TPI Shutter-Mounted Direct Drive Exhaust Fan - 30in., Model# CE-30-DS Review

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(More customer reviews)TPI Shutter Mounted Exhaust Fan Model - 20 inches CE-20-DS
TPI Corporation offers three types of direct drive exhaust fans. Each type comes in the same 8 fan sizes (see Customer Images for a table).
- a guard mounted fan includes a motor & propeller attached to a spiral wire blade guard with an electrical box, pull switch, and rubber mounting bumpers,
- a shutter mounted fan is a combination of two products: a guard mounted fan, and an external shutter.
- a venturi mounted fan is a guard mounted fan on a sheet metal frame, but no shutter. The outer frame edges are bent toward the inside at 90 degrees for strength. "Venturi" is a flaring of the sheet metal away from the fan, to direct the air flow. A venturi mounted fan costs about 25% more than a shutter mounted fan, and it doesn't even include a shutter. The only benefit is the venturi sheet-metal fan-frame.
TPI claims a shutter-mounted fan can be mounted directly to an external wall without you making a frame. However, that "wall" would have to be quite thin with no studs/building-frame-members in the way. E.g., a corrugated steel building. Other than that, you'll have to build a wooden support frame.
Pros:
- excellent air flow. The sound of all that whooshing air is pretty loud, but any 20" fan moving this much air would be. There is no mechanical noise.
- has two speeds. The lower speed moves less air, but is much quieter.
Cons:
- the motor capacitor was "hanging" onto an 8-32 screw on the back of the motor. It looked like an after-thought; ridiculous even. I repositioned it, but a customer shouldn't have to modify a product to fix a design/assembly blunder. See Customer Images.
- the two screws for the plastic cover plate holding the pull chain switch were so over-tightened at the factory, their heads mashed the plate's screw locations. I re-mounted the switch in a blank metal utility plate. The ground screw inside the box was so over-tightened by the factory that the threads were stripped, so I had to mount the ground screw elsewhere.
- the five wires exiting the motor have no protection other than the wire's insulation. Motor vibration could eventually wear through that insulation, causing a short.
Other:
- high speed had minimal vibration, but the lower speed shook the entire assembly. I e-mailed my Amazon receipt to TPI Corporation and requested a new propeller under warranty, which, to their credit, they promptly sent. The new propeller fixed the problem. Before the new part arrived, I had fabricated a large support bracket that mostly stabilized the vibrating fan. With the new [balanced] propeller and the home-made bracket, the fan is quite stable on either speed.
- I was willing to spend more for a better-quality fan with an American made motor, but couldn't find one. What a shame. The TPI motor is assembled in Mexico. This product will replace a Made in the USA General Electric fan that lasted nearly 30 years.
- TPI says the fan must be hard-wired - e.g., using 14/2 NM cable. Since there is no electrical or safety basis for that "requirement", I clipped the receptacle off a 16 gage extension cord and connected that end into the electrical box. See Customer Images.
- With extended running, the motor becomes quite hot.
Summary:
This is the only 20" multi-speed all steel fan I could find, which is why I bought it.

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The TPI Shutter-Mounted Direct Drive Exhaust Fan is designed to exhaust stale air from rooms, barns, garages or small enclosed work areas. Mounts from the inside of the wall, avoiding the time and expense of dismantling and replacing siding. Totally enclosed 120V direct drive motor has 2 speeds and is permanently lubricated. U.S.A. Fan Diameter (in.): 30, Air Delivery (CFM): 6,000 - 7,900, HP: 1/4, Volts: 120, Speeds (qty.): 2, Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 33 1/8 x 33 1/8 x 9