my 12 volt fan install, using 120v power

[universalexports]

I just wanted to post this up for info, I know I spent a few minutes researching what I had to do to run a 12 Volt Fantastic fan on 120 volt power.

some quick info for those unfamiliar with voltage

vehicles and vehicle batteries are 12 Volt systems (actually vehicle systems have a voltage regulator that regulates the voltage from 12 to 13.8 volts). so a 12 volt system is kind of actually a 13.8 volt system.

houses are wired for 120 volt stuff.

the fantastic fan is 12 volt (vehicle battery power)

Since the fan is the only thing I will have that uses 12 volts, I did not want to go to the trouble (and expense) of running it on a car battery. finding a place to mount the battery, building a battery box, have to charge the battery, etc.


a quick look at the box told me it uses a max of 3 amps when on high. here is a pic of the box with info.







so I started looking for a power inverter (converts 120 volt to 12 volt)

I looked at several on ebay from $9.99 to 79.99 then I settled on one from radio shack, they sell it for $56.99 but I found a new in box one on ebay for $39.99 shipped.

it seems very solid, and weighs about twice what it looks like it would. and is small enough to mount in a cabinet.

it has positive and negative post, which I will use to wire up the fan, along with a cigarette lighter plug in. if I need to plug something else in.





should be easy to wire up,, and do everything I need it to. and not cost an arm and a leg.

[harrison429]

Thanks for sharing that info it will definitely come in handy. Still trying to figure out and learn what I can about all this amp, volts, watt stuff

[Gone Kayaking]

I decided on a dual system. Shore power when I'm somewhere that has it. 12 V when I'm not which is more often than than when I'm plugged. I don't have a generator and likely never will.

12V system 2 Group 24 AGM batteries
Lights I use 12 V LED replacement bulbs that screw right into regular sockets of the old fixtures. Put in a couple of cigarette plugs Fantastic fan also runs off this. MSW inverter ($70) if I need to run anything off 110 (mostly charging my laptop). No AC (don't need it in my area) I'm good on this for as long as a week.

Bridge Intellipower converter connects to batteries and is plugged into 110 system so that I can use the 12v fixtures when I'm on shore power.

110 system, replaced the glass fuses with push button breaker fuses. Those power the converter and a couple of outlets.

Additions to come
replace existing 4 wire flat with 7 so that I can charge while driving
Add a charge wizard to keep the battery maintained at optimum
Add a 20w solar trickle charger to keep the batteries topped off.