35

Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 14:35
I'll second Stephen's vote. They are the best. Available in boating/yachting stores such as Whitworths Marine.

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Follow Up By: Member - Wildmax - Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 12:07

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 12:07
Me too; they're great.
Wildmax
2018 Hilux and Black Wolf 210 tent - for the outback tracks less travelled
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Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 15:41

Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 15:41
.
Ray, the Sirocco 12v is a good fan but designed for wall or ceiling mounting within a caravan.
I would suggest that your needs would be better met with a 12v rechargeable fan such as one of these.
They provide complete flexibility and easily recharged from the car or caravan 12v electrics.
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Follow Up By: Rusty Iron - Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 21:22

Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 21:22
Absolutely what Allan B says. I looked at the Sciroccos but for around $230 plus freight if you live in the wrong place, they gave nowhere near the flexibility of those Tentworld options. I went for one that cost just $60. Compared to the Scirocco it;

1) Can run on 12 or 240v
2) Can be used while you recharge it
3) Oscillates
4) Can be taken outside the van or anywhere for that matter
5) Moves more air

It will run for up to 6 hours but as I said, you can plug it into 12 or 240v and still use it while it charges. They are considerably larger (but very light weight) but it shouldn't be hard to find a nook for it to travel in.
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Follow Up By: Member - silkwood - Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 20:30

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 20:30
Agreed. I have a Sirrocco in my boat, great unit. But for 4wd camping I have the Companion unit in Allan's link, works very well and very flexible in use.

Cheers, Mark.
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Reply By: kgarn - Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 17:06

Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 17:06
A small 12V fan may be best for minimising load on the battery, but for greater airflow you may be better off with a larger sized 240V fan. which could also be of the oscillating type if desired.

Ken
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Reply By: Croc099 - Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 19:12

Monday, Nov 15, 2021 at 19:12
a lot of AC fans use shaded pole motors. Horribly inefficient and dreadful power factor.

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Reply By: StormCamper - Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 02:56

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 02:56
If by better you mean power consumption, then in general both are the same! The inverter uses only a tiny amount of additional power, its so low unless your system has been poorly setup you want even notice the extra.

Here's my view on 12v fans, I brought one and after 20mins unboxing, the fan went straight into the bin. LOL
They cant move much air and straight up are unable to blow dandaline, imagine outside cross breeze etc.
If you want a fan that will move air, it's going to consume power, 12v dc fans draw small power simply because they move small air.
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Follow Up By: Stephen L (Clare) SA - Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 06:55

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 06:55
Not true, there are 12 v fans that do work and are brilliant and do move air….

Sounds like you brought a cheap fan and there is a very good saying, you only get what you pay for.

I bet you never looked at the Sirocco Fans that are worth every cent you pay
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Follow Up By: RMD - Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 10:25

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 10:25
StormCamper.
If you have a cross breeze then why do you need a fan? Isn't to create a breeze what the fan is for?
and what is a "dandaline"?
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Follow Up By: Member - Wildmax - Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 12:09

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 12:09
.... dandelion
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Follow Up By: Rusty Iron - Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 19:28

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2021 at 19:28
Stephen L; The OP said they wanted to use it outside. The Scirocco is not much use for that if it's permanently mounted inside.
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Reply By: Stevemac - Sunday, Nov 21, 2021 at 20:18

Sunday, Nov 21, 2021 at 20:18
Have had Sirroco fans on several caravans down the years and they’re very economical on power but limited in their versatility eg: for outside

If you have a rechargeable drill battery, makita, aeg, bosch, ryobi etc most of these companies do an effective, decent size fan used for job sites that run off rechargeable gear that you run tools from. You’ll get a good old waft of air and can use the battery for other compatible tools. Worth while building a tool set up,that runs off the same gear for what you would pay for a scirroco these days
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Follow Up By: Stevemac - Thursday, Nov 25, 2021 at 22:41

Thursday, Nov 25, 2021 at 22:41
Just noticed, there’s a 12” rechargeable Coleman fan on special here:

https://www.freddys.com.au/collections/all/products/coleman-12in-rechargeable-fan

Looks ok
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Reply By: Member - mike g2 - Wednesday, Dec 01, 2021 at 21:11

Wednesday, Dec 01, 2021 at 21:11
something different- a 12v computer chassis fan ( quiet ones avail) , easily adapted to a frame, low power usage.
could run off separate small M/C battery.
here's an american RV site chart as a guide :12 v DC power use chart
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