My old 3-speed, temperature sensing, rain sensing fantastic fan was so great I bought the exact replacement model. The problem is they redesigned the rain sensor. The old model closed with moisture and opened when the sensor dried. In practical terms this meant a light sprinkle might close the fan for 10 minutes, a heavy rain for an hour, at which point the fan opens and if it's still raining it closes again.Pretty brilliant and my absolute favorite feature of the fan, since it's our only cooling source.The new fan looks the same except when the slightest bit of moisture gets on the rain sensor it just closes forever. 11pm, 3am, the fan doesn't come on again until you get up and flip the switch (I purposefully and intentionally avoided the remote control).I emailed fan-tastic about the problem and they basically said "we changed the design".So now I'm stuck with a brand new, freshly mounted fan-tastic vent that I need to reverse engineer to be like the old one. The worst part is I gave my old fan away because someone with a base model wanted to upgrade the sensors etc.So- does anyone know how to reverse this design flaw and have it reopen automatically after the sensor dries?Is there wiring I can change or a component to swap? Which part of the fan controls this behavior? I know I can swap parts with an older model (if I can find one) I just need to know which part/parts to look for.Obviously if I can soldier, jump or wire something differently that would be easier.Please let me know any ideas on un-fixing this vent fan!

jage wrote:My old 3-speed, temperature sensing, rain sensing fantastic fan was so great I bought the exact replacement model. The problem is they redesigned the rain sensor. The old model closed with moisture and opened when the sensor dried. In practical terms this meant a light sprinkle might close the fan for 10 minutes, a heavy rain for an hour, at which point the fan opens and if it's still raining it closes again.Pretty brilliant and my absolute favorite feature of the fan, since it's our only cooling source.The new fan looks the same except when the slightest bit of moisture gets on the rain sensor it just closes forever. 11pm, 3am, the fan doesn't come on again until you get up and flip the switch (I purposefully and intentionally avoided the remote control).I emailed fan-tastic about the problem and they basically said "we changed the design".So now I'm stuck with a brand new, freshly mounted fan-tastic vent that I need to reverse engineer to be like the old one. The worst part is I gave my old fan away because someone with a base model wanted to upgrade the sensors etc.So- does anyone know how to reverse this design flaw and have it reopen automatically after the sensor dries?Is there wiring I can change or a component to swap? Which part of the fan controls this behavior? I know I can swap parts with an older model (if I can find one) I just need to know which part/parts to look for.Obviously if I can soldier, jump or wire something differently that would be easier.Please let me know any ideas on un-fixing this vent fan!I have the same issue. Fantastic Fan was sold to another outfit a while back and they changed the design not the original company. if enough of us complain a change might occur.

I don't have either version, I have Max Air fanBut you got me thinkingThis switch, do you mean the on off switch, a membrane push button monetary contact on a circuit boardMaybe a timer circuit powered from the fan input 12v with a signal sensor on the motor wiresWhen motor stops the timer starts, when it times out it momentarily closes the switch circuitJust a thought, I don't have that fan, so I can't prototype the idea to a working modelOr if you can identify all the components on the circuit board you can enter them into a circuit design program and play around with the design yourselfThere are free programs for this, for PC and android

Could you use a vent cover? I installed mine 2 1/2 years ago and used a cover so never dealt with that issue. I know the customer service isn't that great. I called about an issue with the remote control plastic mount not holding the remote tight enough and the woman told me "What? Do you expect it to be perfect? " Ahhh OK

Can you post up some pictures of the circuit boards 'n such?I'm guessing the rain sensor works the same way it always has, just they changed the programming in the brain of the unit, changing how it responds to the sensor being triggered.From an engineering standpoint, the new method is what I'd choose - I'm surprised to learn the old way could have the fan opening and closing repeatedly and frequently, hard on the motors.rjxj's suggestion of a vent cover is the best solution. With a cover, you can keep circulating air even if it's raining.

Can you add the fan control to a thermostat that would power the fan back on at a set temp? The fan might get caught in loop if its raining and hot inside. I also like the idea of a vent cover to protect the fan from rain to keep the sensors from going off.

reverse engineer New Model Fan-tastic fan rain sensor?

12 Replies

MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 11, 2016
I don't have either version, I have Max Air fan
But you got me thinking
This switch, do you mean the on off switch, a membrane push button monetary contact on a circuit board

Maybe a timer circuit powered from the fan input 12v with a signal sensor on the motor wires
When motor stops the timer starts, when it times out it momentarily closes the switch circuit

Just a thought, I don't have that fan, so I can't prototype the idea to a working model

Or if you can identify all the components on the circuit board you can enter them into a circuit design program and play around with the design yourself
There are free programs for this, for PC and android
rk911
Explorer
Aug 11, 2016
jage wrote:
My old 3-speed, temperature sensing, rain sensing fantastic fan was so great I bought the exact replacement model. The problem is they redesigned the rain sensor. The old model closed with moisture and opened when the sensor dried. In practical terms this meant a light sprinkle might close the fan for 10 minutes, a heavy rain for an hour, at which point the fan opens and if it's still raining it closes again.

Pretty brilliant and my absolute favorite feature of the fan, since it's our only cooling source.

The new fan looks the same except when the slightest bit of moisture gets on the rain sensor it just closes forever. 11pm, 3am, the fan doesn't come on again until you get up and flip the switch (I purposefully and intentionally avoided the remote control).

I emailed fan-tastic about the problem and they basically said "we changed the design".

So now I'm stuck with a brand new, freshly mounted fan-tastic vent that I need to reverse engineer to be like the old one. The worst part is I gave my old fan away because someone with a base model wanted to upgrade the sensors etc.

So- does anyone know how to reverse this design flaw and have it reopen automatically after the sensor dries?

Is there wiring I can change or a component to swap? Which part of the fan controls this behavior? I know I can swap parts with an older model (if I can find one) I just need to know which part/parts to look for.

Obviously if I can soldier, jump or wire something differently that would be easier.

Please let me know any ideas on un-fixing this vent fan!

I have the same issue. Fantastic Fan was sold to another outfit a while back and they changed the design not the original company. if enough of us complain a change might occur.

Forum Discussion

reverse engineer New Model Fan-tastic fan rain sensor?

12 Replies

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