Sirocco 12 Volt Fan Review (From A Full-Time Van Lifer)
Finding the best 12v fan was one of the most important decisions when I built my DIY campervan. I travel with my dog, so I needed something powerful and reliable that would keep him cool during warm weather. After a lot of research, I decided to invest in a Sirocco fan to mount on the wall near my bed.
Ultimately, I loved the Sirocco fan so much I bought a second one for the front of my van. It’s a fantastic and high quality product that’s held up great for many years, but there are a few things I’d like to see changed.
This is my 12v Sirocco fan review after full-time use for the last 3 years.
Not sure about the Sirocco fan?
I’ve compared all of the best 12v fan options here.
Is The 12v Sirocco Fan Worth It?
You’ve probably already noticed that the 12v Sirocco fan retails for just over $100 – which is quite a bit a change! With some alternative 12v fan options on the market for less, is it worth it to buy the 12v Sirocco fan?
In my experience, absolutely! This is a marine grade fan, so it’s extremely well made, plus it comes with extremely useful features you won’t find in other (less expensive) fans.
My favorite capability of the Sirocco fan is the ability to rotate it a full 360° – something that comes in extremely handy in such a small space.
While you might pay a bit more upfront for the 12v Sirocco fan, it’s going to last you much longer than the cheaper alternatives, it’s much quieter which is great for running it while sleeping, and it’s energy draw is so low you’ll never run out of battery power!
Finally, the Sirocco fan is the most powerful 12 volt fan which makes it perfect for motorhomes and campers.
Where To Buy The 12v Sirocco Fan
I have found that Amazon consistently has the best prices for the 12v Sirocco fan. This is where I purchased both of my fans.
12v Sirocco Fan Review – What I Like
Overall, I am obsessed with my Sirocco fan. It’s held up really well and I use it almost non-stop. I’m really impressed with the quality and design of this fan.
Great Airflow
The Sirocco fan is powerful! It can push 185 CFM of air (that’s a lot! especially in a small space)
Low Power Consumption
Its energy efficient, only using .35A of power on the highest setting.
On its lowest setting it barely uses any energy at all at just .17A.
360° Gimbal Rotation
360° rotation means you can direct airflow in any part of your van. I installed my Sirocco fan between my kitchen and my bed which works great for using it during the daytime and while sleeping – I just change which direction it’s pointed.
Installation Is Easy
The 12v Sirocco fan is easy to install. My installation was a breeze and took me less than 30 minutes. It’s really just a matter of connecting two sets of wires and then screwing the base into the wall.
Multiple Color Choices
There are multiple color options available for the Sirocco fan! I love the white fan because my van interior is white and the fan blends in nicely, but the black is another great option, especially if you want to hide dust more easily.
Whisper Quiet
The Sirocco fan is super quiet. The fan hardly makes any noise at all, at worst it’s a decent white noise to help mask street noise when you’re parked at a busy truck stop.
Ouch-Free Plastic Fan Blades
With blades made out of a soft, flexible plastic it doesn’t hurt if you accidentally stick your finger into the fan while it’s running. Yup – I’ve done this.
Additionally my dog is frequently getting his giant fluffy tail in the Sirocco fan while it’s on – this has never been an issue though, the fan simply stops rotating until we get him sorted out. Oh the joys of van life with a dog!
12v or 24v Capable
Sirocco 12v fan can also operate on 24v systems! I love a good quality appliance that functions automatically on multiple types of voltage. My Isotherm refrigerator also has this ability (12v or 120v) which makes it easy to repurpose as your needs evolve.
What Could Be Improved – 12v Sirocco Fan Review
Overall, I’m quite happy with both of my 12v Sirocco fans. However, there’s a few minor things I’d like to see improved.
Ability To Oscillate
While the Sirocco fan can be faced in any direction, it’s a manual movement. It’d be great to have an upgraded model which can oscillate automatically to help move more air throughout my van.
Timer Light Stays On
There are blue lights which indicate which interval you have the self-timer set to. The lights are helpful so you can see which setting the fan is on, but it would be nice if they automatically turned off after a few minutes.
I typically use the self-timer function when going to bed. This is great because you can fall asleep with the Sirocco fan running, but as the temperature drops at night the fan will turn itself off. The downside to the blue lights is that they’re obnoxious when you’re trying to sleep. For now, I’ve covered them with a piece of tape so they’re less annoying.
Fan Blade Cage
This is a minor issue, but the cage that holds the Sirocco fan blades is pretty sparse. It’s very easy to accidentally stick your finger in (or for your dog to flop his tail in) the blades. Luckily, the blades are soft plastic so it really doesn’t hurt.
The issue with having a long-hair dog is that when he crams his tail into the blades I end up picking out long blond hairs that have been wound around the fan blades out… frequently.
Having a cage with a few more safety bars to prevent random acts of tail shaving would be nice.
White Fan Shows Dust Quickly
Not that much can be done about dust… especially in a van where the windows and doors are constantly open, dust is a constant battle. However, the white fan is quick to show dirt and dust. If this is going to be a major issue for you I recommend getting the black Sirocco fan.
The upside is that even though it requires frequent cleaning, it’s a quick and easy task to wipe down the fan blades.
Expense
Do I think the 12v Sirocco fan is a high quality piece of equipment that will last years, or longer? Yes. Would I complain about a slightly less expensive fan? No!
To be clear, I do think the price is justified by the quality of this fan. But who would turn down a more affordable option? Not me.
How To Install The 12v Sirocco Fan
Installation of t12v he Sirocco fan is almost too easy. I installed both of my fans in under 30 minutes!
It’s literally as simple as connecting the positive and negative wires to your vans electrical system and then mounting the base of the fan to the wall.
Step 1 – Run Electrical Wires To The Sirocco Fan
Chances are, by the time you’re ready to install your 12v Sirocco fan you’ve already pre-wired your campervan. You’ll just need one positive and one negative wire at the location you plan to mount the Sirocco fan.
Step 2 – Attach The Fan Base To The Wall
The Sirocco fan unit comes in two pieces. The first piece is a small plastic attachment that is bolted to the wall. Sirocco comes with a double-sided tape to hold the plastic attachment in place while you bolt it in. They’ve literally thought of everything!
Step 3 – Secure The Fan Housing To The Wall Base
Once your plastic attachment is securely bolted to the wall it’s time to take the fan housing and screw it into the base.
Make sure that you’ve routed the electrical wires through the correct groove so you can easily access them for the next step.
Step 4 – Connect The Electrical Wires
Finally, connect the positive and negative wires from the Sirocco fan (labeled for easy install) to the positive and negative wires of your vans electrical system.
I recommend using quick-disconnect attachments so you’re easily able to remove the fan in the future – whether it’s for a replacement (unlikely because it’s so well made) or because you’ve decided to mount it somewhere else.
Conclusion – 12v Sirocco Fan Review: Is It Worth It?
Yes! My biggest testament to the value of the Sirocco fan is that I loved my first one so much I decided to buy and install a second one.
The Sirocco fan is really high quality and works extremely well. I have tried a few other 12 volt fans in my van and none of them create the kind of airflow the Sirocco fan does. Because I use my Sirocco fan constantly (literally, I run it 24/7), I love how energy efficient it is so I never have to worry about my battery power running low.
Additional Resources
Building a campervan? Check out these additional guides:
