Caframo fan install

[Shearwater]

Hey all, we're picking up our 5.0 in Sumas next Tuesday. After two nights at Oostema, we start our trip back east to Minnesota. We'll be at Bowl and Pitcher campground next Thursday. Projected highs around 98 and we have a non electric site. I'm thinking about picking up a 12v Caframo 757 fan at the local West Marine for about $40 and bringing it with us to install during downtime at Oostema. I looks like I can pick up 12V from inside the little cabinet just aft of the passenger side end wall. I assume there is a framing member supporting the cabinet that I can use to mount the fan. The pic with the circle is from our build pics, the circled are is where the fan would go. The cabinet interior is a screen shot from a recent youtube video to show the wiring. And of course the fan I'm proposing. Thoughts on this plan?

[Jim Bennett]

I installed mine on the other side. I just tied in to existing wiring and mounted it on the corner framing. Love the thing, great for naps in warm weather. It fills out of the way well too. It is the Camframo Sirocco.

[Mike Lewis]

I have been intending to install a couple of Caframo fans for a while now. I'm glad they're working out for you. I'll do it before my next trip.

[Eggscape]

The red arrow points to the power awning control unit. In there you will find a power wire for the external led strip light option. If you did not get that option the power wires are free to use. The power is activated by a button on the awning remote allowing you to be in bed and switch on and off the fan remotely.
Of course if you got the manual awning you are out of luck as there is no control box.

[cpaharley2008]

The fan pictured in #1 is 120v, is there a 12 version?

[Shearwater]

Yep, 12v, comes in black or white.

[thunderworks]

These are readily available on eBay in either black or white. Almost silent and move a remarkable amount of air for such a small fan. I put one in our 19 above the dinette and will probably add another over the bed.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17439823971...IAAOSwjPtfOpdn

[dstreight]

We need a quiet and well made fan and based upon reading here the Caframo looks like 'the one'. Question: Will the mount hold up to washboard and rough roads? We have a propensity to search out rough terrain

[thunderworks]

Originally Posted by dstreight

We need a quiet and well made fan and based upon reading here the Caframo looks like 'the one'. Question: Will the mount hold up to washboard and rough roads? We have a propensity to search out rough terrain

I mounted a hardwood block to the open shelf above our dinette (19' model), then mounted the Caframo to the hardwood block. We don't seek out "rough terrain", so can't really offer direct experience with the durability of the mounting, but I suspect it would hold up. Seems quite solid.

[Ops]

Certainly a little pricey, but based on all comments, would prove valuable where A/C is too much and the Max fan is not enough. Plus it’s made in Canada

Here’s a link to a BC supplier…

https://www.stevestonmarine.com/cafr...lack-12v-807bk

It’s now on my wish list…

[Shearwater]

Looks like I can tap off wires in the upper ride side cabinet, no problem. And it looks like I could mount a fan on the underside of the right bedside upper cabinets. The only question now is what does that framing look like on the cabinet bottom. I can see where they filled in the nail holes used to attach the bottom of that cabinet. It looks like the framing runs the short way. Can anyone here verify that?

[thunderworks]

Originally Posted by Shearwater

Looks like I can tap off wires in the upper ride side cabinet, no problem. And it looks like I could mount a fan on the underside of the right bedside upper cabinets. The only question now is what does that framing look like on the cabinet bottom. I can see where they filled in the nail holes used to attach the bottom of that cabinet. It looks like the framing runs the short way. Can anyone here verify that?

There is framing at all the edges of the cabinets. You can span the bottom with a piece of hardwood, screwed at the edges and then mount the fan to the hardwood.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by thunderworks

There is framing at all the edges of the cabinets. You can span the bottom with a piece of hardwood, screwed at the edges and then mount the fan to the hardwood.

Skip the added wood and install it like I did. That worked great.

[Shearwater]

All done, just in time for the next PNW heatwave. Tapped into 12v fed to captains light on passenger side. Curiously, there was an abandoned 12v cable in the upper cabinet next to the door. I assumed they had pulled it for the electric awning we did not get. Anyway, the fan works fine. Not bad for $40 US.

[RangerMan]

Originally Posted by Shearwater

All done, just in time for the next PNW heatwave. Tapped into 12v fed to captains light on passenger side. Curiously, there was an abandoned 12v cable in the upper cabinet next to the door. I assumed they had pulled it for the electric awning we did not get. Anyway, the fan works fine. Not bad for $40 US.

Several of us here have mentioned that cable you found. Mine is very neatly coiled up and I have no idea what it was meant to be used for. I have all the 12v outlets ETI offered at the time so I doubt it was there for that. A puzzlement!

[Marshall Escape]

The Caframo fan looked like a good idea. I wanted to tied into wires going to one of the 'pancake lights'. When I tested the voltage on those it came up as 6 volts even though the light label says it is a 12 volt light. Has anyone gotten a good wiring diagram for their trailer?

[ChuckBC]

Check out Binnacle.com (Canada) and you can get black for $140. There is the Bora model a little cheaper. Best to buy marine in February since they put on great deals, electronics, etc. for boat shows. Even better since you are on Island try Harbour Chandlery and they typically match Binnacle. They also have great deals for boat show time.

[algonquin50]

Nice fans...I like the 12v portable max fans I can then put them anywhere I need em. I have used them on either side of the queen on our 5.0 so they give an assisted cross ventilation.

[Carmel Clown]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I installed mine on the other side. I just tied in to existing wiring and mounted it on the corner framing. Love the thing, great for naps in warm weather. It fills out of the way well too. It is the Camframo Sirocco. Attachment 57494Attachment 57495

I have no idea how to tap into existing wiring or even find it, for that matter. Poor me.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Carmel Clown

I have no idea how to tap into existing wiring or even find it, for that matter. Poor me.

If you know anyone who knows 12V wiring they could help you with this. Mounting the fan was quite easy.