Heng's vortex 12"

[GordonThree]

Pulled the trigger on a 12" retrofit fan, the Heng's Vortex III for my kitchen skylight. I've had the 9" vortex II in the bathroom for a few years now and it's proven reliable.

$70 shipped, compared to $$$ more for a Fantastic or Maxxaire

It's a single speed no reverse, but that's no problem. I will be wiring it up to a Cytron DC motor controller and a wireless receiver of my own design. The Cytron will give me speed control and reverse abilities.

Fan should arrive in a week or so, will post a follow-up of the install.

[Lynnmor]

I installed the single speed Vortek fans with PWMs and reversing switches. This gives me variable speed in both forward and reverse, and no power wasting resistors.

I did buy a PWM that caused excessive noise, another brand worked fine.

[SidecarFlip]

The Not so Fantastic Fan uses nichrome resistance wire versus resistors and it's coiled so really no weight unlike your resistors. Too bad the mnotors don't last for me. Your bedding looks to be the way to go.

[Blacklane]

The Vortex 3-speed fan has a fatal flaw: Three big, heavy resistors with no support other than their wire leads soldered to a printed-circuit board. Not good for a high-vibration environment. The reliability can be greatly improved by under-filling the resistors with silicone caulk or similar substance.

I did this when I installed mine several years ago, and it's still running fine.

The single-speed fan does not have these resistors.


Click For Full-Size Image.

[SidecarFlip]

I need to hear a longer term reliability report on the Vortex. I've had dismal luck with my not so Fantastic Fan. 3 pooped out motors. In FF's court as a postive response, they have replaced all 3 at no charge but replacement is a PITA every time.

[SidecarFlip]

GordonThree wrote:
Well poop. The Vortex is here already, but I don't see how it is a retrofit as advertised: install without breaking the roof seal.

The last vortex came in a frame that replaced the inside portion of the roof vent, and attached to the cross member that contains the skylight mechanism.

This is all one unit, complete with roof flange and everything.

Not terrible I guess, just means I'll have to figure out how I'm going to replace the existing vent in the middle of my non walkable roof... I could barely reach the sides to install the vent cover.

Pretty easy.. 2 step ladders and a painters plank.

[GordonThree]

Blacklane wrote:
I was going to install a similar PWM speed controller on a Heng's fan, but discovered (a) it made an loud high-pitched noise whenever the fan was set to any speed other than full, and (b) it drew several milliamps of parasitic current while turned off.

Maybe this controller is better, but those are a couple of things to maybe test before cutting and drilling.

I did install the speed controller on my stove vent and it works great. I installed it down-stream of the existing switch to avoid parasitic current draw.

My parasite draw is around 10amps, so I'm not worried about a few more milliampere 🙂

The controller I have designed operates at 30khz, well beyond human perception. Most of the cheap units on eBay and Amazon operate at a much lower frequency, because it's a cheaper solution.

[Blacklane]

I was going to install a similar PWM speed controller on a Heng's fan, but discovered (a) it made an loud high-pitched noise whenever the fan was set to any speed other than full, and (b) it drew several milliamps of parasitic current while turned off.

Maybe this controller is better, but those are a couple of things to maybe test before cutting and drilling.

I did install the speed controller on my stove vent and it works great. I installed it down-stream of the existing switch to avoid parasitic current draw.

[afidel]

GordonThree wrote:
Well poop. The Vortex is here already, but I don't see how it is a retrofit as advertised: install without breaking the roof seal.

The last vortex came in a frame that replaced the inside portion of the roof vent, and attached to the cross member that contains the skylight mechanism.

This is all one unit, complete with roof flange and everything.

Not terrible I guess, just means I'll have to figure out how I'm going to replace the existing vent in the middle of my non walkable roof... I could barely reach the sides to install the vent cover.

Wow, glad I didn't go with the 3 then! I was considering it for the larger size, more air with fewer rpms should be quieter, but I couldn't find anyone with one in stock for fast shipping so I ended up with a single speed 2 and bought a similar speed controller with reversing switch to turn it into a $200 fan 😃

[GordonThree]

Well poop. The Vortex is here already, but I don't see how it is a retrofit as advertised: install without breaking the roof seal.

The last vortex came in a frame that replaced the inside portion of the roof vent, and attached to the cross member that contains the skylight mechanism.

This is all one unit, complete with roof flange and everything.

Not terrible I guess, just means I'll have to figure out how I'm going to replace the existing vent in the middle of my non walkable roof... I could barely reach the sides to install the vent cover.

[SidecarFlip]

GordonThree wrote:

IAMICHABOD wrote:
Do you have a link for that?

Here is the fan:
Vortex III

And the controller:
Cytron

You know that Adventure RV has it's own RV forum I presume. I'm on it infrequently.

They have really good pricing, I buy most of my 'stuff' from them.

[IAMICHABOD]

GordonThree wrote:

IAMICHABOD wrote:
Do you have a link for that?

Here is the fan:
Vortex III

And the controller:
Cytron

Thanks GordonThree,SIL is looking for one.

[austinjenna]

I put one in the living room part of my fiver and reversed the wires and hooked it up to a little switch and solar panel on the roof so it can suck out the hot air while sitting in the storage lot.

[GordonThree]

IAMICHABOD wrote:
Do you have a link for that?

Here is the fan:
Vortex III

And the controller:
Cytron

[rhagfo]

we have a vortex in the bathroom, but kitchen has a Fantastic three speed. it is so quiet that we find we leave it on without noticing.
I installed the Vortex in the winter, part of the decision as didn't want to wait for a dry weekend day in the PNW.