Blow It Out, or Suck It In?
Now that the insulation of the van is complete its time for the nerve racking step. Cutting two 14 by 14 inch squares in the roof of the van for our Maxx Air fans. We purchased the Maxx Air fans because of their reputation and the fact that there low power consumption, only drawing 5 amps at full blast! It has 10 speeds and the fan can be used in intake and exhaust modes.
What fan to choose? We bought the deluxe model 5100k for the rear (over the bed), and a plus model 4000k (for the kitchen area). Their deluxe model has the unique shroud that can be used rain or shine and still get fresh air from outside. So we figured placing the deluxe fan in the rear so when were sleeping we can always have fresh air blowing on us regardless of if its raining. For the front one (over the kitchen area) we choose Maxx Air Plus model 4000k in white also has 10 fan speeds and can be used in intake and exhaust modes. Unlike the deluxe model this one cannot be open while raining or driving. You can have the lid closed and it will be in the ceiling fan mode to circulate air. We opted for manual opening and closing for both fans.
Bianca getting ready to make the first cut.
After receiving the fans it was then time to cut the holes in the roof. In search for the perfect spot in the roof of the van in between the ribs of the roof we were ready to cut! “Measure 10 times, cut once” is the saying. Making sure everything is correct, straight, and lined up we traced out the lines. First you will want to make a hole with a drill bit to be able to insert the blade of the jigsaw and start the cut. Be sure to have a good metal cutting blade on the saw to make a nice clean cut. Also place a drop cloth or something inside the van under the cutting hole to catch any metal filings and debris that will fall down. Eh it wasn’t so bad after all with a little bit of confidence.
First hole cut with wood backing attached for the fan.
After the cut is made file down or lightly grind down the edges to take the sharpness out. Then coat the bare metal with some paint to prevent any rust or sealing problems. Now your just about ready to slide the fan in. Before dropping the fan in, make a nice even layer of putty tap or butyl tape along the edge of the fan flange where the screws will be placed. This will ensure of a tight seal and no water will get in. Place the fan in the hole. We made a backing on the inside of the van out of some scrap pallet wood we had laying around so the screws of the fan would have something to catch onto. We held it in place as the one on top of the van screwed down the screws and into the wooden backing. With all the screws down it is now time to fill the edge with a good lap sealant. Once done with the edge, add a good amount to each screw head. No water will get in this way. At this point the fan is ready to be wired in and start blowing. Speaking of wired, its time to wire the whole van!
Here are the steps we took to do the electrical system in our van
**For an additional fan we purchased a O2 cool 10″ fan. This fan is pretty neat because it can run off of 12v, 110v, and you can even use rechargeable batteries to charge during the day and at night run them off the 8D batteries.**
