Installing a Ceiling fan

stearn · 07-31-2011, 08:43 PM

While looking at some of the newer Itasca motorhomes I noticed some have ceiling fans. I am wondering if anyone has installed one, and if so how did you get the power to it and support it? I think that would be a nice addition to our coach. I'm thinking I would like to install one in the bedroom.

Jackm · 07-31-2011, 09:17 PM

Most people tap into the closest 12-volt appliance such as a ceiling light or a powered roof vent. We used a light. The job gets increasingly complex if you want to use a wall-mounted switch since you'll have to fish the wires through the wall as well. The simplest way is to tap into an existing power source (like a ceiling light). Then, get a ceiling fan that has a switch on the fan itself. In terms of getting the wire from the light to the new fan, it all depends on the RV. Some people take advantage of their AC duct-work while others run the wires through their RV's ceiling material using fish wire (available at electrical supply stores). I would suggest using crimped wire fittings to make sure the connections are sound. Vibration can loosen conventional wire nuts over time. Likewise, pay close attention to the mounting hardware. Use lock washers and anchors that are appropriate for your RV's ceiling. Best of luck.

Jack

DAN L · 08-01-2011, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stearn

While looking at some of the newer Itasca motorhomes I noticed some have ceiling fans. I am wondering if anyone has installed one, and if so how did you get the power to it and support it? I think that would be a nice addition to our coach. I'm thinking I would like to install one in the bedroom.

i replaced the light on the ceiling in the bedroom with the fan. the light already has a wall switch. i cut a circular plate out of aluminum and drilled a 1/2'' hole in the middle for the wiring. i mounted the plate to the ceiling with 8 long #10 screws, then the fan to this plate. i mounted the fan to the plate with 3 1/4'' bolts with washers. i spaced the eight holes to miss the 3 fan mount holes. the fan has an infrared sensor that i mounted to the ceiling with rtv sealant.
i chose a 40'' 12v fan from backwoods solar that uses an infrared remote control, has 3 speeds and is reversible.
my fan made ticking noises when new. the noises would quit when the direction was reversed. the fan was manufactured in china. it is ok now in both directions. i have been using it for over 3 years. i can run this fan with the slide in or out and with the cabinets open or closed. i am 5'10'' tall and can walk under it when it is running with no problem. this fan makes a big difference while sleeping in the summer.

Backwoods Solar Electric Systems

Clay L · 08-01-2011, 10:35 AM

Dan mentioned something pretty important - the slide and the fan.
My friend had his all installed before he noticed the bedroom hit the blades when it is retracted. He has to take a blade off when before he brings the slide in.

Hikerdogs · 08-01-2011, 02:38 PM

We added a ceiling fan in the bedroom a few years ago. I took down the original light and put the fan directly in its place. I then got a new light fixture with a built in on/off switch. The new light is directly in front of the fan and can either be left in the on position and regulated with the wall switch or switched off on the fixture so the fan can run at night.

The fan came from PPL motorhomes. Its 42" in diameter, 4 speeds, reversible, and has a remote control. At the time you could get either 42" (4 blades) or 48" (5 blades). We needed the smaller one so we could still open the overhead cabinets while the fan was operating.

Mr_D · 08-01-2011, 03:07 PM

We had one in our 2000 Dutch Star, factory option. They wouldn't put on in the 2002 due to the bedroom slide and headroom constraints so I did it myself. Used a 30" low clearance 6 blade 120 volt unit. Remove the ceiling light to get access to the stringers, added crossbracing and ran the wire over to the wall cabinet then to a wall plug. We have a 2000 watt inverter that's almost always on (the U-line ice maker needs 120) so it's no problem.
I have pictures of it somewhere, I can post them if anyone wants to see the finished product. I didn't take any during the work though.

ga traveler · 08-01-2011, 03:30 PM

I installed a 110v fan over my bedroom door. It is a swivel base 10 inch high power fan. I screwed the base to the door frame. It was much easier to install than a ceiling fan and i don't have to worry about clearance. For three years it has worked fine.

John Hilley · 08-01-2011, 06:38 PM

For those that installed fans, how did you anchor them to the ceiling. I have a 2003 Adventurer 38g and am planning on putting it where one of the ceiling lights is. I picked it up at GNR last year.

DAN L · 08-01-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hilley

For those that installed fans, how did you anchor them to the ceiling. I have a 2003 Adventurer 38g and am planning on putting it where one of the ceiling lights is. I picked it up at GNR last year.

read post #3.

Hikerdogs · 08-01-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hilley

For those that installed fans, how did you anchor them to the ceiling. I have a 2003 Adventurer 38g and am planning on putting it where one of the ceiling lights is. I picked it up at GNR last year.

The "headliner" in our coach is glued to luan plywood probably about 3/16" thick. I went to the hardware store and bought some expanding wall anchors used for materials 1/8" to 3/8" thick. I used the fan mounting base as a template and drilled a couple holes sized for the anchors at the appropriate places. Then I pushed the anchors through the plywood and tightened the bolts. When the anchor bolt is tightened the anchor collapses and tightens itself against the back of the panel. Once the base was secure to the roof I pulled the original light wires through, attached them to the fan, then attached the fan to the base.

When attaching the wires to the fan leads with wire nuts I also added a couple pigtails to power a new ceiling light. I drilled a new hole a couple feet forward and in line with the original hole. Then ran a stiff wire (coat hangar) in the new hole back to the original. I taped the pigtails to the wire and pulled them back through the new hole. Then it was just a matter of attaching the wires to the new light, and screwing the light to the ceiling.

Mr_D · 08-01-2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hikerdogs

The "headliner" in our coach is glued to luan plywood probably about 3/16" thick. I went to the hardware store and bought some expanding wall anchors used for materials 1/8" to 3/8" thick. I used the fan mounting base as a template and drilled a couple holes sized for the anchors at the appropriate places. Then I pushed the anchors through the plywood and tightened the bolts. When the anchor bolt is tightened the anchor collapses and tightens itself against the back of the panel. Once the base was secure to the roof I pulled the original light wires through, attached them to the fan, then attached the fan to the base.

When attaching the wires to the fan leads with wire nuts I also added a couple pigtails to power a new ceiling light. I drilled a new hole a couple feet forward and in line with the original hole. Then ran a stiff wire (coat hangar) in the new hole back to the original. I taped the pigtails to the wire and pulled them back through the new hole. Then it was just a matter of attaching the wires to the new light, and screwing the light to the ceiling.

That's awfully thin material even with the anchors! Remember, this is a moving vehicle subject to lots of vibration and bouncing with the fan hanging from thin material. In a stick house they use a special metal brace designed for fans and they are bolted in. In our stick house they are bolted to a 6" X 24" beam with 2½" screws or lag bolts. In the DSDP my stringers are aluminum on 16" centers, I put a 1" thick board between the stringers and screwed into the board through the headliner and luan backer.

Hikerdogs · 08-02-2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

That's awfully thin material even with the anchors! Remember, this is a moving vehicle subject to lots of vibration and bouncing with the fan hanging from thin material. In a stick house they use a special metal brace designed for fans and they are bolted in. In our stick house they are bolted to a 6" X 24" beam with 2½" screws or lag bolts. In the DSDP my stringers are aluminum on 16" centers, I put a 1" thick board between the stringers and screwed into the board through the headliner and luan backer.

It's true the material is thin. However the complete fan weighs only about 3 lbs. The fans in our stick house weigh in the neighborhood of 30 lbs each. The fan has been mounted to the cieling for over 5 years and 50,000 miles. It survived the Top of The World Highway which was 110 miles of the worst road known to man. The road was so rough our top speed was less than 15 miles an hour. It took almost 12 hours to complete the 110 miles and everything including the fan came through just fine.

John Hilley · 08-02-2011, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAN L

read post #3.

It was post #3 that caused me to post the question. To me 3 screws through the luan into the foam doesn't seem like it would last. I was thinking of an anchor that would take advantage of the foam on top of the luan. I am afraid the luan could separate from the foam.

DAN L · 08-02-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hilley

It was post #3 that caused me to post the question. To me 3 screws through the luan into the foam doesn't seem like it would last. I was thinking of an anchor that would take advantage of the foam on top of the luan. I am afraid the luan could separate from the foam.

re read #3 again.

i used 8 long #10 screws to mount a circular aluminum plate to the ceiling. those 8 screws go through the luan. ''long'' is the clue here. i don't remember exactly how long, probably 1.5''-2''. there was room for a ninth, but i only had 8. i would have used #12 screws if i had had them.
the fan assembly mounts to this plate with 3 each 1/4'' bolts. it is important to lay out all the holes before mounting the plate to the ceiling so the 3 fan mount holes do not overlap the screws.
i installed the fan in june of 2007 and it is still mounted tightly to the ceiling and works ok.

we still have enough lights in the bedroom. the light fixture that we removed to install the fan is not missed.