@zzsql 1. They did it, and that counts for a lot. 2. The really attractive extrusion of the heat sink is custom, and that costs. 3. They are trying to stay in business. I know personally that they have excellent customer service, and provided a replacement motor at no cost to me (but cost to them) when mine died (even after quite a while)
I'm sure you'll see crap for less when their patent expires, but I tend to put my $ up front and enjoy the quality for a lot longer.
@zzsql these things can last up to like 20 years. So it has low turn over, so can't sell it for like 30 bucks since most people will only buy 2-3 in their life time.
Also don't know if you bought one yet but on amazon it is only $79
I "shaped" the blades on mine to increase the angle-of-attack. They move air quite when when the stove is hot. I also use the fan on top of my hot-top kerosene heater with pretty good success. I'm not sure why some folks don't get the same results that I do, but I think that it may be that we run our little stove hotter.
I have 2 of these on my stove, Both were presents. Fun to watch but don't push air. I lite a match about 1' away and the flame moved, moved the matc to 2' and nothing. They need to redesign the fan blades.
@md50md I can hold a match up to almost 4 feet away from mine and still see the flame being pushed from the gradule air current. they are designed to move air calmly, not a gust of wind. Also we use a fan that blows cool air from the floor towards the room that the wood stove is in pulling the hot air from above back into the bed rooms, it does a great job, how ever if you hold a match up there you cannot detect the air flow, yet it is still there. You dont have to have a big fan to move air.
thanks for posting this. I've been wondering if it works or not. does it work when it gets very hot, say griddle temp of 500-600? or is it strictly a cold flue item?
There is a high-limit to how hot you should run them, but they have a version for gas-fired stoves and wood-fired stoves. I have not had a problem with ours getting "cooked" on a 450-550 hot top.
Warning: these fans break after about 2 or 3 years of use. Like so many others, ours broke (you can find the stories all over the net) and Caframo has been very little help in giving us tips on how to repair it or even where to get parts.
Suddenly the $120 fan that doesn't need batteries doesn't seem like such a great deal ...
They are still worth it in my opinion. The even more expensive flue fan broke in 1 year during a power failure. Go figure.
The peltier-junction won't "break" if you don't let it get too hot. The motor might fail after a while (bearing or bushings), but there are lot of sources besides the OEM. Nothing lasts forever...
I saw these around on the net as well. Turns out the heat element used to turn the blades costs around 11 bucks. I'll be welding myself up one soon and seeing how it works. Got the TEC in the mail around 2 weeks ago. My lazy self has taken the time to do it yet, but hopefully it'll do the job I've seen these little babies do.
These friggen things cost $100+ each.
U know it's not the materials and labor don't cost that much to make these so why so expensive?
zzsql 3 months ago
@zzsql 1. They did it, and that counts for a lot. 2. The really attractive extrusion of the heat sink is custom, and that costs. 3. They are trying to stay in business. I know personally that they have excellent customer service, and provided a replacement motor at no cost to me (but cost to them) when mine died (even after quite a while)
I'm sure you'll see crap for less when their patent expires, but I tend to put my $ up front and enjoy the quality for a lot longer.
ayelvington 3 months ago
@zzsql these things can last up to like 20 years. So it has low turn over, so can't sell it for like 30 bucks since most people will only buy 2-3 in their life time.
Also don't know if you bought one yet but on amazon it is only $79
TheCoolfez 2 weeks ago
@zzsql oops, this is a different fan but has like all 5 star ratings, go to amazon and search for caframo ecofan
TheCoolfez 2 weeks ago
I "shaped" the blades on mine to increase the angle-of-attack. They move air quite when when the stove is hot. I also use the fan on top of my hot-top kerosene heater with pretty good success. I'm not sure why some folks don't get the same results that I do, but I think that it may be that we run our little stove hotter.
ayelvington 1 year ago
I have 2 of these on my stove, Both were presents. Fun to watch but don't push air. I lite a match about 1' away and the flame moved, moved the matc to 2' and nothing. They need to redesign the fan blades.
md50md 1 year ago
@md50md I can hold a match up to almost 4 feet away from mine and still see the flame being pushed from the gradule air current. they are designed to move air calmly, not a gust of wind. Also we use a fan that blows cool air from the floor towards the room that the wood stove is in pulling the hot air from above back into the bed rooms, it does a great job, how ever if you hold a match up there you cannot detect the air flow, yet it is still there. You dont have to have a big fan to move air.
AllAlaskan907 2 months ago
thanks for posting this. I've been wondering if it works or not. does it work when it gets very hot, say griddle temp of 500-600? or is it strictly a cold flue item?
walinga5 2 years ago
There is a high-limit to how hot you should run them, but they have a version for gas-fired stoves and wood-fired stoves. I have not had a problem with ours getting "cooked" on a 450-550 hot top.
ayelvington 2 years ago
Warning: these fans break after about 2 or 3 years of use. Like so many others, ours broke (you can find the stories all over the net) and Caframo has been very little help in giving us tips on how to repair it or even where to get parts.
Suddenly the $120 fan that doesn't need batteries doesn't seem like such a great deal ...
africa932003 2 years ago
They are still worth it in my opinion. The even more expensive flue fan broke in 1 year during a power failure. Go figure.
The peltier-junction won't "break" if you don't let it get too hot. The motor might fail after a while (bearing or bushings), but there are lot of sources besides the OEM. Nothing lasts forever...
ayelvington 2 years ago
Ok, you sold me.........I ordered the 802. Suppose I used two (one on each back corner)? Overkill? Self-defeating?
nutmegger1957 2 years ago
Probably overkill. Give the $ to a local charity and you'll feel a lot warmer inside that the fan could ever do.
ayelvington 2 years ago
and how much is it? Where do you buy it?
nutmegger1957 2 years ago
I saw these around on the net as well. Turns out the heat element used to turn the blades costs around 11 bucks. I'll be welding myself up one soon and seeing how it works. Got the TEC in the mail around 2 weeks ago. My lazy self has taken the time to do it yet, but hopefully it'll do the job I've seen these little babies do.
chop98 2 years ago
Canada Tire in Canada has them on the shelf.
Search for "Caframo Ecofan" on Google.
ayelvington 2 years ago
where can you get that?
Eavind 2 years ago
Search on Google for "Camframo Ecofan"
ayelvington 2 years ago