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#211226 09/27/13 12:49 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
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I got a look at the next generation bathroom fan and I am impressed. They had a guy from panasonic at the contractors lunch today showing off the new DC motor LED, motion activated, humidistat off fan. Quite a gadget.
There is a control panel under the grill to set everything up.
The most impressive thing was how quiet it is. You literally had to hold your hand over the out port to know it was running at 80 CFM.
I assume there are other brands with similar offerings but this was pretty neat.
Sticker shock was a whole other thing tho. The full boat featured unit was $540 list, minus whatever the supplier will do for you. Less features costs less obviously.
Still it might be just the thing for an upscale house.



Greg Fretwell
gfretwell #211227 09/27/13 09:33 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
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Wow, $540!!
I can see some builders now....choking!

They love the <$15 'specials'


John
gfretwell #211228 09/27/13 10:25 AM
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Sounds like a lot of parts to go wrong inside it instead of just a motor.

gfretwell #211230 09/27/13 12:41 PM
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They are warrantied for 6 years rated 24/7


Greg Fretwell
gfretwell #211353 10/07/13 11:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 46
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The DC motor "scandal" I have been following for awhile... just another way to make things more expensive and more prone to failure, while accomplishing nothing other than pulling a few less watts. Just money wasted with R&D, IMO.

You can get plenty of quiet and plenty of efficiency from 60 and 70 year old fans... I should know, I own some.

[Linked Image from vintagefans.com]


Originally Posted by gfretwell
They are warrantied for 6 years rated 24/7


Yeah, "warrantied".
"Warranty" can often be taken as a dirty word, depending on the conditions behind it.
People won't maintenance(clean) the things, and no doubt they'll fail early, within a year or two, and then the warranty will be re-drafted to adjust to reality...

Last edited by NickD; 10/07/13 11:10 PM.
gfretwell #211354 10/07/13 11:40 PM
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I think with the LEED deal and everyone wanting something more efficient we are going to see more technology in household products.
The thing you notice first is how quiet it is tho.
I worked with these DC motors for many years at IBM and they are actually pretty solid.


Greg Fretwell
gfretwell #211359 10/08/13 10:28 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
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My concern is not so much with the DC motor but with the electronics to drive it. Electronic stuff dies.

Last edited by jdevlin; 10/08/13 10:29 AM.
gfretwell #211360 10/08/13 12:36 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
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Panosonic fans are good, quiet, reliable, and expensive. $500 is a bit rediculus though


"Live Awesome!" - Kevin Carosa
gfretwell #211361 10/08/13 02:25 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
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Originally Posted by gfretwell
I worked with these DC motors for many years at IBM and they are actually pretty solid.


I would be hesitant to consider that relevant experience, especially if it wasn't recent.

Originally Posted by jdevlin
My concern is not so much with the DC motor but with the electronics to drive it. Electronic stuff dies.


That's the right idea. The physical motor is no more or less susceptible to failure than any other induction motor - it's the driving electronics that are under my scrutiny. It's like CFLs versus incandescent bulbs. The ballasts compromise the service life of the whole bulb, in most cases, and increase the overall failure rate of the bulbs exponentially.

In looking at some sort of schematic for the internals of these units, I would hope that there is at least one built-in form of line voltage protection, like a pair of fuses... at the bare minimum.

Last edited by NickD; 10/08/13 02:30 PM.
gfretwell #211808 11/16/13 06:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,273
T
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These DC motors are using brushless schemes, making them astoundingly efficient and quiet.

They don't toss heat off like the motors we know and love.

The fan action assures good circulation over the electronics -- which is SURE to be encapsulated in epoxy. (moisture-dirt)

The dang thing is going to run a 100 years, no doubt.

It's a terrific retrofit item for the wealthy Green leaning client. Because it's so efficient. One can leave it running much longer after business has been done.

It's also the perfect solution to excessively damp basements. It may pay to have one installed just for human comfort.


Tesla
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