Drum Fan Users - Which Ones Have Sealed Motors?

[Tiffani_B]

I need to get a big drum fan for my barn. Went to Big R last night and bought one, brought it home, and immediately put it back in the box and took it back to the store. The motor and all wiring was exposed. Since I’m paranoid about fire, that just isn’t an option.

I’ve only found one drum fan that has a sealed motor per the description online (Diamond Brite, very expensive). I know a lot of people use the MaxxAir drum fans - but do they have a sealed motor? I don’t want to drive an hour to the store that carries them to find out they don’t.

Any recommendations for a large drum fan that is safe? 36" or larger. Farmtek, etc don’t seem to carry any that large with a sealed motor, at least not per their website descriptions, and there are no motor photos I can find anywhere.

[clanter]

all of our electric motors that are exposed to dust/dirt are TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled) these can have various NEMA ratings 1 being for interior use 4 for exterior 7 or 13 for explosion proof

[Tiffani_B]

[QUOTE=clanter;8681905]
all of our electric motors that are exposed to dust/dirt are TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled) these can have various NEMA ratings 1 being for interior use 4 for exterior 7 or 13 for explosion proof[/QUOTE]

Thanks but but that didn’t really answer my question. What fan of 36" or larger are you using that has a sealed motor?

[hosspuller]

Tiffani … Clanter answered your question in a round about way. You just have to call any store in your area and ask either for a “sealed motor” or the more accurate term TEFC. NEMA 1,4, or 7 … “Sealed” can mean almost anything. I in your place would ask for a TEFC NEMA 1 motor.

[Tiffani_B]

[QUOTE=hosspuller;8682150]
Tiffani … Clanter answered your question in a round about way. You just have to call any store in your area and ask either for a “sealed motor” or the more accurate term TEFC. NEMA 1,4, or 7 … “Sealed” can mean almost anything. I in your place would ask for a TEFC NEMA 1 motor.[/QUOTE]

I know about sealed motors - hence why I refuse to have fans WITHOUT them in my barn. I’ve special ordered plenty for stalls and tack rooms, but never had to buy a drum fan. My question was if people with drum fans HAVE fans with sealed motors and if so, which brand do they have? Do they even exist? I can only find one - the Diamond Brite brand, which I mentioned in my OP. Are there others?

So no, my question was not answered. I’m looking for advice on which fan - brand and model - to purchase. Not what constitutes a sealed motor or what to look for when trying to find a fan. I already know. Google is not my friend when it comes to finding these. I can find all kinds of other sealed motor fans, but not large drum fans.

[goodhors]

Make sure it is “sealed motor” that the employee is checking, not sealed bearings.

You are going to have to pay for such a fan, it cost more to make, meeting those higher standards. Any fan is going to get a warm motor with use, how they get rid of that heat is what takes into TEFC ratings.

[AKB]

Call Tractor Supply. I think my friend got hers from TSC.

[horsepoor]

You mention google isn’t your friend, so here is one that I found, which might lead you to others (since this is a greenhouse supply place, perhaps others will have something similar). Spendy things! I don’t use drum fans, just smaller ceiling mounted ones, and have run into the issue you and others have described that sealed motor and sealed bearings are different things, but not everyone selling the fans gets that!

[Simkie]

Here’s one that’s less expensive, although smaller than the op is looking for.

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/prod1%3Bft_cooling_fans-ft_portable_fans%3Bpg105527.html

The diamond brite just doesn’t seem that costly for what it is, though…

[Tiffani_B]

[QUOTE=horsepoor;8682490]
You mention google isn’t your friend, so here is one that I found, which might lead you to others (since this is a greenhouse supply place, perhaps others will have something similar). Spendy things! I don’t use drum fans, just smaller ceiling mounted ones, and have run into the issue you and others have described that sealed motor and sealed bearings are different things, but not everyone selling the fans gets that![/QUOTE]

That is the fan I mentioned in my OP as the only one I’ve been able to find.

[QUOTE=Simkie;8682522]Here’s one that’s less expensive, although smaller than the op is looking for.

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/prod1%3Bft_cooling_fans-ft_portable_fans%3Bpg105527.html

The diamond brite just doesn’t seem that costly for what it is, though…[/QUOTE]

LOL that one is sitting in my cart waiting to see if anyone on COTH has a bigger one. I’ll probably order it this week if no one can point me towards a larger one.

[horsepoor]

@Tiffani B;8682990

That is the fan I mentioned in my OP as the only one I’ve been able to find.

Duh, I didn’t notice the brand name. I was thinking that seeing that at a greenhouse supply place might lead you to look at other similar supply houses (rather than just horse/barn type places). Since it seems they rely on sealed motors as well, I suppose due to the moisture in greenhouses.

Honestly, for the money, I’d just try that one from Farmtek.

I’m so glad we don’t need fans much here where I live, although after last year’s heat, and looking at hitting 90 this week (abnormally high for here)…maybe we are headed that way!

[gumtree]

“I know about sealed motors”

Not to be snarky the concerns you have cited have no bases in fact considering there are 1000s and 1000s of the “standard” drum fan in use in 1000s of horse barns. If there was even where low incidences of “non sealed” motors catching fire due to dust/particulate accumulations in the motor housing it would have been addressed by now.

“Sealed” motors are generally only used for outdoor and or wet locations. As Clanter pointed out there are a different types of “sealed motors” for different types of “wet” applications.

I think you will be hard pressed to find a large portable drum fan for barn use that has a “sealed” motor. At least not for reasonable money.

We have been using these for over seven years. I took a look at the motors on both and there is little to no dust/debris in the motor housing and they are used a LOT. Which is why the manufactures don’t, are not required to install much more expensive “sealed” motors.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/countyline-portable-barrel-fan-36-in?cm_vc=IOPDP1

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/countyline-orbit-drum-fan-24-in-dia?cm_vc=-10005

I looked up a Diamond Brite portable drum fan that maybe referring to;

http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Brite-Inch-Portable-Circulator/dp/B00D8KYV3Q

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200457788_200457788

The one on Amazon has sealed bearing but doesn’t say anything about having a “sealed” motor.

At 3 to 4+ times the price of the same sized fan as this’

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/countyline-portable-barrel-fan-42-in

I don’t see them being worth it. I am sure they are better made but they are made and priced for the commercial market and applications where they will be moved and or used a lot more.

If they motors were to fail after a lot of use in the ones I have a new one can easily be had installed for not much money.

To each their own when it comes to subjective opinions on some things. If you have the money to spend 3-4 times more then needed to sleep well at night nothing wrong with that.