Panasonic and other fans

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GerryB

Senior Member
I am not to impressed with Panasonic fans. There was a post not long ago about if the mounting flange should be below or even with the sheet rock or to the joist. Here is the answer.

I had two fan installs/swaps this week. The panasonic was on a bath remodel where they were not gutting the ceiling, although there was patching to be done so I had some leeway. After the new work instructions there is one instruction that says "for finished ceiling cut a 10 1/4 inch opening". That's it, now you are on your own. If you know the panasonic there is a large wiring compartment and the vent end is also large. (larger than say a Nutone) I called tech support to ask if this fan is designed to go into an existing ceiling without damage to the ceiling. According to Irwin (the tech guy) you cut the hole, then you are supposed to be able to remove the j box and the vent pipe from a screw inside the fan(which I saw one screw that might have released the j box), then somehow wire the j-box, put the hose on, push the fan up and reconnect these things from inside the fan. I knew there was no way I was even going to attempt that so I moved on to the flange question. (If any one has taken this fan apart to install I would be very interested in how it went!).

I asked Irwin if the flange could go below the rock or if it was a new install could you screw to the bottom of the joist, he said you could do either. My experience is you are better off below or even with the rock as there is not much room to plug the grill in (very little slack on the wire in the fan unless you unscrew the clip holding it) and not much room to squeeze the spring clips and get them in.

For my install I cut the hole the full size of the outside edge of the flange with one edge right at the joist. With the help of the contractor after I wired it and we put on the hose, I was able to push it up in the ceiling with the one flange end under the rock at the joist and screw through the rock and into the joist. On this job I had access to the attic. I don't know how you could secure the other side if there was no access. I went up there and held a piece of wood across the other flange while the contractor screwed it from the bottom. You could probably finagle the mounting bars that came with the fan but the wood was easy.

In contrast the other fan was a nutone QT 110nl, that I was able to get the old fan out, make the hole a little larger for the new fan, drill a couple of holes inside the fan and screw it to the joist. No support on the other side but this fan is not that heavy and worked fine. So in my humble opinion, the Nutone fan was 110 cfm, it was quiet 1.5 sones, it had a night light. The panasonic has a night light, is quiet, I don't know what the sones are but the panasonic is probably quieter. Another thing Panasonic should catch up on. Two cfl pin type lamps, nice and bright! BUT, you have to remove the grill, take it completely down, unscrew the back with a phillips screwdriver to change the lamps??? HO will love that, especially when they realize they have to go buy some lamps that fit. Bottom line Panasonic $270.00 Nutone $120.00 (The HO got it online for $65.00)
 
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edlee

Senior Member
I've struggled some with these on retrofits, similar to your question about the size of the hole needed. On the most recent one I figured it out. You can install it from below and without attic access, as long as the wire and duct reach. It's all about that weird mounting bracket that it comes with.

You take that big piece off the end of the fan with the j-box and vent, then wire/and attach the duct. Then install the bracket per instructions. Mount that big piece on the bracket , then push the fan up into place and secure it to the bracket and the end piece. Voila.

It's the first time i really read the bracket mounting instructions carefully and it made all the difference.
 

GerryB

Senior Member
I've struggled some with these on retrofits, similar to your question about the size of the hole needed. On the most recent one I figured it out. You can install it from below and without attic access, as long as the wire and duct reach. It's all about that weird mounting bracket that it comes with.

You take that big piece off the end of the fan with the j-box and vent, then wire/and attach the duct. Then install the bracket per instructions. Mount that big piece on the bracket , then push the fan up into place and secure it to the bracket and the end piece. Voila.

It's the first time i really read the bracket mounting instructions carefully and it made all the difference.
Next time (I'm sure there will be one) I'll check it out further. That sounds like what the tech was saying. He made it sound to me like the j-box and vent came off separately. If it's all one piece that sounds easier. Since I had attic access and there was some patching to be done my worst case scenario wasn't to bad,but that's not always the case. Thanks for the reply and info.
 

GerryB

Senior Member
Next time (I'm sure there will be one) I'll check it out further. That sounds like what the tech was saying. He made it sound to me like the j-box and vent came off separately. If it's all one piece that sounds easier. Since I had attic access and there was some patching to be done my worst case scenario wasn't to bad,but that's not always the case. Thanks for the reply and info.
Just watched an install video. They are showing a new collapsible bracket that you put in the ceiling and expand. Also showed taking the box/vent off and attaching to this bracket (slides right on) in the ceiling. Looks easy enough:).
 

Pizza

Senior Member
Location
Minnesota
Panosonics work great for existing sheet rock installs, I think. All you need is a piece of wood to screw that bottom flange to, the other side of the flange usually against a joist.
I know what your talking about, about taking the vent piece off, sticking it in place and then snapping the housing into it.
Kind of tricky at first but after you do about four of them it's a piece of cake.

I think they suck for rough ins though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Ponchik

Senior Member
Location
CA
Occupation
Electronologist
Panosonics work great for existing sheet rock installs, I think. All you need is a piece of wood to screw that bottom flange to, the other side of the flange usually against a joist.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
I know what your talking about, about taking the vent piece off, sticking it in place and then snapping the housing into it.
Kind of tricky at first but after you do about four of them it's a piece of cake.

I think they suck for rough ins though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't have any issues with Panasonic installation. I agree with the PIZZA guy.
 

chris1971

Senior Member
Location
Usa
We haven't had the issues you've described. We have the best results installing the Panasonic fans in a remodel where the ceiling isn't removed. Install a few more and it should get easier.
 

John120/240

Senior Member
Location
Olathe, Kansas
I am not to impressed with Panasonic fans. There was a post not long ago about if the mounting flange should be below or even with the sheet rock or to the joist. Here is the answer. I had two fan installs/swaps this week. The panasonic was on a bath remodel where they were not gutting the ceiling, although there was patching to be done so I had some leeway. After the new work instructions there is one instruction that says "for finished ceiling cut a 10 1/4 inch opening". That's it, now you are on your own. If you know the panasonic there is a large wiring compartment and the vent end is also large. (larger than say a Nutone) I called tech support to ask if this fan is designed to go into an existing ceiling without damage to the ceiling. According to Irwin (the tech guy) you cut the hole, then you are supposed to be able to remove the j box and the vent pipe from a screw inside the fan(which I saw one screw that might have released the j box), then somehow wire the j-box, put the hose on, push the fan up and reconnect these things from inside the fan. I knew there was no way I was even going to attempt that so I moved on to the flange question. (If any one has taken this fan apart to install I would be very interested in how it went!). I asked Irwin if the flange could go below the rock or if it was a new install could you screw to the bottom of the joist, he said you could do either. My experience is you are better off below or even with the rock as there is not much room to plug the grill in (very little slack on the wire in the fan unless you unscrew the clip holding it) and not much room to squeeze the spring clips and get them in. For my install I cut the hole the full size of the outside edge of the flange with one edge right at the joist. With the help of the contractor after I wired it and we put on the hose, I was able to push it up in the ceiling with the one flange end under the rock at the joist and screw through the rock and into the joist. On this job I had access to the attic. I don't know how you could secure the other side if there was no access. I went up there and held a piece of wood across the other flange while the contractor screwed it from the bottom. You could probably finagle the mounting bars that came with the fan but the wood was easy. In contrast the other fan was a nutone QT 110nl, that I was able to get the old fan out, make the hole a little larger for the new fan, drill a couple of holes inside the fan and screw it to the joist. No support on the other side but this fan is not that heavy and worked fine. So in my humble opinion, the Nutone fan was 110 cfm, it was quiet 1.5 sones, it had a night light. The panasonic has a night light, is quiet, I don't know what the sones are but the panasonic is probably quieter. Another thing Panasonic should catch up on. Two cfl pin type lamps, nice and bright! BUT, you have to remove the grill, take it completely down, unscrew the back with a phillips screwdriver to change the lamps??? HO will love that, especially when they realize they have to go buy some lamps that fit. Bottom line Panasonic $270.00 Nutone $120.00 (The HO got it online for $65.00)

Gerry B Please use the "Enter" key to break your post into paragraphs. Panasonic or Nutone don't recall any problems. Either one ,Install & charge accordingly
 
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