Inexpensive bath fan upgrade.

I also did the same. I added a small speed control that works very well and can reverse the fan. I bought a second one for the main room that has 3 speeds, but I like the speed control that I added much better than the cheap one they have on their unit. I got the speed control for 4 dollars on ebay.

I hooked up one of those in the high ceiling vent in my fiver, reversed the wires so it draws the air out and connected it to a small solar panel on the roof. I use it for when the trailer is in storage to suck out the hot air. Been working well for years now.

I replaced the anemic bath van in my RV a few years ago with the same fan. It's not near the quality of a fantastic fan but I did not want to change the vent. It was a simple upgrade and it still works. I put in the single speed as well and like another poster said it will move enough air to exchange the trailer air but not as much as a fantastic fan.

This one works well with no noise click here and this is the first one I tried that made a high pitched noise click here

Blacklane wrote:
What PWM controller did you use? When I tried this, there was an objectionable high-pitched squeal from the Vortex fan at any speed other than "high." Plus, I measured the current and found that the PWM controller drew several milliamps even when the fan was off, causing unwanted battery drain.

Overall, too many negatives with the PWM controller, so I installed the 3-speed Vortex fan. I made a few improvements to that design, and I wrote about it here: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27844279/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

It's hard to say, it has no brand name. But I know I got it on eBay and it has the same discription and looks like this one http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=251165901258&globalID=EBAY-US
I added a wall switch and put the controller inside the wall. So when it is turned off it is turned off.
I had it in my last trailer and when I traded it I put the old fan back in. So it's about 5 years old and I've had no issues.

What PWM controller did you use? When I tried this, there was an objectionable high-pitched squeal from the Vortex fan at any speed other than "high." Plus, I measured the current and found that the PWM controller drew several milliamps even when the fan was off, causing unwanted battery drain.

Overall, too many negatives with the PWM controller, so I installed the 3-speed Vortex fan. I made a few improvements to that design, and I wrote about it here: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27844279/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

firestorm79 wrote:
I bought the same fan and installed a PWM controller and DPDT switch so I can both control the speed and direction of the fan. I does let in less light than OEM but my wife doesn't complain when the boys go to the bathroom now.

At full speed its powerful enough to suck a piece of paper to the screen of a window at the opposite end of the trailer which makes it useful for drawing in cool evening air and venting cooking smells.

I did the same thing!
Works great and with the PWM controller it uses less electric when not at full speed.

Well, windows are probably not in the bathroom :)....
Yeah, when there is more than two people in a trailer (I would dare to say - more than one), the toilet exhaust is more important than skylight.

Almot wrote:
OEM fans are small and inefficient, yes.

But I see that this replacement has a smaller screen than my (and few others) OEM fans where screen covers the entire 14x14" opening. So there is less air flow when using it as a passive vent, and less light too.

The reason for the upgrade was to move more air (venting shower steam), the amount of light and passive venting was not a concern (we have plenty of Windows to let in light).

Yes a nice fan. I installed two of the variable speed versions.

Be careful before ordering it though - it only works with roof vents that have a screw handle to raise and lower the vent. My second trailer has a lever that you move back and forth to raise and lower the vent cover on the roof, and it will NOT work with this Hengs fan. I had to replace my roof vent with one that is compatible.

Ed