Has anyone put fans in their covered arena? (BigAss or MacroAir type) Was is worth the expense?
We’re in a fairly windy area so I’m wondering how much use I’ll really get out of them. So far the quotes have been between $12k and $20k from various companies for the fans themselves but then I’d still need to add wiring and installation.
The arena is still under construction but I’ll need to have them by the time we have the electric installed.
Are they worth it?
Big Ass!
I think Big Ass is having a special for either USEF or USDF members… seems I git an email recently
Thanks, lorilu, I’ll check on that.
At this point I think we’ll add the wiring and see if we need the fans later. Easier to add them if the electric is available.
I just don’t know if I really can see how a couple fans can really make you cool enough to spend $20k…
There are 2 big Ass Fans in the indoor at the property I work at. Deep south, high humidity and lots of wind. The fans do help during the hottest, most humid days. Horses generally don’t have an issue with them (mine needed to stand under them for 5 or so min to work out they weren’t a sky cougar the first time he saw them). However they do dry out the footing pretty quick.
The property owner definitely feels they are with it. I agree 100%!
If you’re planning on adding the wiring now, it’s a good idea to check the spec sheets to see what you might need. I’ve just ordered some Big Ass fans, and these can run on 240 or 110. I’m told the 240 is more efficient (cost savings) long-term, but the 110 is something the electrician may automatically put in unless otherwise instructed. (And is fine, too.) Additionally, the controllers require cat 5 cable run from the fan.
And also note that certain fans are quite heavy, and may need special consideration to mount. Big Ass has pretty thorough spec sheets available on the website.
greys
going from 120 to 240 reduces the amp load by about one half also reduces the gauge of the wire size required to carry the load… if you have 120 installed and then discover you wanted it be 240 it can be changed to 240
The problem is going backwards from 240 to 120 as the wire gauge in most if not all cases would be inadequate for the distance of the circuit
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Is it a fully indoor arena, or is it just a covered? I notice that people down here (Florida) are always calling covered arenas, indoor arenas. There’s a pretty big difference.
“Indoor arena” to me means a fully enclosed inside riding space. I could absolutely see fans helping a lot in a fully enclosed indoor arena. But a covered arena, i.e. one with just a roof and open sides and therefore already lots of airflow, I’m not sure they’d be as beneficial, especially for the amount of money OP was quoted. I’d get it built and wired, and ride in it for a while without fans and see how it feels.
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A lot of indoor (not covered) arenas here have Big Ass Fans and they do make a difference, just make sure that you have enough of them to make a difference if you go that way. There is a large arena nearby that has like 3 fans, definitely not enough.
I’m in E/SE Texas where humidity and heat are triple digits for most of the summer.
The arena is fully enclosed with three big roll-up doors, one on each short end and one in the middle of a long end. The side that has the roll up door on the long end also has roll up windows to help with air flow. On the opposite long side are stalls, an apartment, feed room and tack room.
During the winter everything is closed up and once the weather gets warm the doors and windows are open. But coming from the Pacific Northwest I would consider this a fully enclosed arena
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We have a large covered (not enclosed) arena in Central Florida — where we have a long, hot and very humid summer. But happily we often have a breeze in the morning which makes a big difference. I don’t think even large ceiling fans would be worth the cost for us. I’d say they would be worth it for an enclosed arena for sure – or for a covered if you were in an area with minimal prevailing breezes.
I show pretty frequently at a real (big) enclosed indoor with 3 “Big Ass” fans down the center. Honestly I’m not sure they make a substantial difference. Opening up the big overhead doors at the ends and center of the long side makes a huge difference. That’s mid Atlantic with muggy summers.
The indoor in centre hall pa has three big ass fans. In the hot humid summer it’s a life saver! My horse, who hates overhead stuff of any kind, loves them and will willingly stand under in the breeze.
