which new vortex centrifugal exhaust fan?

[hbstoner]

Looking at getting either the 8" or the 10" vortex.

Size CFM Amps Watts Weight RPM dBA
8" - VTX800 747 1.60 185 11.4 lbs 2550 54
10" - VTX1000 790 2.00 224 11.4 lbs 2510 57

The 8inch looks like it would save me more on power and still getting close to the same CFM. Is there any reason that the 10" is worth the extra electricity? Im going to be using this to cool a 3'11" x 7'11" x 6'7" tent, along with a 6" for the air cooled lights. any opinions would be appreciated.

 

[Capn]

You'd think a fan with blades 2" bigger would give you a increase in cfm larger than 40.

 

[Haps]

I am looking at the 8 inch, to buy to have on the shelf when my current 750 dies. That will pull more than enough air for your needs. I might agree with Capn if the room was several times that size.
H

 

[hbstoner]

You'd think a fan with blades 2" bigger would give you a increase in cfm larger than 40.

Ya thats what I was thinking.. doesnt seem right.. the 8" version also has higher RPM's.. Possibly the 10" version is quieter since it doesn't have to spin as much?

 

[Capn]

Oh didn't see that. That would make sense, but its only 50rpm slower and its still 3db louder lol.

 

[Phillthy]

I went with the can max fan...

FAN MODEL RPM VOLTS WATTS AMPS SONES CFM
10" 2990 115 228 1.9 11.5 1023

http://www.canfilters.com/max_fan_home_2.html

 

[Philosophelon]

The 10" centrifugal blowers are basically just 8" blowers with 10" holes (about the same size housing/motor/fan), that's why they have about the same performance. They also make about the same amount of noise. However, 10" ducting is much less restrictive than 8", so a 10" fan is still a useful size to have, especially if you have alot of ducting.

The Can Fan Max fans consume like half the amperage and are considerably more powerful for their size (starting at 10", the 8" isn't, and the 14" isn't either, but it's super-quiet for the cfms it moves), but they're also more expensive.

 

[BeeBee]

Philosophelon is right. The 10 inch vortex has about the same size impeller as the 8 inch, that's why it doesn't move much more air.
For MUCH better fans, check out the FKD line from Fantech. They cost a fair amount more, but you get what you pay for. The FKD8XL 8 inch is head and shoulders above the Vortex 8 inch. It is quieter, more powerful, and it moves more air in real-world settings, because its output doesn't decrease nearly as much as the Vortex (or Can, or Elicent) when there is resistance (created by the ducting and the filter--there's always a lot of back-pressure, measured in inches of mercury).

 

[hbstoner]

Thanks guys .. a lot of good info. Ill for sure check out the Fantech's and i think im going to just go with the 10" just cause ill prolly need a 10" at some point anyways. better to have more then i need then not enough..

 

[BeeBee]

In that case, buy a 12 inch fan and a speed controller. The 12 inch fans, including the Vortex, Can, Elicent, etc., move a LOT more air than the 8 inch fans do. They're noise when cranked up (fine if you need to move that much air), but if you slow them down, they are no louder than an 8.
Even with 10 inch ducting, a 10 inch moves only about 10 per cent more air than an 8 inch. But with 12 inch ducting, a 12 inch fan moves 50 per cent more, and doesn't cost much more than a 10 inch.