Fiamma Turbo Vent as replacement for standard vent

drpeej

drpeej

Joined
Jul 7, 2021
Posts
285
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499
Location
Alcester, UK
Funster No
82,494
MH
Autosleepers Symbol
Exp
Since 2009
We have a vent above the cooker in our 2009 Autosleepers Symbol which has had various repairs and seen better days. The final straw came when I put my hand through the insect mesh recently.

Rather than yet another repair I was wondering about replacing it with a Turbo Vent and wonder it anyone can advise me. All the You Tube videos I have found involve cutting a new hole in the roof but I just want to replace the existing vent.

My existing vent has an inside size of 40cm and the outside size is 47cm. I cant see any identifier of the make or model.

Any advice gratefully received

Peter
 
The most popular fanned vent is the Maxxair Maxxfan. I'm replacing a regular 40cm skylight with one at the weekend...
 
As above the Maxxair Maxfan Delux is the best one to go for, available in 3 colours, with manual & remote control.
here is an example to look at. Internal roller blind is sold seperately and finishes it off nicely.(y)Good warranty also I believe.
LES
www.jacksonsleisure.com

Maxxair MaxxFan Deluxe Remote Control Campervan Caravan Motorhome Roof Vent With Fan

The MaxxFan deluxe by Maxxair is and ideal campervan roof vent and fan
www.jacksonsleisure.com www.jacksonsleisure.com
 
The fiamma fan vent will fit straight in the hole left from your existing vent. The maxxair is a better one but its more than twice the price and you need to check outside clearance as they are bigger on the top than a standard vent.

If you have clearance and money is no object fit a maxxair.

If you're on a budget and want just an extractor fan then fit the fiamma.

The hole in your roof will be for a standard 400 x 400 vent
 
drpeej if you do decide on the Fiamma 400 x 400 fan vent, then I have a new boxed one I could let you have cheaper than what they are currently selling for.

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drpeej said:
We have a vent above the cooker in our 2009 Autosleepers Symbol which has had various repairs and seen better days. The final straw came when I put my hand through the insect mesh recently.

Rather than yet another repair I was wondering about replacing it with a Turbo Vent and wonder it anyone can advise me. All the You Tube videos I have found involve cutting a new hole in the roof but I just want to replace the existing vent.

My existing vent has an inside size of 40cm and the outside size is 47cm. I cant see any identifier of the make or model.

Any advice gratefully received

Peter
Click to expand...
Buy a maxxifan, the fiamma extractor fan is crap
 
Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll have to check the clearance because we have a solar panel a bit close but if I have room I'll take your advice and get the Maxxifan
 
Guigsy said:
The most popular fanned vent is the Maxxair Maxxfan. I'm replacing a regular 40cm skylight with one at the weekend...
Click to expand...
I'm about to fit one and I've looked at the installation instructions. I note they recommend using silicon sealant. I would rather use a non-setting mastic sealant. I also plan to fit small spacers to maintain sealant thickness, similar to the technique I used when I fitted solar panels. ( May not be necessary if the unit has a stand-off, to achieve the same)
What do you plan to do?
 
Revolvor said:
I'm about to fit one and I've looked at the installation instructions. I note they recommend using silicon sealant. I would rather use a non-setting mastic sealant. I also plan to fit small spacers to maintain sealant thickness, similar to the technique I used when I fitted solar panels. ( May not be necessary if the unit has a stand-off, to achieve the same)
What do you plan to do?
Click to expand...
I toyed around with several solutions including Seamseal. What I don't like about them is they go mouldy and can swell and ooze out in the heat or let ice force them out of the way. In the end I went with Sika 522 which is primarily a sealant, but also an adhesive. It claims to not discolour and claims to remain flexible even in low temperatures. Regardless, if I wanted to remove it, it'd still require running a blade through the goop, so whether it's setting or non-setting shouldn't make much of a difference. And I'm hoping not to have to think about it for a few years regardless.

I've also got some roofing Tek Screws with white head cap covers... although I'm undecided as whether I'm going to use them or not. They are 6mm thick, so a bit chunky. I was also going to pre-drill the pilot holes before I added the sealant in the hope that some seal will make its way into the holes.

As for spacers. It's a good idea on solar panels because they are several square meters, the wind can lift them and they probably have quite a lot of thermal expansion. So having thicker sealant to absorb the strain is a good idea. I'm not sure if it'll make that much difference on a rooflight though. Effectively it's plastic on plastic. It shouldn't experience anywhere near the same amount of forces.

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Guigsy said:
I toyed around with several solutions including Seamseal. What I don't like about them is they go mouldy and can swell and ooze out in the heat or let ice force them out of the way. In the end I went with Sika 522 which is primarily a sealant, but also an adhesive. It claims to not discolour and claims to remain flexible even in low temperatures. Regardless, if I wanted to remove it, it'd still require running a blade through the goop, so whether it's setting or non-setting shouldn't make much of a difference. And I'm hoping not to have to think about it for a few years regardless.

I've also got some roofing Tek Screws with white head cap covers... although I'm undecided as whether I'm going to use them or not. They are 6mm thick, so a bit chunky. I was also going to pre-drill the pilot holes before I added the sealant in the hope that some seal will make its way into the holes.

As for spacers. It's a good idea on solar panels because they are several square meters, the wind can lift them and they probably have quite a lot of thermal expansion. So having thicker sealant to absorb the strain is a good idea. I'm not sure if it'll make that much difference on a rooflight though. Effectively it's plastic on plastic. It shouldn't experience anywhere near the same amount of forces.
Click to expand...
Thanks for all that. I've got some Seamseal, purchased to install a solar extractor fan to the roof of the cabin of my boat. However, I will take your advice and use something like SIKA 522 - probably Puraflex 40, as I don't have any SIKA. Good advice about pre-drilling the pilot holes, and the Tek Screws. The thing that's worrying me most is routing the cabling through the roof.
Good luck with your installation. It should certainly be warm enough!
 
Revolvor said:
Thanks for all that. I've got some Seamseal, purchased to install a solar extractor fan to the roof of the cabin of my boat. However, I will take your advice and use something like SIKA 522 - probably Puraflex 40, as I don't have any SIKA. Good advice about pre-drilling the pilot holes, and the Tek Screws. The thing that's worrying me most is routing the cabling through the roof.
Good luck with your installation. It should certainly be warm enough!
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what I'm doing about power yet either. Mine is going above an over-cab bed (so it'll only be any use when the bed is down). There is a reading light up there, right next to the curtain that hides all the folding mechanism. But closer inspection revealed that the light has a well concealed wire going to it from behind the curtain, so channelling through the roof to the light seems pointless. I might have to run some conduit.
 
Northernraider said:
.........The maxxair is a better one but its more than twice the price and you need to check outside clearance as they are bigger on the top than a standard vent.
Click to expand...
I'm gutted! I was all set on a Maxxair, but I've just checked my roof and it won't fit, as the rear overhang will clash with one of my solar panels. I just wish I had planned ahead when I installed the solar panel - I should have fitted it about 50mm further back. It looks as if it will have to be a Fiamma, even though it has mixed reviews.
 
Alternatively look at Fan-Tastic vents as found in RV. Electric and manual with rain sensor and temperature cut off dial for fan.
 
I had a fiamma on previous motorhome. It is OK but the insect screen is poorly designed as it is very difficult to clean, and can only be accessed from the roof.

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Revolvor said:
I'm gutted! I was all set on a Maxxair, but I've just checked my roof and it won't fit, as the rear overhang will clash with one of my solar panels. I just wish I had planned ahead when I installed the solar panel - I should have fitted it about 50mm further back. It looks as if it will have to be a Fiamma, even though it has mixed reviews.
Click to expand...
I'm in the same situation although I haven't had a chance to get up on top to measure precisely (in France till weekend)

I only have a small solar panel and was wondering how easy it would be to move it back a couple of inches.

Peter
 
drpeej said:
I'm in the same situation although I haven't had a chance to get up on top to measure precisely (in France till weekend)

I only have a small solar panel and was wondering how easy it would be to move it back a couple of inches.

Peter
Click to expand...
When I fitted my solar panels I went to great lengths to ensure they didn't come off. I really don't want to move it.

Looking on-line it seems you need in excess of 8" from the cut out to any obstruction to the rear of the Maxxfan. The dimension is with the top lifted, so will need even more when closed.

Screenshot_20220714-100705.png
 
Revolvor said:
When I fitted my solar panels I went to great lengths to ensure they didn't come off. I really don't want to move it.

Looking on-line it seems you need in excess of 8" from the cut out to any obstruction to the rear of the Maxxfan. The dimension is with the top lifted, so will need even more when closed.

View attachment 641158
Click to expand...

Mine is fixed with four corner brackets so it might just be possible
 
“Looking on-line it seems you need in excess of 8" from the cut out to any obstruction to the rear of the Maxxfan. The dimension is with the top lifted, so will need even more when closed.”

The diagram shows 7” and when closed not open.
 
Landy Andy said:
“Looking on-line it seems you need in excess of 8" from the cut out to any obstruction to the rear of the Maxxfan. The dimension is with the top lifted, so will need even more when closed.”

The diagram shows 7” and when closed not open.
Click to expand...
And below the diagram it says 8 inch . Probably because as it lifts up it is longer on diagonal. 👍

Thats why i mentioned to the op about clearance in my first response to him because ive seen a few folk caught out with this before.

The fiamma takes up the same space as a standard vent. The maxxair does not. It also requires lots of additional bolt holes through roof which im not keen on . And additional work to fit a decent flyscreen or blind . At £315 + that puts me off them to be honest. And thats the cheapest price ive seen.

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I have an unreasonable distaste of anything that requires screws or bolts into/through the roof. It simply isn't necessary when the majority of vents/rooflights are clamp fitted.
 
Northernraider said:
And below the diagram it says 8 inch . Probably because as it lifts up it is longer on diagonal. 👍

Thats why i mentioned to the op about clearance in my first response to him because ive seen a few folk caught out with this before.

The fiamma takes up the same space as a standard vent. The maxxair does not. It also requires lots of additional bolt holes through roof which im not keen on . And additional work to fit a decent flyscreen or blind . At £315 + that puts me off them to be honest. And thats the cheapest price ive seen.
Click to expand...
Does it not just stick down like a normal roof vent?
I don’t like the sound of additional bolt holes either.
 
tonyidle said:
I have an unreasonable distaste of anything that requires screws or bolts into/through the roof. It simply isn't necessary when the majority of vents/rooflights are clamp fitted.
Click to expand...
Our posts just crossed I’ve just wrote that as well, why would you put additional bolts through the roof?
 
The Fiamma Installation Instructions also call for 20x self tapping screws through the external frame!

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I thought a big plus for the Maxxfan is it’s that can be used during heavy rain unlike others.
 
Landy Andy said:
I thought a big plus for the Maxxfan is it’s that can be used during heavy rain unlike others.
Click to expand...
Thats the plus side. BUT theres a few downsides that cancel that out for me so id rather just have a sklight slightly open.

Ive had the fiamma ones on several caravans and a few motorhomes and managed fine with just opening the lid an inch or so and running the fan .

None of them were ever screwed down though just sandwich fitted like the standard vents.

The maxxair needs screwed because its got such a big top on it it would likely catch the wind

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