Community Forums

monacoman51 · 02-26-2016, 03:48 PM

I have a Fantastic fan in my motorhome. It has 2 switches, 1 to raise the vent and 1 to start the fan. The vent will raise but the fan won't work? How do I check to see if it's the switch or the fan motor?

Thanks,

Steve

jacwjames · 02-26-2016, 05:24 PM

Do you have a fan with the thermostatic control. If it is turned to a warm setting it won't let the fan come on if it is cool out.

phays · 02-26-2016, 05:25 PM

Assume the fan used to work.

Fantastic fans usually have a switch under the cover that turns on the fan motor. Open the cover and go up on the roof and look for a plunger switch near the cover hinge. If you have this switch, slightly turn the nut on the switch. Corrosion will keep this switch from making contact and turning the nut should fix any electrical contact problem. Keep your fingers clear of the fan blades.

RayJr · 02-26-2016, 05:40 PM

Dito on the roof switch, just had to do mine this winter.

ga traveler · 02-26-2016, 05:56 PM

Phays is right on the money. This is a safety switch. It breaks the ground to the motor when the cover is closed. If the fan was operated in the closed position, there would be no airflow and the motor could overheat and cause a fire. The switch builds up a small amount of corrosion and the switch will not ground. WE always opened the vent, went to the roof and pushed the switch down and slid our finger off the plunger. (Do not just go up and down, let the switch spring fly up and meet with force.) This causes the switch to grind against the contact point and cleans the connection.

falconman · 02-26-2016, 07:58 PM

Mine did the same earlier this year. I dropped the panel which holds the thermostat and the three speed switch, four if you count "off". Check for voltage at the motor and at the switch. If you have voltage at the motor it's a bad motor. Voltage to the switch but not the motor indicates bad switch. Mine was the switch, they sent me a new one for free even though the unit was ten years old.

Marguerite66 · 02-26-2016, 08:20 PM

Ours has an on/ off knob that you can also turn the fan off, located on the underside of the fan. Sometimes if I just want the vent open but not the fan running I'll turn it off.

Clayobx · 02-26-2016, 08:26 PM

^^^^roof switch corrosion.

IC2 · 02-27-2016, 05:52 AM

All the above is good info, including the warranty replacement which we used on the last 5er. One item not mentioned is that there is a fuse in the ceiling housing as well. Look at that too. Our current 5er has two MaxxAir fans and have to say that the OEM units installed are NOT anywhere near the level of the Fantastic Fans which will replace them when(if?) they fail.

ga traveler · 02-28-2016, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IC2

All the above is good info, including the warranty replacement which we used on the last 5er. One item not mentioned is that there is a fuse in the ceiling housing as well. Look at that too. Our curren It 5er has two MaxxAir fans and have to say that the OEM units installed are NOT anywhere near the level of the Fantastic Fans which will replace them when(if?) they fail.

IC2: He stated that the vent opened. If the fuse was blown, the vent would not work.

wlf00 · 02-28-2016, 09:27 AM

I had exactly the same problem. I called fantastic fan customer service (very good customer service by the way). They had me remove the plunger switch with a 7/16 open end wrench, spray with a contact cleaner, and replace. It has worked perfectly since.

Steele · 05-08-2020, 09:59 AM

Well, it is May of 2020 and this thread just came in super handy. Our fan motor stopped working this am and an IRV2 search brought this one up.

For us, pressing the plunger switch (which we had no idea even existed) fixed the issue. All I wanted to add was that we did not need to go up on the roof to do it. Our 17 Newmar Dutch Star doesn’t even have a ladder to the roof so it’s always a hassle to get up there. We just pulled off the Inside screen and unscrewed the one screw holding the plastic blades. We could easily reach the plunger and it started the motor right back up.

Thank you 2016 thread commentators!

Lynn

chunker · 05-09-2020, 04:48 AM

I'll add this also, Dometic bought Fantastic Fan and there is no longer a lifetime warranty. Before they bought FF the company sent me a new motor for a fan in a 2007 motorhome and we were the second owners.

IC2 · 05-09-2020, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunker

I'll add this also, Dometic bought Fantastic Fan and there is no longer a lifetime warranty. Before they bought FF the company sent me a new motor for a fan in a 2007 motorhome and we were the second owners.

I had the same help from FF - but since they sold out, they then became Fabulous Operating Products and now make a nice range hood/fan that is actually dang quiet though can be a bear to install without a helper