how hard is it to get a decent fan.

I have had good luck with the 12" Hurricane fan in the tent.
The 16" in the greenhouse ran 24/7 for 6 months strait, two years running now.
Good enough for me.

MintyDreadlocks said:

Alright my fans i admit i budgeted on in the past but im tired of it. I dont understand how something as simple as a fan are all made like complete shit. How is it that you spend $25 on a small 6inch oscillating clamp fan just for it to shit the bed and seize up in a month or two. The next option is to get those stupid smart fans which if you get you need every other product to use it as intended like a damn Apple MacBook or something.

My question to you fine people. Is there a SIMPLE FAN that is USA made that is clamp and does not need to be configured for a smart controller. I'm fed up with these fans. I've spent $100s over the years on them and want one that is made to last if you have suggestions. Preferably not plastic. My budget is as big as the hole in my wallet from all these turd purchases so shoot your suggestions.

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Have been running the non-oscillating version of the AC Infinity 6-in EC fans for over a year now, full speed - 24X7, with absolutely no problems whatsoever. Have never hooked them up to a controller, they're dust and water resistant, super energy efficient, and a dramatic decrease in the chance of fire if the fan blades are obstructed. I have four of them in a 5x5 and six of 'em in a 8x4.

Star Dog said:

Oscillating fans...
Day 1 remove grill and bin it then cut the back grill off with a stanley knife.

The weight of the grill has to be carried/moved with pishy plastic gears so it's beneficial to remove it.
The flow of air almost doubles because there's less resistance to air and the fan itself isn't carrying the weight so it turns faster it's a win win.

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Awesome response. Thank you for sharing this.

Star Dog said:

Oscillating fans...
Day 1 remove grill and bin it then cut the back grill off with a stanley knife.

The weight of the grill has to be carried/moved with pishy plastic gears so it's beneficial to remove it.
The flow of air almost doubles because there's less resistance to air and the fan itself isn't carrying the weight so it turns faster it's a win win.

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Interesting idea. To those that complained in the past that the grill of the ACI can't be removed, try reading the instructions.

So i tried the monkey fans.. worked great for a while..
Recently I bought a cheaper copy.. worked great and was much quieter so I bought 5 more.. all failed withing 8 weeks, some within a week. Some made loud bangs and one tripped the fuse box..

I bought an ac infinity.. loved it but it was stupidly priced and it stopped oscillating within a year.

Now there's two things I've used which are reliable.
16" wall mounted fans, mounted on tent ceiling.
Move the plants without killing them and cover a lot of area , they just keep going, least for a few years.. but they aren't particularly quiet. But at £28 they are great.

Plus, PC fans. I like them , really low noise, not too powerful, low wattage.
Great for drying spaces, under canopy airflow. But they are stationary.

I would love someone to design a 3d printed bracket that clips onto a standard pc fan.

But yeah.. fans suck!

I'd actually use my box fans to circulate air if they hadn't stopped importing them from China.. because they are the tits

Have two fans from them, amazing products. Unlike hydro store/canna brands these are made from pure metal parts and seem to last way longer.


they sell smaller fans but for me I needed this, I ran 8 hurricane pro commerical and they would always die aka oscillator cause that part was weak and plastic…… soo dumb when its 200+ Bucks. I would have over 50% die before warranty and was sick of playing this game with the fans. Went the non hydro store route and bam these fans are the shitz

I bought three Sun Leaves 6" clip on fans about 10 years ago and I still use them. I just keep them clean and oiled. However, when I searched for them they are no longer available.

I've had fan issues also, 1 thing I've done is removed the safety grill. I get WAY better air flow and no more dust buildup. I know it's no safe, but it's a small fan and no kiddos are around. Happy growing

Been using $15 fans from Menards and getting a few years out of them.
Either 12" hung upside down with a ratchet rope or two (plant tie also!)and I'm using Terrabloom inline fans to pull cool air into the hanging fans - OR the 8" box fans don't last as long as the 12's but have used them at floor level or above the LEDs which are not shown.
Trying to find ANYTHING not chiminilly willy crap is ridiculous!
I'm not paying $45 for a 6" hunk of junk and I'm guessing because of the larger blades the motor needs a more sturdy build than 6".
I can't remove the guards because they chop stuff up when it's crowded!
(That's three in a 4*8 BTW)

In a jam fans can sometimes be coaxed back into life.

A motor seizure is usually fixable with some wd40 and oil and they're good for another few months.
(Wd40 isn't oil)

The cable twisting back and fourth over a small area is always going to wear out, when/if it does it's easily fixed with a soldering iron and heat shrink.

The last fan I bought was December 2021
I'm still using it without any mending but I have changed the blade in favour of 3 blades over a 5 which was pretty noisy.

Star Dog said:

In a jam fans can sometimes be coaxed back into life.

A motor seizure is usually fixable with some wd40 and oil and they're good for another few months.
(Wd40 isn't oil)

The cable twisting back and fourth over a small area is always going to wear out, when/if it does it's easily fixed with a soldering iron and heat shrink.

The last fan I bought was December 2021
I'm still using it without any mending but I have changed the blade in favour of 3 blades over a 5 which was pretty noisy.
View attachment 5355418

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This was awesome and got my fan working again. You were right the fan blades were catching on the plastic. I cut and removed all the grill and cover. I also have some DEOX-IT (electronic contact cleaner and lubricant) that i use for my guitars and shot a spray in there. Works mint now. Super glued the fan prop to the post so it doesnt spin off. Better than new. You are the man. This is what these forums are meant for. Solutions that are a bit out of the box.

shnkrmn said:

I have gone through ac Infinity fans this past year. Out of 4, only one still oscillates and that one I have kept in level orientation. I took the motor apart on one. Cheap soft nylon gears mean if you mishandle or bump it in operation, it's likely to break or deform a gear tooth then you get the dreaded clicking and jerking motion or it stops altogether. I kept the last one level because I suspect that gravity produces less strain on the mechanism in that position.

Currently running a couple vivosun oscillators and so far they are outlasting the aci fans. Very smooth action too. And 10 dollars cheaper.

None of these fans require a controller to operate.

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Is AC Infinity not honoring the warranty? FWIW, I know there have been issues with the app as well. A 3.2 star rating is pretty sad.

1212ham said:

Is AC Infinity not honoring the warranty? FWIW, I know there have been issues with the app as well. A 3.2 star rating is pretty sad.

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I'm not good at customer service. It's me, not them! And I hate waste so a fan that still moves air is going to remain in service.

MintyDreadlocks said:

Alright my fans i admit i budgeted on in the past but im tired of it. I dont understand how something as simple as a fan are all made like complete shit. How is it that you spend $25 on a small 6inch oscillating clamp fan just for it to shit the bed and seize up in a month or two. The next option is to get those stupid smart fans which if you get you need every other product to use it as intended like a damn Apple MacBook or something.

My question to you fine people. Is there a SIMPLE FAN that is USA made that is clamp and does not need to be configured for a smart controller. I'm fed up with these fans. I've spent $100s over the years on them and want one that is made to last if you have suggestions. Preferably not plastic. My budget is as big as the hole in my wallet from all these turd purchases so shoot your suggestions.

Click to expand...

For in the tent, oscillating fan I really like the Vivosun clip on fan for tents. Forget the model but it has the connection to connect to AC Infinity 69 pro controller. It was like $20-30 and I got mine thru Amazon. Fine product this far. Hope it helps

Hurricane fans are the shit. Been running 2 of my 6 for over 3 years.

IME Honeywell HT900 is only one that works after years and years, its just a bit hard to fit in tent. Atleast if u have more then one.
Everything else in growshops seems to be trash after a year or so.

If u are interested about powerfull pc fans i can recommend this product:


Very quiet and powerfull.
I have use it only for month but so far im super happy. I got 2 of those in 4x4.

2 AC Infinity Axial muffin fans with controller is about $35-40 on Amazon. They are 120volt metal frame fans like you would see in a server rack. I just hang them with wire or slip the bracket over the support bar. Plug it into whatever generic timer or Inkbird controller you want.

MintyDreadlocks said:

Alright my fans i admit i budgeted on in the past but im tired of it. I dont understand how something as simple as a fan are all made like complete shit. How is it that you spend $25 on a small 6inch oscillating clamp fan just for it to shit the bed and seize up in a month or two. The next option is to get those stupid smart fans which if you get you need every other product to use it as intended like a damn Apple MacBook or something.

My question to you fine people. Is there a SIMPLE FAN that is USA made that is clamp and does not need to be configured for a smart controller. I'm fed up with these fans. I've spent $100s over the years on them and want one that is made to last if you have suggestions. Preferably not plastic. My budget is as big as the hole in my wallet from all these turd purchases so shoot your suggestions.

Click to expand...

Stay away from Canadian tire. All those Mastercraft fans are giant pieces of crap too. But those Lasko plastic blower fans that have the electric outlets on the side last forever!!! Buy them on Amazon with one of the multi year warranties and you are covered.

I think I got several of these and one is upstairs and newer, the other couple are in service since 2019¿? Maybe?
Anyway, there's no way I'd pay $28 for something I got for $15 not that long ago but I believe they're cheaper in the big box store where I bought mine. (Comfort Zone)
Which now is $17 and carries another name with the exact same BOM.
"Beyond Breeze" is the new old same old same old & amz has a black model for $30 - or white at Menards for the $17 I mentioned.

https://a.co/d/apiQrFc

Lashed em to the corner poles with solid copper wire and hung with a ratchet strap in the 4*8's & they have been good - so far they are needing some oil and I wouldn't be surprised if the plastic was a little brittle from the lumen bath.(metal grills though)
I purposely NEVER installed the desktop bases for the room.
I'm expecting at least one of the four to paYooK before the next run is done.
But for $15 a pop it's way better than DOA after less than a year - that's sad stuff!
These do oscillate but I don't use that; besides I think on every one of those made in chiminilly, it's the first thing to break...
There's a 8" like the other but IDK if they are as good either but will probably give them a whirl after I see some fuses popping or rotors locked up.
If someone else has experience with the 8" jump in here and let us know what you think!

You find one from the 40's or 50's and, WOW the blades will take off a finger and the skin will come off your knuckles if you collide with that oscillate function - it won't bog and you'll lose pieces parts if you don't reel em in PDQ!
Oh yeah that's what made in USA was like BITD...

Nowadays google calls it an "update" because it doesn't look like an "upgrade" most of the time and newer is W-w-w-w-whaaaaaat?
No, not necessarily Loowey.

Before I forget, always buy your fans in the off season - most places want them gone.
Unless you live in a tropical area lol!

Box fan hung above the light pointing down.