O2-Cool 1053 10" Battery / AC Powered In/Out Fan
by GLJ LLC
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List Price: Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of O2-Cool 1053 10" Battery / AC Powered In/Out Fan
Customer Review: O2-Cool 1053 10" Battery / AC Powered In/Out Fan
Summary: 5 Stars
A very handy item to have on hand during power outage after hurricanes.
Mine ran for 48 hours on high and kept the air moving so it wasn't so stiffling in the house while the power was out. Get one NOW!
Customer Review: Considerable Disaster Relief
Summary: 4 Stars
Having suffered terribly in the tropical heat in the aftermath of a couple of hurricanes last year, where it took from one to three weeks before power was restored, when I found this fan on sale at a local store, I purchased it and what seemed to be a large supply of D cells. I really was surprised, however, when I actually ended up needing to use it for just that purpose. We were without power for a full week (and that was lucky!) and was grateful to have the fan (some others in the region will be without for as much as three weeks! and the weather is warming back up a little... they will be wishing they'd bought one of these). It's simply amazing the amount of pure joy and relief one gets when the power comes back on!
It seems to be a fairly good quality fan, though not particularly robust (in some ways it seems a little delicate, such as the plastic switch and battery compartment cover--but nothing has failed in any way). It provides a fairly full breeze, though perhaps considerably less than half what an AC powered fan of similar size would provide (still it was easily enough to allow me to sleep, even on low setting). It makes a reasonable hum on low with fresh batteries, almost a little noisy on high--however, before long the batteries will weaken and the hum is hardly noticeable). It opens like a book with one side, the base, heavy with batteries, so it's quite stable where it sits. This fan in some ways though, is not a small one. It's around a foot wide (11.5in)--so the U shaped base will require a modest open space (11.5x8in) (probably only packrats like me would even notice that) to put it. The way it folds opens allows you to adjust the angle (up/down), which I did find useful.
The only real problem with the fan is that it is not cheap to run. I found battery prices on store brand D cells to run around a dollar each (give or take, and your mileage may vary). It may indeed still be running after the quoted 24 hours, but just barely. While using it somehwere around half the day (and night), I did have to change out the batteries on the second day--so the claim isn't far off). However, when you actually change EIGHT D cells, you realize how much battery that really is. Plus, if you find yourself without power for an indefinite period of time (such as following a natural disaster), you'll be trying to use it sparingly as you look at your now precious and limited supply of batteries (say 4 sets at $32). After several days, you'll think it really eats batteries and you might find, as I did, that even once most stores have reopened, there isn't a single D cell battery to be found. My usage ended up being about $4 to $6 a day, and when doing without power that doesn't seem so bad (however, had it been hot like last year, I'd have been using twice that running it all the time--possibly on high--and I would have run out of batteries... such a stock would have required at least $80, and more likely $120 or more--just for 10 days).
I considered rechargeable D cell batteries and a solar charger, but found the prices in the neighborhood of $10 each, which would be an $80 option--without the charger. However, very conveniently, it does have an external power socket for 12V--so if you get an adapter cord and have a spare car battery or portable battery package it could be a handy way to run it for longer periods (of course, it would easily work fine in the car with the appropriate lighter plug adapter cord, except that it's relatively large and would really need it's own open seat). I wish they had a rechargeable version with an external battery pack option.
Overall, I think a single person could probably get by with a smaller, less powerful (and consumptive) fan--but it did provide a very comfortable amount of air (useful even when the temperatures didn't reach uncomfortable levels--and seemed well worth the cost). To provide a light breeze for a larger area such as for a whole sofa or queen bed, this is a good way to go (just buy a considerably stock of batteries). Alas, I can't imagine much use for it short of power outages or camping. The best bet would be to have both this fan and a smaller one and use them as required.
Customer Review: Couldn't have survived without it!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
I had purchased one of these fans before Hurricane Ike. Little did I know. Our power was out for two whole weeks and without this fan, well, let's just say it would have been ugly. This fan ran almost constantly (and pretty quietly), through the grandson's nap and during the night on me and in the kitchen while cooking. I had to replace batteries twice but during two weeks, I don't think that was excessive. Be gentle with the battery compartment cover (one star minus) but other than that, this fan stood up to being knocked over and running all the time. After the Hurricane season ended, I ordered three more for the other people in the house. I used this fan during a major power outage but you can utilize this battery operated fan in so many other ways.Customer Review: O2 Cool, powerful fan
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an amazingly powerful fan which I just used, when the a/c died 2 days after its arrival! Even in 90 degree heat, it put out a strong breeze which provided great relief. I used an a/c adapter, since I still had power. This company packed the fan VERY well, which I appreciated. I highly recommend both the fan AND the company.Customer Review: Cool dogs
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchase this product because I do agility with my three dogs. I know a lot of people that purchase these fans and are very happy with them. You can hook them right to your crates or you can use the legs and place them on the ground. Really keeps them cool