Best Inline Fan Fan For The Money?

Preparing to order a 6" inline fan and trying to decide how much the old adage "you get what you pay for" applies to inlines. Air movement is priority. Noise level is not a huge issue as the fan will be in an enclosed area away from the house. On the other hand, I don't want a jet plane either. I guess something that would not be sound detectable from within a non-insulated enclosed space 20 feet away would do. The space I am exhausting is 5' L x 3' W x 4.5' H.

I'm looking at this Can Max Fan, which has a built-in speed controller. On the other hand, I can get something like this no-name fan for about $85 cheaper after factoring shipping costs.

So help me decide here. Money's tight right now, so saving $85 is really tempting. On the other hand, I have gone cheap on stuff before and ending spending more in the long run because I end up having to replace the cheap POS and buy the better one anyway.

If you have experience to share, please do. If you have another option, let me know, but I don't want to go higher than the linked Can Max.

Thanks for the help!

http://www.hydrogrowersusa.com/en/products.php?id=503

"stealth" inline fan. there made in china and work like the chineese do, non-stop i have one and it fills my needs. hard to beat $100 for 435 CFM.

oh and it is a legit 425 CFM. the one in my basement is like a jet.

Thanks Corbat! I found it here shipped for $105! Hard to beat that price. How long have you had yours? Is it as quiet as they claim? Do you use a speed controller?

i dont have any speed controller. and no its not all that quiet, you cant hear the fan but its hard to silence that much air movement. i've had it for 5 months so far, 3 on 24/7 and i've never seen any slack in performance.

best thing of all is it only draws .3 amps almost no power @ all.

Sounds pretty good, man. Let me make sure I understand, though. Are you saying the noise level is mostly in the suction itself rather than the sound of the fan? How would you compare the noise level to, say, a box fan on high?

i would say its louder than one of these http://www.google.ca/search?q=box%20fan&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=910 box fans

but they are not as loud as http://www.google.ca/search?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1680&bih=910&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=squirrel+cage+blower&oq=squirrel+cage+bl&aq=0&aqi=g1&aql=undefined&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=61917l67992l0l12l12l0l0l0l0l211l1937l0.9.3l12 squirl cage blowers.

the air movment through the ecaust pipes creates turbulance (air resistance) that resistance is what makes the noise.

the only thing i would compair my fan to is a small helicopter taking off........ you cant hear the engine, just the air movment....

Thanks for all the feedback, Corbat. +rep for you!

I plan to order tonight. Any more opinions?

I just bought this one, should arrive soon...

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-6-Inch-Inline-Exhaust-Cooling-Duct-Fan-Vent-Blower-/280453359570?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D4%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D1318119305379706465

I got a hydrofarm fan. I can't here the actual fan itself...just the 400 CFM of air blowing out.

Unless you need special features go with the cheapest one that will fit your needs,i have fans from 3 companies & all 3 are the exact same fan except a few minor details like paint ,mounting bracket & such,all the guts of the fan including the fan motor & blade are made by a single manufacture, the name & patent markings on the motors & blades is the same as sell.

The whole deal where vortex is supposed to be superior to all other fans is complete bullshit,ive testex all 3 models i own & all 3 fall within the same sound levels when tested with my spl meter (sound pressure level),the vortex tested less than 4 dbl less than my other fans ,if you understand what impact dbl's (decibels) have on the sound we hear which is spl (sound pressure level) then a difference as small as 4 db is meaningless & in most cases inaudible.

Buy the cheapest,be sure to check out High Tech Garden supply aka HTG online as they regulary beat any other advertised price & their fans are as good as any other.

I was all set to go with the Stealth fan but then found the Can for $125. It has the built-in speed controller, so I decided it was worth the few extra bucks. $144 shipped! Just got it today. Have not installed it yet, but this little sucker moves the air even on low speed. I am very happy.

http://cheaphydroponics.com/store/ventilation/can-fan-inline-fans/can-fan-6-max-334cfm/prod_926.html?review=read#read_review

The other thing that bothered me about the Stealth is that it made no mention of warranty. It may have one, but I couldn't find anything about it. The Can has a five-year warranty.

TheDudeNextDoor said:

The other thing that bothered me about the Stealth is that it made no mention of warranty. It may have one, but I couldn't find anything about it. The Can has a five-year warranty.

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DAM SON!! nice find, seriously...... im jealous now.... the stealth has a shitty 6 month factory warrenty..... you would have 2 ship it to china

seriously with i found that 2 months ago. very good choice.

Thanks man! They had it for $25 cheaper than anywhere else and shipped within one day. Really impressed with this company.

That definitely an awesome deal for that fan. In the local hydro shop its 206 dollars.

TDND, great find. I can't find the dimensions for length anywhere, can you tell me how long it is? Thanks man.

TechnoMage said:

TDND, great find. I can't find the dimensions for length anywhere, can you tell me how long it is? Thanks man.

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Yah mon. I looked through all the literature that came with the fan and couldn't find it either, so I busted out the trusty tape measure: 7"

CAP Valuline fans.
Move a good amount of CFM, and are affordable.
I tihnk they have a 5 year warranty.
I use mine on a speed controller to lower the RPMs and keep it quiet.

check ezhydroshop.com, they have cheap prices