Fans without power available

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

So, while it’s snowing here and I’m dreaming of warmer days, I thought “Let’s talk about fans!” My horse lives out 24/7 with a shed row barn that does not have electricity available. I board, so changing that is not an option. He currently has a battery-operated fan from Home Depot that produces a decent breeze. But it only lasts about 4 hours before the battery needs to be swapped out. My barn will sometimes change it, but I don’t count on it if I’m honest.

Has anyone found a decent fan that is solar powered? The camping ones I’ve found seem like they won’t be powerful enough. Also would love if it charged a battery like an electric fence battery so that it runs even if it’s cloudy. Do I still have the best option available or is there an upgrade available?

[LCDR]

Just as you posted last summer, I still think you have the best option among a limited number of choices being sold. However there is the DIY route….

Would you be amenable to buying 2 deep cycle 12 volt lithium ion car batteries and swapping them out daily, taking the discharged one home to re-charge it overnight? You could accomplish the same result with lead batteries but then you’d be wrangling about 50 pounds back and forth. Lithium is much lighter but much pricier.

Endless Breeze sells a 12 V 14 inch box fan that would run all day given power from a car size battery.

Or, what size solar panel do you think the barn owner would approve if you wanted to install one for yourself?

[Simkie]

Fans pull a surprising amount of power. Without actually installing a pretty decent solar array (with battery, if you want it blowing when it’s not really sunny) it’s not doable to really drive a good sized fan with a solar solution. Those cheap and easy solar lights have gotten us all spoiled!

[erinmeri]

Western Harmonics has something that looks like it should work, but it’s hard to find reviews. I believe if you search the forum, someone else has been in touch with them for the same reason.

https://westernharmonics.com/Solar-Hanging-Fan-With-100-Watt-Rigid-Solar-Panel

ETA, on second thought, maybe not: https://www.bbb.org/us/az/tucson/profile/solar-energy-equipment/western-harmonics-1286-20053573/complaints

[DMK]

Ryobi makes a small fan with a mister attached and that thing runs forever on a 6ah battery. I think I got 12-15 hours out of it last week. Obviously you get less on the mister plus fan (it’s designed to fit on the top and draw water out of those 5gal buckets the hardware stores sell) but I think it was still like 8 hours.

I used it at the vet box last week when it was warmer than any winter CDE should be, using the misting+fan function and it really helped cool down the air on the pony’s chest and jugular so we could work the other areas. I’ll thinking it will be awesome under the awning when we are having our post marathon beer or anytime is just hot and disgusting. And while I have a fan plugged in when I camp in my trailer, I left this one on sitting on the floor for the dog. Like I said, it went all afternoon and most of the night on one battery. I finally got up in the wee hours and turned off all the fans because I was getting cold.

The only challenge right now is finding one, I had to get one through a reseller since Home Depot for was out, but I’m sure that’s probably because they’re selling them in the southern hemisphere right now and not focusing on the US in winter.

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

Unfortunately, I don’t think the barn owner will be comfortable with the DIY version and I’m not interested in investing in a permanent solution (solar panel array) for a barn I may or may not be staying in long term.

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

I’m seriously spoiled. I just purchased several solar lights for putting around his paddock and they are just SO cheap and easy. I guess I didn’t think fans would pull more power than several miles of electric fence, but that’s intermittent. Sigh.

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

So the fan I have now is a Ryobi, but a different model. I have the job site fan, I wonder if I can get a bigger/longer lasting battery…. The fan I’m happy with, it’s just how long it runs. Hmmmmmmm, I’m not sure I need (or could use in his turnout) the mister function.

ETA: I just checked the Home Depot website and they have a 9.0 ah battery! I’m going to grab one and see if that solves my problem. Thank you so much!

[DMK]

If you’ve had the fan for a while, you will be happy to find out that the newer batteries are longer lasting and slightly slower profile