Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)TPI Shutter Mounted Exhaust Fan Model - 20 inches CE-20-DS
TPI Corporation offers three types of direct drive exhaust fans.Each type comes in the same 8 fan sizes (see Customer Images for a table).
- a guard mounted fan includes a motor & propeller attached to a spiral wire blade guard with an electrical box, pull switch, and rubber mounting bumpers,
- a shutter mounted fan is a combination of two products: a guard mounted fan, and an external shutter.
- a venturi mounted fan is a guard mounted fan on a sheet metal frame, but no shutter.The outer frame edges are bent toward the inside at 90 degrees for strength."Venturi" is a flaring of the sheet metal away from the fan, to direct the air flow.A venturi mounted fan costs about 25% more than a shutter mounted fan, and it doesn't even include a shutter. The only benefit is the venturi sheet-metal fan-frame.
TPI claims a shutter-mounted fan can be mounted directly to an external wall without you making a frame.However, that "wall" would have to be quite thin with no studs/building-frame-members in the way.E.g., a corrugated steel building.Other than that, you'll have to build a wooden support frame.
Pros:
- excellent air flow.The sound of all that whooshing air is pretty loud, but any 20" fan moving this much air would be.There is no mechanical noise.
- has two speeds.The lower speed moves less air, but is much quieter.
Cons:
- the motor capacitor was "hanging" onto an 8-32 screw on the back of the motor.It looked like an after-thought; ridiculous even.I repositioned it, but a customer shouldn't have to modify a product to fix a design/assembly blunder.See Customer Images.
- the two screws for the plastic cover plate holding the pull chain switch were so over-tightened at the factory, their heads mashed the plate's screw locations.I re-mounted the switch in a blank metal utility plate.
- the ground screw inside the box was so over-tightened by the factory that the threads were stripped, so I had to mount the ground screw elsewhere.
- the switch box location blocks some of the air flow.Even if you wanted to move it, the spiral wire blade guard has a void in that area, further complicating moving the box off to the side.
- the five wires emanating from the motor have no protection other than the wire's insulation. Motor vibration could eventually wear through that insulation, causing a short.
- the sheet metal stiffener spot-welded to the back of my shutter has one section that doesn't lay flat to the shutter.See Customer Images.
Other:
- high speed had minimal vibration, but the lower speed shook the entire assembly.I e-mailed my Amazon receipt to TPI Corporation and requested a new propeller under warranty, which, to their credit, they promptly sent.The new propeller fixed the problem.Before the new part arrived, I had fabricated a large support bracket that mostly stabilized the vibrating fan.With the new [balanced] propeller and the home-made bracket, the fan is quite stable on either speed.
- I was willing to spend more for a better-quality fan with an American made motor, but couldn't find one.What a shame.The TPI motor is assembled in Mexico.This product will replace a Made in the USA General Electric fan that lasted nearly 30 years.
- TPI says the fan must be hard-wired - e.g., using 14/2 NM cable.Since there is no electrical or safety basis for that "requirement", I clipped the receptacle off a 16 gage extension cord and connected that end into the electrical box.See Customer Images.
Summary:
This is the only 20" multi-speed all steel fan I could find, which is why I bought it.
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Product Description:
Direct drive fan mounts from the inside of the wall, avoiding the time and expense of dismantling and replacing siding. Totally enclosed 120V motor has 2 speeds and is permanently lubricated. Fan Diameter (in.): 20, Air Delivery (CFM): 4,165 / 5,850, Volts: 120, Speeds (qty.): 2, Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 23 x 10 x 23, Needs to be Hardwired: Yes
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