Decent fan for indoor-training?

Bhima

I usually use the rollers outside, under a rain shelter and the breeze keeps me cool, but I can't watch TV out there so, to keep me cool when inside, I need the most powerful fan I can get without spending loads of money.

How can you tell which ones will be good, without actually testing them? Obviously, the size of it will come into play somewhat... Is a higher wattage going to be a faster fan? Should I go for the highest wattage possible?

I can get 6 fans at 28 W for the price of a 90 W fan, which leads me to believe that there's a massive difference between them (they look identical).

hopper1

I bought a 20" 3 Speed Stainless Steel Fan Air Circulator off ebay, cost £34.99.
It's 180 watts, but you need that to be effective.

Bhima

What's more effective?

- 1 big powerful fan pointing at your head/chest area
- 3 smaller, cheaper fans, pointing at different parts of your body from different directions

1 giant fan would get the air moving faster, but 3 would give more coverage.

Decisions decisions.... :?

hopper1

My 20" fan is on the floor about 5' away and I feel the benefit all over.
I wouldn't bother with the small ones...

lfcquin

I'm available Tuesday's to come and cheer you on. I'll get my wife to knit a Bhima scarf and everything!

hopper1

lfcquin wrote:

I'm available Tuesday's to come and cheer you on. I'll get my wife to knit a Bhima scarf and everything!

Team Banana Spokesman

Some physics............

You need as much AIRFLOW as poss.

Beyond a point, more airflow is of no further benefit, and this can be shown experimentally. Using more airflow than you need won't increase the rate of heat loss. Fortunately, you NEED a lot of airflow on the turbo.

By adding a fan you will increase airflow IF it is added in parallel (two fans side by side). Any other way will create too much turbulence as the fans cancel each other out (not always true*). If you add them in SERIES (one fan behind the other) then you create more pressure.

Turbulence = pockets of non-moving air = insulator = spots of heat buildup

As you get further away from the fan sources, the turbulence increases.

Getting a bigger-powered fan will not always increase airflow as much as you think. And it can increase pressure ( = turbulences ) too so you MAY get an increase in cooling but as you add more power the increase gets smaller and smaller..

*You can get the fans to reinforce each other if you know the angles the air travels at. experiment a bit.

cougie

You dont NEED a fan, but it helps.

I've just a standard one from Argos thats height adjustable. Works fine.

I find turbo work is best in the garage where its cool anyway and sweat wont bother anyone. In a house - my wife would kill me.

Whats your heart rate doing if you're watching TV ? I find I need to focus pretty hard on maintaining a decent level of exertion - otherwise its not worth doing.

skyd0g

open a window!
...otherwise you're just re-circulating already warmed air (and sweat).

caution: The author is not responsible for any damage to your window-box or any passing pigeons or people passing downwind of your open window.

daniel_b

I bought this Sealey fan after someone on else here recommended it:

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=142766

The remote is somewhat of a boon as you can wind up and down the breeze, ummmm, remotely.

Dan

DaSy

You want to look at the airflow figure (normally quoted as cubic metres / hour) rather than motor power.

I use this one Honeywell 18" Fan

Even on level one it makes my eyes water, and I virtually don't sweat at all, on a 2 x 20 or 6 x 4's etc.

Chip \'oyler

A decent fan?

Don't bother with a Man Utd fan - they're full of hot air