Bilge Blowers

[Craig]

So... my blowers squeal like I wish my wife would
I have been unable to ascertain from reviews
which brand is actually superior. I like the squirrel cage design but the amp draw is more than I can tolerate. Therefore, I have purchased three brands to compare. Rule 240, Atwood 4000 v2 and Rule yellowtail. Although not technically are rated for continuous duty, 1000 hours is a reasonable expectation vs the 3000 hr continuous duty squirrel cage.
I will post decibel levels and general review soon.

 

[Lazy Daze]

For the most part, though, won't the engines or genny be running whenever the blower is? Meaning, amp draw is isignificant in this scenario. If the wiring will handle the load, I'd say the cages are a contender and just change to the proper size fuse?

Have you tried trying to squirt some silicone spray into the motor to quiet the squeal? Or, if you're referring to them simply being loud, then mounting them differently may help quite a bit. Mounting them on pieces of 1-1/2" hose (like your vacuflush hose) and then mounting the hose to the boat can have a very noticeable effect.

 

[Craig]

For the most part, though, won't the engines or genny be running whenever the blower is? Meaning, amp draw is isignificant in this scenario. If the wiring will handle the load, I'd say the cages are a contender and just change to the proper size fuse?

Have you tried trying to squirt some silicone spray into the motor to quiet the squeal? Or, if you're referring to them simply being loud, then mounting them differently may help quite a bit. Mounting them on pieces of 1-1/2" hose (like your vacuflush hose) and then mounting the hose to the boat can have a very noticeable effect.

The problem would be the wiring I think. 2 of the cage style blowers would draw 22 amps. Not sure it could handle that. They are much quieter though. I did lube the motors but it comes back after a while. Eliminating sharp bends and dampening the mount definitely
helps. I will be doing that. At least thy are easy to get to.

 

[JVM225]

I run my blowers the whole time the motors are running. Can’t hear them over the sound of the motors.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The problem would be the wiring I think. 2 of the cage style blowers would draw 22 amps. Not sure it could handle that. They are much quieter though. I did lube the motors but it comes back after a while. Eliminating sharp bends and dampening the mount definitely
helps. I will be doing that. At least thy are easy to get to.

But... I believe your two blowers are on separate circuits. You have one switch at the dash panel, but I'm pretty each blower comes off it's own fuse. Double check me, though - go look at your electrical diagram in your owner's manual, or even just check your fuse/breaker box - the one in the bilge. Check the wire size (14g, probably), too. You might be fine and can use two 15a fuses instead of what you have in there now (5a or maybe 7a?). You can double check me on that, too - look at the length of the 14g wire from the fuse and the current it is rated vs length of run. Keep in mind that it's a "round trip" measurement.

 

[atrick]

Try lubricating with sewing machine oil or other thin oil. Most bushings even cheaper ones are made from oil imprecnated brass and silicones doesn't flow back into the brass where the thin oils do and as the metal heats up the oil flows back out. When oiling keep adding a little extra oil after the squealing has stopped and when it cools down it will draw the oil back into the bushing. On my little boat at the start of the season my blower does the same and I do as I said above and it lasts all season till the start of the new season then just oil again.

 

[Craig]

But... I believe your two blowers are on separate circuits. You have one switch at the dash panel, but I'm pretty each blower comes off it's own fuse. Double check me, though - go look at your electrical diagram in your owner's manual, or even just check your fuse/breaker box - the one in the bilge. Check the wire size (14g, probably), too. You might be fine and can use two 15a fuses instead of what you have in there now (5a or maybe 7a?). You can double check me on that, too - look at the length of the 14g wire from the fuse and the current it is rated vs length of run. Keep in mind that it's a "round trip" measurement.

They are separate 14 ga wire with 7 amp fuses. Stock blowers draw 4ish amps ea.
cages draw 11. A 15ft round trip run would put them in 12ga wire territory. Don't want to cut it that close. Would like to quiet them down though. Mine are louder than the engines even without the squeal.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Yeah, looks like you're right on the cusp there. Of course, you could change the wiring to 12g if you really wanted the squirells - but that's a little more work. Chances are, you can find a "regular" blower that will be a little quieter - combined with better dampening and you'll probably be just fine.

 

[dwna1a]

Sounds to me as if the bearing is going out on the old blower. I may be wrong and Lasy would know but if there is any bind on the fan shaft or motor the power draw would increase.

IF the fan housing as become compressed in any way you will hear it.

Replace the old blowers and check to be sure the old vent tubing is in good condition

 

[Craig]

Not super scientific but an idea of sound that comes from each. Atwood is quietest and lowest amps at 2.3. Rule and Sureflow are similar with 4.3 and 4.5 amps. Sureflow
Sounded loudest to me. Might put a piece of duct on them to see how that changes things.

 

[CliffA]

you might can wrap the blower and short section of the duct with the flexible sound deadening material used in cars/trucks....it is self adhesive...most likely it can be found in most auto parts stores or ordered from Amazon.....

cliff

 

[Jon Paul]

Mine were really noisy. I replaced them and it turned out the fan blade was rubbing on inside of plastic housing. The rub is what was causing noise. JP

 

[Soulshine]

I’ve had them really noisy and that prevented me from accidentally leaving them on.

My current boat has indicator lights and ironically very quiet blowers by comparison.