12 volt fans in comparison: For the car, motorhome, etc.

Whether in a car, caravan, motorhome or boat, you need fans that run on 12 volts. These 12-volt fans should also be as quiet as possible.

Today we're looking at the most important purchasing criteria for 12-volt fans. And I'll introduce you to a selection of products that I think are worth recommending:

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Purchase criteria

First things first: the power supply! This article is all about fans that are powered by 12 volts. The appropriate socket in the car is the cigarette lighter socket. The fan should have the following plug so that it fits into this socket:

The plug can be used to connect not only a fan, but also all kinds of other accessories to the car's power supply.

Air circulation

With the so-called Air circulation is the amount of air that a fan can move in a certain time (often per minute).

With larger fans this value plays an important role. But for the smaller 12-volt models that we are looking at here today, it is less so. All in all, they offer almost the same performance. However, the next criterion is more important.

Volume

In my opinion, a quiet 12-volt fan is almost always preferable. This is because you are sitting together with the appliance in a confined space. When camping (especially at night), the volume should not be a problem.

I wouldn't use a fan that generates a noise level of more than 50 dB during operation.

As I said, it also depends on the exact intended use. While travelling, the driving noise drowns out a lot of things. But when camping or on your own boat, for example, the background noise is much lower. This is why particularly quiet 12-volt fans are required in these places.

Durability

The durability of the small fans is of course crucial. After all, you will be travelling a lot with them, perhaps driving over cobblestones from time to time and exposing them to high temperatures in the car in summer.

Fastening

Before buying, you should definitely pay attention to how the fan is set up or attached. The most common variants are as follows:

• Adhesive underside or feet
• for clipping on (like a clothes peg)
• Hanging up (e.g. on the rear-view mirror)
• Tightening screws

Different mounting methods are available depending on the location. Adhesive feet work well on the dashboard. In a caravan or mobile home, you may find a favourable place to screw it on.

Cable length

Always check the length of the cable before purchasing and installing it. Nothing is more annoying than cancelling a plan because the cable is too short. Moreover, hardly anyone has extension cables for these plugs to hand.

Recommended 12 volt fans

Here is a list of fans that I think are worth recommending. It has been selected so that there is something for every application.

If you have any questions about the list or if you think something is missing or unauthorised on this list, please write to me: maxmarx1991@gmail.com

Let's take a closer look at the products:

This Ultimate 12V fan was the perfect solution for my stepfather's bus, which has no air conditioning. Made in Canadait offers an impressive performance that we had not initially expected.

The Grill-free fan has Shock-absorbing FingerSafe wingswhich means that it is extremely safe. Even if you accidentally touch it, the blades stop immediately without any risk of injury. This feature is not only a safety feature, but also makes it very easy to clean, as no dust can accumulate in the grille.

With Two speed levels the fan offers an impressive Air flow of 200 CFM (340 m³/hour) on the high setting. This difference is particularly noticeable in a large, stuffy vehicle such as a bus. The fan remains Whisper quietwhich may not be so important in a noisy diesel bus, but is definitely a plus point in quiet operation.

The fan is available with Suction cup and fixed mounting options which makes it extremely flexible to use. My stepfather opted for the suction cup option, which made installation particularly quick and easy.

Another big plus is the Low power consumption. Even at high speed, the fan only draws 0,41Aat a lower level even only 0,28Awhich minimises the impact on the vehicle battery.

Summarised: The Ultimate 12V fan combines efficiency, safety and quiet operation in a compact design. This fan is a worthwhile investment for anyone who spends a lot of time in vehicles without air conditioning.

We have the HueLiv fan I also tested it in my stepfather's bus, which doesn't have air conditioning, and can say that it's a solid alternative. Compared to the previous model, there are some differences that make it a good second choice, but it doesn't quite reach the top position.

One highlight is the Infinitely variable speed controlwhich is operated via a rotary knob on the front. In contrast to the previous model with only two speed settings, this is a practical function as we were able to adjust the airflow more flexibly. However, the airflow is not quite as strong as with our top model, especially in larger vehicles such as the bus.

Also with the Assembly the HueLiv fan offers both suction cups and adhesive pads. On the bus, we favoured the suction cup attachment, which was quick and easy to fit. The Longer cables allows the fan to be positioned at the rear of the vehicle, which is an advantage when travelling with several people. Nevertheless, the fan lacked some of the power we were used to from the previous model, especially at high temperatures.

One plus point is definitely the Stepless adjustmentwhich adapts the airflow to different situations, but for an intensive cooling effect, the upper model was slightly more efficient in our experience.

Differences to the top model:

• Stepless speed control instead of just two levels
• Longer cable, which allows for more flexible placement
• Suction cup and adhesive pad options for mounting
• Weaker airflow, which is less effective in larger vehicles

The last 12-volt fan in the series is a fairly simple model. This is a single larger fan.

It only has an on/off switch. The Intensity is not selectable.

The Fastening with a clip very simple. For example, you can attach the clip to the sun visor.

However, please note that this product has a diameter of 22cm. In smaller trolleys, the fan can Restrict field of vision.

This car fan is my personal favourite. It has two fans which - and this is the difference to other products of this type - are Individually controllable are.

The model can be attached using the Adhesive feet.

With a total of Three speed levels it offers one more than the second place in this line-up.

Please note that the fan connected to a power source via USB is connected. This can either be solved in the car with an appropriate adapter, or the on-board electronics already offer a suitable connection. A connection on the radio can also be used:

This model is not supplied with a corresponding 12V plug for the cigarette lighter socket. This is my only criticism of the product so far.

Here, too, we have a variant with the same Two fans. In my opinion, this is also a good idea in the car.

Both fans can Individually rotated and tiltedhowever not at different speed levels be provided.

They are attached to the bars for the head section of a front seat. This solution is therefore well for passengers in the rear seats suitable.

However, the type of attachment makes the product less flexible or Hardly usable elsewhereIt is designed precisely for this location.

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