Bathroom Fan Kits (AC and EC Motors)
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Did You Know... It's Possible for Your Bathroom Exhaust Fan to be Powerful, Quiet, Non-Draughty, Remove Steam, Prevent Wet Walls and Ceilings, and to Switch Off Automatically After a Period of Time?
A good bathroom fan should achieve all of these things!
Our bathroom exhaust fans are so quiet you can barely hear them running. While this means you're able to enjoy your hot shower with some peace and quiet, it also means you're more likely to leave the fan running for a period of time afterwards to ensure all residual moisture is removed.
A bathroom exhaust fan should also be powerful. Ours have capacities of 560 m³/h and 735 m³/h (far higher than cheap and noisy fans found at your local hardware store). The power of our fans means that steam doesn't build up, and your bathroom walls and ceiling aren't dripping wet once you're finished!
Our 'Plus' versions include an IntelliSwitch automatic timer, so that the fan can continue running for a period of time after you leave, before automatically switching off once the time has elapsed.
See Our Bathroom Fan in Action
X-Stream Ducted Exhaust Fans
The Fresh Ventilation X-Stream is the perfect extractor fan solution for wet areas like bathrooms, toilets and laundries. Whether you’re a homeowner, a renter or a landlord, it’s vital to keep these areas free from mould and condensation.
Fresh Ventilation’s exclusive design is based on years of knowledge, experience and trialling competing products. We use Australian made ducting and German made centrifugal fans with both AC and EC motors.
The Fresh Ventilation X-Stream is available in four models, with and without run-on timers, with air flow ranging between 540 m³/h and 735 m³/h.
Fresh Ventilation X-Stream AC
Simple and effective. This model turns on and off from a switch on your wall just like your lights. Unlike cheap and inefficient bathroom fans, which allow moist air to build up in your roof cavity causing other problems, the X-Stream AC exhausts stale air directly outside through ducting, keeping mould and moisture at bay in all areas of your home.
Our centrifugal fan with an AC motor provides excellent performance and reliability. It is one of the quietest extractor fans available and comes with an IP 44 protection rating and a 5 year warranty. It extracts 540 m³/h of air per hour and consumes 48 watts per hour.
Fresh Ventilation X-Stream AC Plus
The X-Stream AC Plus includes an IntelliSwitch automatic timer which continues to ventilate the room after you leave. You can control how long you want it to run for and it will automatically switch off after this time has elapsed.
Our centrifugal fan with an AC motor provides excellent performance and reliability. It is one of the quietest extractor fans available and comes with an IP 44 protection rating and a 5 year warranty. It extracts 540 m³/h of air per hour and consumes 48 watts per hour.
Fresh Ventilation X-Stream EC
Simple and effective. This model turns on and off from a switch on your wall just like your lights. Unlike cheap and inefficient bathroom fans, which allow moist air to build up in your roof cavity causing other problems, the X-Stream EC exhausts stale air directly outside through ducting, keeping mould and moisture at bay in all areas of your home.
Our centrifugal fan with an EC motor provides exceptional performance and reliability. The speed can be adjusted to suit air flow, noise and power consumption requirements. At maximum speed it is even quieter than the X-Stream AC. At reduced speeds it is capable of being completely silent. It comes with an IP 54 protection rating and a 5 year warranty. At maximum speed it extracts 735 m³/h of air per hour and consumes 83 watts per hour. At reduced speeds these figures are lowered to 580 m³/h and 49 watts, 445 m³/h and 24 watts, and 310 m³/h and 10 watts.
Fresh Ventilation X-Stream EC Plus
The X-Stream EC Plus includes an IntelliSwitch automatic timer which continues to ventilate the room after you leave. You can control how long you want it to run for and it will automatically switch off after this time has elapsed.
Our centrifugal fan with an EC motor provides exceptional performance and reliability. The speed can be adjusted to suit air flow, noise and power consumption requirements. At maximum speed it is even quieter than the X-Stream AC Plus. At reduced speeds it is capable of being completely silent. It comes with an IP 54 protection rating and a 5 year warranty. At maximum speed it extracts 735 m³/h of air per hour and consumes 83 watts per hour. At reduced speeds these figures are lowered to 580 m³/h and 49 watts, 445 m³/h and 24 watts, and 310 m³/h and 10 watts.
Included Items
The following table outlines useful information, such as quantities of included items, for each of our bathroom fan kits.
Additional quantities of individual items can be purchased in our store.
X-Stream
X-Stream Plus
1
1
1
1
1
1
6 m
6 m
30 m
30 m
50 m
50 m
0
1
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Components
150mm Centrifugal Fan
This is the motor. It is suspended in your roof space by hanging strap so that vibrations can't be transferred through the structure.
150mm V-Flex Duct
This flexible duct is made in Australia and joins all of the components of the system together. It is much stronger than standard flexible duct.
White Plastic Louvre Grille
This is installed outside in your eave (or gable end) and connected to the fan via ducting.
White Metal Egg Crate Grille
This is installed in your bathroom ceiling (ideally directly above the shower) and connected to the fan via ducting. Once installed it is discreet and sits almost flush with your ceiling.
IS-SS IntelliSwitch Timer (X-Stream Plus Only)
This optional run-on timer has 5 pre-set timer durations (15, 30, 60, 90 and 180 minutes) and starts counting down after you turn it on. This means the fan can continue running for a period of time after you leave, before automatically switching off once the time has elapsed.
Fan Specifications / FAQ
What is the difference between AC motors and EC motors?
AC motors are cheaper than EC motors but still provide excellent performance. They are very quiet during operation and move large volumes of air through ducting. They operate at one fixed speed where they are most efficient.
In real world use, EC motors provide even higher air flow, are extremely quiet during operation, are capable of silent operation at reduced fan speeds, have smoother fan rotation, and consume almost no power at reduced fan speeds. EC motors have adjustable speed and are very efficient at all speeds.
What is an electronically commutated EC motor?
An electronically commutated (EC) motor is designed to run on an alternating current (AC) power supply, but it in fact bears a closer resemblance to a direct current (DC) motor. It is essentially a permanent magnet, brushless DC motor that incorporates on-board electronics. The added electronics allow an EC motor to combine the best features from both AC and DC motors, and then improve on them. For this reason, an EC motor is in a category of its own.
By utilizing this technology, EC fans are highly efficient and pay for themselves through lower operating costs and extended service life. They also provide many operational benefits that are often overlooked.
EC motors use permanent magnets and electrical windings to generate their magnetic fields, in a similar fashion to brushed DC motors. However, as their name suggests, they achieve commutation electronically rather than mechanically. This is only possible by incorporating on-board electronics within the housing of an electronically commutated EC motor.
The on-board electronics include a rectifier that converts the AC supply to DC. An integrated controller then directs the right amount of current, in the right direction, at the right time, through each of the windings. This develops magnetic poles in the stator, which interact with the permanent magnets in the rotor.
The position of each magnet is determined by using Hall effect sensors. The appropriate magnets are attracted, in sequence, to the magnetic poles in the stator. Simultaneously, the rest of the stator windings are charged with the reverse polarity. These attraction and repulsion forces combine to achieve rotation and produce the optimal torque. Since this is all done electronically, precise motor monitoring and control are possible.
Can the fan speed be adjusted?
AC motors are single speed motors. They run at 100% all the time.
EC motors are variable speed motors. They have a 0-10V potentiometer mounted on them to adjust their speed precisely between 0% and 100%.
What is the airflow capacity of the fan motors?
AC motors have a capacity of approximately 540 m³/h.
EC motors have a capacity of approximately 735 m³/h.
How much power do the fans use?
AC motors draw 48 W when running.
EC motors draw 83 W when running at 100% speed. For every 20% the fan speed is reduced, energy consumption is approximately halved.
How much noise do the fans make?
AC motors are very low noise during operation.
EC motors are extremely low noise during operation. EC motors can be silent at reduced fan speeds.
Who manufactures the fan motors?
The fan motors are manufactured by ebm-papst in Germany.
What model are the fan motors?
AC motors use a R2E190 motor.
EC motors use a R3G190 motor.
Where are the fan motors and housings made?
The fan motors are made in Germany.
The fan housings are custom made in Australia.
What is the warranty of the fan motors?
The fan motors have a 5 year warranty.
What is the IP rating of the fan motors?
AC motors have a protection rating of IP 44.
EC motors have a protection rating of IP 54.
What automatic run-on timers do you recommend?
We use and recommend the IntelliSwitch IS-SS single switch and the IntelliSwitch ST-BC all-in-one bathroom controller.
The IntelliSwitch IS-SS is included in the X-Stream Plus kits.
The IntelliSwitch ST-BC is available below as an optional extra.
Can you retrofit an existing hole?
If you have removed your old fan, please measure the diameter of the cutout hole in your ceiling. The standard white metal egg crate grille can be substituted with a diffuser that will cover your existing hole. We can supply a diffuser for almost any retrofit.
Why don't you like 3-in-1 Tastics?
3-in-1 fans have a number of problems:
The heat lamps are a fire hazard.
They are dust magnets, further worsening the risk of fire.
They require a large opening to your roof space, leaving nasties from your roof space free to enter.
They mostly can't be ducted to outside, so moist air is left in your roof space to cause other problems.
Even when they can be ducted, they shouldn't be, because their fans aren't strong enough to push air through ducting, so quoted airflow figures are substantially reduced.
Their fans aren't strong enough to operate under pressure, so closing the bathroom door substantially reduces airflow.
They can't be installed directly over the shower.
They're noisy.
Airflow is low.
There are some pictures from recent job sites of very mouldy bathrooms at the bottom of this page. They have one thing in common, the 3-in-1 fan!
Why Wet Area Ventilation is Important
Modern homes are well insulated and sealed tight to increase energy efficiency, but are more likely to have poor ventilation because they cannot breathe. Opening doors and windows is not always practical and does not provide adequate ventilation, which needs movement and exchange of air.
Bathroom exhaust and extraction fans offer a range of benefits:
Damp and/or Mouldy Home
Mould is almost always caused by dampness and poor ventilation in your home.
Musty Odours
Musty odours, caused by dampness and poor ventilation in your home, are pretty off-putting and not particularly healthy.
Condensation
Condensation forms on cold surfaces when they come into contact with moisture in the air. Dripping condensation and excessive moisture can result in a number of issues for your home and your family’s health.
Bad Smells
Bad smells in the bathroom are pretty off-putting and can be embarrassing.
What Makes Fresh Ventilation Different
Fresh Ventilation is a family owned and operated business. Our main business has specialised in the installation of premium quality ventilation systems for over 10 years. Our bathroom fan kits use the same premium components we install in our business on a daily basis.
Effective ventilation requires quality components and proper installation. We place a strong emphasis on customised solutions and after-sales support to help you get the most from your system.
Our focus is on premium products and expert advice to create ventilation systems that actually work.
Our Bathroom Exhaust and Extraction Fans
Fresh Ventilation’s exclusive design is based on years of knowledge, experience and trialling competing products. Our systems use components that have been carefully selected for their purpose to ensure that you get superior performance, proven reliability and lower operating costs.
We use Australian made components, including ducting and fittings, and German made centrifugal fans with both AC and EC motors available.
