[tpaschal30]

Summer is coming and I found these at a nice price.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-converters/12-volt-fans.htm

 

[suepuff]

These are the best fans. I have a Yukon with dog crates in the back. I have a marine battery with a connector for cigarette lighter plug ins connected to the battery. I only used 50% of the battery over a three day weekend at a hunt test in SC 2 weeks ago. Dogs never got hot. I'll post pics today if I can get some, WORTH EVERY PENNY!! I just charge the battery when I get home.

Sue Puff

 

[Steve Hester]

Had 2 of these until my whole trailer got stolen. They are the best portable fans available. Going to order 2 more.

 

[suepuff]

Steve, ever hear anything about it?

Anyone ever wire up a second battery to the alternator using an isolater, etc, for the purpose of running power to the bed of the truck?

Didn't wire up a second battery....I have a charger at home so opted to get a stand alone marine battery and run them. Off that. Camping world also has them on sale. And there are some coupon codes available.

Sue Puff

 

[suepuff]

Fans hanging from crates, attached to marine battery:

Battery setup with connectors:

For you guys that are good at rigging stuff....there may be a better way, but that's what I came up with....

Sue Puff

 

[Greg Seddon]

My thought was if I wired it in, I could eliminate the charging at home, as it would charge off the alternator. Empty second battery tray under the hood, regards.

Cory I had these fans for 10 years and ran them off the truck battery, they only have a 1 to 2 amp draw and could run them all day without worrying about it killing my battery. I hard wired a outlet into the bed of the truck off the trailer harness for both fans. Look to the left of Sadie's crate and you will see the outlet. I currently have a new slide in from Ainley with similar fan from the same company but its mounted in the center on the roof between both kennels and I used it this past weekend at FT in Lapeer all three days in the 80 to 90 degree heat and it is connected to my truck battery and did not even effect it at all. The Fantastic Fans are made in Imlay City, MI.

 

[Rich Schultheis]

I have a setup with three of these fans run off a second battery under the hood that charges when the truck is started. Works well for me. Just make sure you wire it so that the connection only happens when the truck is running or you will just draw from both. I ran them off the main battery for a while but three fans running on high will drain a battery pretty fast.

 

[Travis Schneider]

How much are y'all spending on the battery to run the fan and the battery hook up/wires?

I'm just trying to get a feel for total ct of this setup.

 

[Julie Rihn]

Thanks for posting this. I just ordered another one. I bought a portable battery charger at Costco and plug mine into it when I'm out training or going to a test. I thought I'd better see how long it will run on that battery pack. After 10 hours I shut it off. Not sure if you guys know it but these fans have a life time warranty. So worth it. Thanks again. That's and awesome price!

 

[suepuff]

Deep Cycle Battery: About $90 Go to an Advance Autoparts Store
Battery Charger: About $50 Got to an Advance Autoparts Store
Cable: $5 http://www.etrailer.com/Electronics/Optronics/A-203.html?feed=npn&gclid=CMOYgPv0l7ACFSrDtgodtzYv1A
DC Car splitter: $10 Buy from Amazon.
Fans: Right now as little at $58

The cable and the splitter you might be able to get at Advance too....

If you can rig it up to your vehicle, you won't need the charger. I'm going to have my mechanically inclined husband look at it.

The Deep Cycle battery lasts years. The one on our camper that we just replaced was 5 + years old. Still held a great charge. I don't know how old my original fans are...still going...

Well worth every penny. I don't worry about the car battery or the dogs getting hot anymore...

Sue Puff

 

[Pam Spears]

This isn't my own area of expertise, LOL. But when I showed the Sue's picture to my husband he thought having a battery in the open with clips on it like that was potentially dangerous. He also said batteries give of small quantities of gas and shouldn't be close to the dogs. Maybe it would be better to put the battery and clips inside a box of some sort? He wired an adaptor into the bed of my truck for my fan, which runs off the main vehicle battery.

 

[TN_LAB]

He also said batteries give of small quantities of gas and shouldn't be close to the dogs. Maybe it would be better to put the battery and clips inside a box of some sort?

He wired an adaptor into the bed of my truck for my fan, which runs off the main vehicle battery.

1. The battery may give off gas, but I'd think the fans would provide adequate ventilation. A battery box is about $9, and I certainly wouldn't think it's a waste of money.
2. Be careful when using the vehicle's main/starting battery over a prolonged period of time (they aren't really designed to be drawn down too low the way a deep cycle battery is).


My setup isn't nearly as nice as the marine battery & endless breeze fans, but it works just fine for a few hours here and there.

Gell cell battery = $0 (already had a couple from my kids rechargeable Lil Tykes bike and a cable TV emergency backup thingy)
Charger = $0 (see above)
Fan = $12 camping fan from Wally-World (got it on sale one Fall). It's one of them 10 inch 02 cool fans. I have no complaints and it blows a reasonable amount of air.
Wires = $0 Took me about 5 minutes to McGyver some old speaker wires since the fan was designed to run off D cell batteries.