I would highly recommend the use of standard computer fans on the boat. The
good ones are built for continuous duty and have negligible current draw. I
use a number of them on Island Eagle, including two that I leave on 24/7/365.
If you want hi/lo speeds, it's trivial to wire up an inline resistor, and if
you really want to go all-out you can use a wire-wound potentiometer and get
variable speed. I've also mounted smaller (3") fans in standard ventilators,
so that they blow air out of the boat. They move about 50 times more air than
the wimpy fans that are normally in there.
I have had very good luck with both Papst and Panaflo fans, as well as the
non-name ones you can find at electronics stores. In any event, you are going
to notice that there is a direct tradeoff between airflow (in CFM), current
draw (in mA) and sound levels (in dB). You will need to decide what works for
you. If you expect to run the fan anywhere near a sleeping area, get the
lowest-noise one you can.
Mouser Electronics (www.mouser.com) is a good source of Papst fans and offers
cheap shipping.
Scott Welch
Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration Solutions Group
www.opentext.com
905 762 6101
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn
out." - John Wooden
I would highly recommend the use of standard computer fans on the boat. The
good ones are built for continuous duty and have negligible current draw. I
use a number of them on Island Eagle, including two that I leave on 24/7/365.
If you want hi/lo speeds, it's trivial to wire up an inline resistor, and if
you really want to go all-out you can use a wire-wound potentiometer and get
variable speed. I've also mounted smaller (3") fans in standard ventilators,
so that they blow air out of the boat. They move about 50 times more air than
the wimpy fans that are normally in there.
I have had very good luck with both Papst and Panaflo fans, as well as the
non-name ones you can find at electronics stores. In any event, you are going
to notice that there is a direct tradeoff between airflow (in CFM), current
draw (in mA) and sound levels (in dB). You will need to decide what works for
you. If you expect to run the fan anywhere near a sleeping area, get the
lowest-noise one you can.
Mouser Electronics (www.mouser.com) is a good source of Papst fans and offers
cheap shipping.
Scott Welch
Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration Solutions Group
www.opentext.com
905 762 6101
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn
out." - John Wooden
