Loading...
The MaxxFan Deluxe is on basically every van build — and for good reason. But running a fan all night draws more power than most people expect. On speed 5, it pulls 3.5A — that's 42W, or 336Wh over an 8-hour night. On speed 3 (the sweet spot for sleeping): 2.5A = 240Wh overnight.
Power draw by speed setting: Speed 1: 0.7A (8.4W). Speed 2: 1.5A (18W). Speed 3: 2.5A (30W). Speed 5: 3.5A (42W). Speed 10 (max): 5A (60W). The thermostat auto mode varies between speeds 1-5 based on temperature, averaging about 2A overnight in summer — 192Wh for 8 hours.
⚡ Expert tip
Wire the MaxxFan with a 10A fuse on 1.5mm² cable. It draws max 5A but the motor has a brief startup surge. Mount the switch within arm's reach of your bed — you will adjust speed at 3 AM, guaranteed.
Example calculation for your setup
Results based on a typical use case
| Appliance | Power | Usage/day | Wh/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression fridge | 45W | 24h | 1080 |
| LED lighting | 20W | 4h | 80 |
| Water pump | 30W | 0.5h | 15 |
| Phone charging | 15W | 2h | 30 |
| Daily consumption | 1205 Wh | ||
Recommended LiFePO4 battery
126 Ah
(80% depth of discharge)
Recommended AGM battery
201 Ah
(50% depth of discharge)
Recommended solar panels
302 Wc
4h average sun hours
Recommended inverter
No 220V appliances — no inverter needed
Adjust these values with the calculator below
VANPOWERCALC PROYOUR ENERGY PROFILE
YOUR ENERGY PROFILE.
This document contains the sizing of your future electrical installation, calculated based on your appliances.
Minimum Daily Consumption
0 WH / DAY
Inventory:
SYSTEM SIZINGPage 2
Battery
To guarantee 0WH without damaging your bank (80% max discharge):
0 AH
LiFePO4 12V
Solar
Minimum power required to recharge your consumption:
0 W
via MPPT
220V AC
Maximum power (with 25% safety margin).
0 W
No Need
Safety & CablingPage 3
12V Cable Sizing Guide
Use this professional reference table to select the correct gauge (mm²) for your cables. For 12V in a van, the maximum tolerated voltage drop is 3%. Always use multi-stranded flexible automotive wire.
| Current (A) | Round trip < 2m | Round trip 4m | Round trip 6m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5A (LEDs, USB) | 1.5 mm² | 2.5 mm² | 4 mm² |
| 10A (Fridge, Pump) | 2.5 mm² | 4 mm² | 6 mm² |
| 20A (Heater) | 4 mm² | 10 mm² | 10 mm² |
| 50A (DC/DC Booster) | 10 mm² | 16 mm² | 25 mm² |
| 100A (Inverter) | 25 mm² | 35 mm² | 50 mm² |
Fuse Sizing
The fuse protects the wire, not the appliance. Always place it as close to the power source as possible (battery or busbar).
- Wire 1.5 mm² → Max fuse 10A
- Wire 2.5 mm² → Max fuse 20A
- Wire 4 mm² → Max fuse 30A
- Wire 6 mm² → Max fuse 40A
- Wire 10 mm² → Max fuse 60A
SCHÉMA ÉLECTRIQUE
PANNEAUX SOLAIRES
0W
REGULATEUR MPPT
BATTERIE AUXILIAIRE
0 Ah
Lithium LiFePO4
FUSIBLE
FUSIBLE
BOÎTE À FUSIBLES 12V
Pompe, Leds, Frigo...
CONVERTISSEUR 220V
NON REQUI
PRO GEARPage 4
SHOPPING LIST
Where to find this equipment? Here is the community-approved selection.
12V 6-way Fuse Box
Mandatory protection
Digital Multimeter
Test your connections
Heavy Duty Crimping Tool
For perfect lugs
Heat Shrink Tubing
Insulation and safety
GENERATED BY VANPOWERCALC PRO - UNLIMITED.
About this tool
For context: a MaxxFan on speed 3 all night uses 20Ah from your 12V battery. That's 10% of a 200Ah bank — noticeable but not a crisis. The real question is whether you can afford 20Ah on top of your fridge (35Ah), lighting (5Ah), and other loads. Add it all up: 60Ah/day for a typical summer night. A 200Ah battery covers that for about 2.5 days without any charging. One trick I use in summer: set the MaxxFan to auto with the thermostat at 22°C. On cool nights it barely runs. On hot nights it ramps up. Average consumption drops compared to leaving it on a fixed speed all night. The rain sensor is another selling point — it closes the lid automatically in rain but kills the fan. I overrode mine with a small switch so it closes the lid without stopping the fan. Fresh air in rain is worth a slightly damp ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
How much battery does a MaxxFan use overnight?▼
Speed 3 (common sleeping speed): 2.5A × 8 hours = 20Ah. Speed 1 (gentle): 0.7A × 8h = 5.6Ah. Auto mode in summer: averages ~16Ah overnight. On a 200Ah battery, that's 8-10% per night.
Should I run the MaxxFan all night?▼
In summer, yes. Ventilation prevents condensation inside the van and keeps sleeping temperature comfortable. The 20Ah cost at speed 3 is worth it. In winter, run it on speed 1 for ventilation — condensation is even worse in cold weather.
MaxxFan vs Fiamma vs cheap Amazon fan?▼
MaxxFan Deluxe ($200-250): best airflow, rain sensor, 10 speeds, thermostat. Fiamma Turbo Vent ($150-180): smaller, quieter, fewer features. Cheap Amazon fans ($50-80): work for a season then the motor or rain sensor fails. The MaxxFan is worth the premium for full-time use.
Does the MaxxFan work as an exhaust or intake?▼
Both — the fan reverses direction. Intake mode pulls fresh air in (good for cooling). Exhaust mode pushes hot/stale air out (better for cooking odors and condensation). Most people use exhaust at night and intake during the day.
What wire size for a MaxxFan?▼
1.5mm² (16 AWG) with a 10A fuse. The fan draws max 5A at top speed, but the motor startup surge can briefly spike higher. 1.5mm² handles this comfortably for cable runs up to 3-4 meters.