Vortex or Similar Fan Inserts

[Edmo]

Can anyone provide any feedback or recommendations on a vortex type vent fan insert.
Basically on quality but more so ease of installation.

Thank you

[jimcarterhb1951]

I installed 2 Vortex vent fans in my FR3 30DS, and they are working great. The first install took me about 45 minutes and the second about 20 minutes. Very easy simple install if your MH is pre-wired.

[jgourlie]

I have installed two vortex fans and they were very easy to install

[Edmo]

Thanks folks

[Earvinery]

I installed one. It was noisy (defective) went back to CW to exchange, and discovered that the max CFM is about 300. If you have never had a Fantastic or Maxx Air, that might be adequate, but for a few bucks more, I got the.Fantastic 3 speed - over 900.CFM. Much better, not hard to install.

[randman132]

The vortex fan inserts are easy to install, work far better than the little fans suspended in a big opening and quality is ok. My last one had a bad push button switch. Lasted about half a season. They are not fantastic fans but work good enough and don't require breaking the roof seals.

[Marksha83]

I put a Vortex in our Leprechaun bathroom and it is great and a piece of cake to install.

[Edmo]

Thanks, think im heading the vortex way. Didn't want to mess with the roof seals

[Marksha83]

I will add I put the Vortex only in the bathroom to replace the crappy little plastic stock one. I have Fantastic fans in the other vents that came with the RV.

[Earvinery]

Just a follow up - if you TAKE YOUR TIME removing the old vent, using a plastic putty knife; a hair dryer if it's cold out, and be careful, it's not difficult. And we'll worth the time and effort. A couple hours.

[Duckogram]

I did the vortex.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1070396
I suggest you get the one with reverse. Installation is straight forward but the instructions are anemic. Use quality wire connectors. I also drilled the rivets out and removed the original fan bracket to avoid air flow disruption. All work is accomplished inside without a big mess. I procured mine from RVUpgrades.

[JohnCD]

Where are the wires? I'm trying to add a Fan-tastic Model 1200 fan to the bathroom of my 2016 30DS but have not seen the wires...the area behind the sheet metal facia is filled with Styrofoam. Should I cut through the Styrofoam to look for the wires? I can always use some spray foam as filler later. And, if there are no wires can I parallel off of the bathroom light (I have already removed the light and exposed the wires).

By the way...thanks all for posting everything. It was invaluable for our decision to by the FR3.

[TLAK]

John CD

Mine ran tight against the flashing, on the side towards the center of the RV. Working from inside of the RV I couldn't see them until I used a mirror. There was a brown (positive) and a White (negative). I used automotive wire taps and everything has been working fine, going on a year. Be sure to turn off the battery disconnect when you're tapping the wires.

[drivmsafe]

I see that the Vortex fan does not come with trim. Will the stock trim around the vent work?

[TLAK]

Yes you reuse the stock trim. The fan takes the place of the original hatch screen, and has gears to operate the hatch lid, once you have the fan all you need are the wire taps.

It is the low cost option but remember it is much louder than a higher end fan, like the fantastic. I would not use it for a living or sleeping area because of the noise. But it does a fine job in the shower and 'odorous' area.

[drivmsafe]

Thanks TLAK! I plan in installing it in the bathroom. Only a non fan vent in there now.

[JohnCD]

TLAK, I found the brown and white wires exactly where you said but they appear to be taught. Is one end suppose to be loose and terminated (awaiting something to be hooked up to) or are they feeding something else and require splicing into them?

[TLAK]

I tapped into them using wire taps.

Dorman/T-tap terminal 86455 - Read Reviews on Dorman #86455

I used the weather resistant ones, they just have some dielectric grease in them. Here is a video on installing them, it shows them sliding the vehicle wire through the tap but really you just snap the tap over the wire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJn-8cRkk-s

[jimcarterhb1951]

JohnCD, I also have a 2016 FR3 30DS and the wires were loose on one end but were squashed under the flashing. Mine did not feed anything else, just took a bit of tugging to get them out, and I just connected each end of the wires to the Vortex fan. I think I read in other posts that 2015 and earlier models required being tapped into like TLAK posted.

[TLAK]

Jim's way is a lot easier than what I did. Wish I knew that when I did mine.