Stove fans

[Simpo Two]

I just bought a stove fan - it was cheap (<£50) but got very good reviews on Amazon:

http://www.galleonfires.co.uk/eco-friendly-heat-po...

It arrived this morning and I see that the optimum temp range is 135-300C. That's fine, but on the top of the fan itself is a sticker saying 'Don't use stove fan if stove surface temp exceeds 345C!' That's not in the advert or on the box, and I know that sometimes the stove will, for short periods, go above this (at least according to my flue thermometer).

My question is - are they all rated to 345C - above which they go ping and die - or would a more expensive one have a greater operating range? eg:

http://www.galleonfires.co.uk/caframo-ecofan-airma...

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Have you tried placing your flue thermometer on the flat top surface of the stove to measure the temperature where the fan will actually be sited? The temperature of gases passing up the flue may be different from the top surface temperature.

Also, I know it says that the fan must be placed directly on the stove surface - but this is presumably to ensure that it gets hot enough to spin the fan. I don't see why you couldn't put a piece of some other semi-conductive material underneath the fan to create a gradient that reduces the fan's exposure to heat if necessary.

For my stove, the problem is nearly always lack of space above the stove to accommodate the height of most of these fans. I'd like to buy one of these, but my wife thinks it's ugly. Personally I think they're rather beautiful, but guess whose opinion wins?

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Monday 24th November 11:58

[Simpo Two]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Have you tried placing your flue thermometer on the flat top surface of the stove to measure the temperature where the fan will actually be sited? The temperature of gases passing up the flue may be different from the top surface temperature.

That's a good idea, I'll try it. The top may get even hotter than the flue, I don't know.

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

For my stove, the problem is nearly always lack of space above the stove to accommodate the height of most of these fans. I'd like to buy one of these, but my wife thinks it's ugly. Personally I think they're rather beautiful, but guess whose opinion wins?

I like that - and with the blades inset it would probably look less obvious in operation. You'll have to tell hre that it will save £100 a year in fuel bills, which you can then spend on jewellery for her...

[Sharted]

Simpo Two said:

I just bought a stove fan - it was cheap (<£50) but got very good reviews on Amazon:

http://www.galleonfires.co.uk/eco-friendly-heat-po...

It arrived this morning and I see that the optimum temp range is 135-300C. That's fine, but on the top of the fan itself is a sticker saying 'Don't use stove fan if stove surface temp exceeds 345C!' That's not in the advert or on the box, and I know that sometimes the stove will, for short periods, go above this (at least according to my flue thermometer).

My question is - are they all rated to 345C - above which they go ping and die - or would a more expensive one have a greater operating range? eg:

http://www.galleonfires.co.uk/caframo-ecofan-airma...

Been using one for a month, had no issues with it at all.

No idea how hot the fire has been but it's an 11kw stove and I've had it flat out on logs or coal for hours so prob reached max temp.

Absolutely silent in operation.

Sorry, just a short term experience but good nonetheless.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks - but was it the same model? Mine might have a cheap thingy in it that breaks at 345C and your might have an expensive thingy that goes up to 500C!

[Sharted]

Simpo Two said:

Thanks - but was it the same model? Mine might have a cheap thingy in it that breaks at 345C and your might have an expensive thingy that goes up to 500C!

Yep, identical. Have you tried it out yet?

Be keen to hear whether you think that the fan makes a big difference.

[Simpo Two]

Sharted said:

Yep, identical. Have you tried it out yet?

Be keen to hear whether you think that the fan makes a big difference.

That's very promising, thank you

I'm sure it will help, but the weather is not nearly cold enough to test it yet.

[PeterTTT]

I bought exactly the same one you have got.
Had it just over a year. Like you, I was bit unsure about the temperature warning, however, on my 9kw stove I have had no problem at all. Works silently and helps "push" the heat into the room.

[FlipFlopGriff]

We've had one for a few years now. Like you I was sceptical so didn't go with an ecofan due to costs but less than £50 willing to give it a go. Before we had heating we really noticed the difference as before out feet were cold but the fan pushed the heat out and evened out the room tem. Not sure if our burner has ever been up to 345 celcius but its still working and it almost silent - sometimes rattles a bit.
FFG

[Simpo Two]

Thanks all - looking forward to trying it out

[loughran]

Do these fans create a breeze... Worse still a warm draught ?

[Andrew[MG]]

Any feedback on how good the fan is?

[Simpo Two]

Haven't used the stove yet due to the mild weather, but looking forward to trying it. It makes the stove look vaguely steampunk...

[Sharted]

I've used one all Winter, not sure that you will see/feel a measurable effect, however, the Mrs complains less about being too hot when sitting right in front of the fire so I must assume that the heat is being blown about a bit more.

I have mine near thee back of the oven-top and pointing towards the opposite corner (away from the aforementioned Mrs).

[Simpo Two]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

BUMP.....

So I have a Fan now. On the Stove.

I can't honestly say I feel any form of breeze from it.

Should I ? ?

I can feel the breeze from about 12" away. It's all you need, just enough to push some of the hot air out from the cavity.

[Sharted]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

I fear a snide Chinese one maybe is what I have ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007K83KN4

Same as mine.

[cheddar]

Simpo Two said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

BUMP.....

So I have a Fan now. On the Stove.

I can't honestly say I feel any form of breeze from it.

Should I ? ?

I can feel the breeze from about 12" away. It's all you need, just enough to push some of the hot air out from the cavity.

Spot on, they aren't designed to create massive wind, just a gentle silent breeze. Hold a strip of loo roll up near the outer edge of the blades and you should see it being blown. Oh, and 4 blade fans work better, as do the larger models.

To protect against high operating temps mine has a small strip of metal underneath that bends and tilts the rear of the fan up off of the stove top if it gets too hot.




The wiring and connections are the weak point and protecting them against excessive heat should be your main concern - place the fan at the back of your stove so that it draws in the cooler air.

More expensive models use a copper tubing system to overcome excessive heat, things of beauty too.

http://www.stovetopfan.co.uk/[url]

[Simpo Two]

Sharted said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

I fear a snide Chinese one maybe is what I have ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007K83KN4

Same as mine.

And mine!

[cheddar]

Simpo Two said:

Sharted said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

I fear a snide Chinese one maybe is what I have ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007K83KN4

Same as mine.

And mine!

They're nearly all out of China, even the name brand models, mine comes out of the same factory as Vulcan models just minus the badging, the quality is good but, as I now sell these, I know they're evolving towards hidden wiring, better bearings, more efficient fan blades and options such as built in thermometers, blade rev counters etc - I imagine the cheapest ones will hit a low point at some stage where the body is made of chocolate but I haven't heard of any being that bad yet.

[Andrew[MG]]

Simpo Two said:

Sharted said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

I fear a snide Chinese one maybe is what I have ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007K83KN4

Same as mine.

And mine!

Me four.