Bathroom fan replacement - Montana Owners Club

mazeeff · 03-12-2005, 04:33 AM

As many others have commented, the bathroom fan is noisy, and creates interference on the TV. I decided to replace it with a high quality ball bearing PC fan. The fan cost $12, and is a Antec 120mm (4.7") model. It is an extremly easy mod to make. If you pull down the inside trim piece, which is held in by 4 square head screws, you will see that the screen is held in by two small screws. Remove these, as well as the crank, and remove the nut holding the switch in place. The fan blade just pulls off, and the old fan is held in by two small screws. Remove the fan motor and chunk it. The new fan is supported on three sides. Two self tapping sheet metal screws secure the fan to the metal bracing, and I used a tie wrap to secure the third corner. It is amazing how much quieter the new fan is, and no TV interference. It pushes a lot more air as well. Here is a picture.

kdeiss · 03-12-2005, 05:06 AM

Cam you tell me brand,model and place you purchased

Thanks

mazeeff · 03-12-2005, 05:47 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by kdeiss

Cam you tell me brand,model and place you purchased

Thanks

I don't recall the brand, but I got it at a local Micro Center. Most computer stores have these. What you want is a 12 volt 4" computer fan with ball bearings. These are fans that are made to run 24/7 and should last a while in the trailer. Before you finalize the installation, make sure the fan is blowing out. If not, either flip it over or reverse the wires.

kdeiss · 03-12-2005, 08:14 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by mazeeff

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by kdeiss

Cam you tell me brand,model and place you purchased

Thanks

I don't recall the brand, but I got it at a local Micro Center. Most computer stores have these. What you want is a 12 volt 4" computer fan with ball bearings. These are fans that are made to run 24/7 and should last a while in the trailer. Before you finalize the installation, make sure the fan is blowing out. If not, either flip it over or reverse the wires.

Thanks 12V 4 Inch got it

harleyrider · 03-12-2005, 02:52 PM

That is one nice improvment Mike.I hate that TV interference with the stock fan.Is their 2 wires to deal with the install?2 from the old fan and 2 from the new one?

harleyrider · 03-12-2005, 02:55 PM

And also Mike did you use the same push button to turn it on???

fulltimedreamer · 03-12-2005, 02:56 PM

Great job!! Looks very professional.

campbud · 03-12-2005, 04:18 PM

Second that for me I hate the T.V interference! Really nice job on it!

mazeeff · 03-13-2005, 02:55 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by harleyrider

And also Mike did you use the same push button to turn it on???

I used the existing button to turn the unit on/off. There are just two wires to deal with. +12v and ground. The existing fan has two wires. One goes to the switch, and the other is connected to the ground wire. Simply clip the two wires to the old fan, and connect to the new fan. Also I chose to use a clear fan to allow for light input, and to make the fan less noticeable.

Bill and Ann · 03-13-2005, 03:44 AM

This is good info. I will be changing our fan. I don't know how many times our fan has shut off on its own due to overheating.

harleyrider · 03-13-2005, 04:33 AM

Mike

Thanks for the wiring info.Hear i come Micro center.Ok I got to get off the forum.i promised my wife I won`t spend another red cent on upgrades.Maybe I`ll sneak out to "Camping World"-just to look honey(laughing)

harleyrider · 03-13-2005, 05:11 AM

Mike

another question.All the fans that i see have a 4 pin pass-threw connecter.Do you just cut off the connecter and its 2 wires???

mazeeff · 03-13-2005, 08:56 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by harleyrider

Mike

another question.All the fans that i see have a 4 pin pass-threw connecter.Do you just cut off the connecter and its 2 wires???

Yes. Just cut off the computer connector and wire up to the red and black wires. It might also have senseing wire, that normally connects to a computer motherboard. Leave this unconnected. Mine also came with a tiny switch to set fan speed at low, med, and high. I left mine on high.

bob n pam · 03-13-2005, 01:03 PM

Wow, Mike. Thank you big time. I can see another project for Bob being added to the list. Maybe I'll try this one myself!

Pam

rames14 · 03-15-2005, 11:56 AM

I'm glad Terrie doesn't read this much. I'd never get all my work done. I create enough work without all these great ideas. Thanks.

Treecounter · 03-16-2005, 02:07 AM

We did that. But we got our fans at the flee market in Yuma AZ. for $4.00 just one speed. Added one to the vent between the washer and shower to vent out moisture. Just before we left Yuma we got two fans for $4.00. Look out stove fan.

Montana_2785 · 03-16-2005, 02:50 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Treecounter

[...] Look out stove fan.

That's the one I really want to replace. It's so noisy I hate to use it... I'd like to rig something up that would have 2 or three speeds on it so I can vent steam over a long period of time QUIETLY.

Eric

Montana_738 · 03-19-2005, 11:30 AM

Boy that is a problem I have wanted to solve for a long time, I told everyopne they had to go find somewhere else to go when I'm watching TV.
I have looked on the internet to try and find one that looks like yours, all the ones I see have something attached to the bottom, some sort of metal base. I also can't find one that is clear.
I'm in Illinois, if someone knows a place I can pick one of these up I would appreciate it if you would post it.

Thanks again for the idea.

Bill

DHenry · 03-19-2005, 05:46 PM

Great post, thanks for the improvement idea.

mazeeff · 03-20-2005, 06:36 AM

Just to clear up a couple of questions. The fan I used was a 120mm (4.7") Antec clear fan. Computer fans typically come in two sizes. 80mm and 120mm. This is the larger one.

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