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(More customer reviews)The Panasonic FV-11VQ5 is the newest release from Panasonic in the WhisperCeiling series of ventilation fans. Panasonic discontinued the .8 Sone, 110 CFM, FV-11VQ3 for this next-generation, enhanced version. It is essentially the same model with some minor variations, the most noticeable being a reduction in operational sound level from .8 Sone to .3 Sone. The power consumption between the two units has also been reduced from 30.7W to 21.1W (at .1 static pressure), which drops the Amperage from .26 to .18, making this unit more efficient.
The FV-11VQ5 is relatively large, but a fantastic performer for the money. The rough-in cut required to mount the unit is 10-1/2" x 10-1/2". The outside grill is 13" x 13". A cardboard template is supplied to assist in drawing the physical layout of the rough-in cut on the ceiling. This greatly enhanced the ease of installation. Opening the unit, there's little that needs to be done other than remove the tape from the internal assembly. The mounting rails and screws are included.
Aside from sizing and attaching the ventilation ductwork, all that's required is to mount the unit and wire it up. Wiring is as simple as attaching a white, black, and green wire to an existing AC line and ground source.
My wife and I installed this unit together in the attic within an hour. We had complications with the ductwork that vents out the roof not lining up, which required some custom cuts to complete a final mounting. This took about 30 minutes, but aside from this, it is a very simple ventilation fan to install.
Following the installation, I turned the breaker back on and had my wife do the honors with the wall switch. She pushed it and after a second looked at me with that look that says, "Uh oh... Something's wrong!" After a few seconds we heard the sound of air rushing, but no motor! Our old fan was a 4.5 Sone unit, which is very loud! This unit almost sounds like it's not even running. It's so quiet, what you hear most is air rushing through the vets.
To check that things were venting well, I took half a dozen match sticks and lit them about four feet below the unit and waited for the flame to work down the wood, then blew them out. Smoke spindled its way up and out of the vents. Next, I took a lighter and lit it just below the vent and moved it around the grill. I could see the flame being pulled in the direction of the vent opening. It indeed was working quite well.
Overall, we're very happy with this unit and would recommend it to anyone installing it in a residential home or small area. Those interested should realize this is a very quiet unit. Some people like a fan to block sounds that emanate from the bathroom so others can't hear any quiet noises. For those who would like this from a ventilation fan, this is not the fan for you. I'd suggest looking for a fan with a rating of approximately 2 Sones. Anything less than 1 Sone is really very quiet.
Panasonic makes very good quality fans with many offerings in their "Whisper" ventilation line. The FV-11VQ5 is a quality unit within the WhisperCeiling series. Prospective consumers should also consider Panasonic's WhisperFit, WhisperGreen, WhisperLite, WhisperValue, and WhisperWarm line of ventilation fans before making a final determination which is right for you.
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Panasonic FV-11VQ5 WhisperCeiling 110 CFM Ceiling Mounted FanMotor/Blower: Power Rating of 120 volts and 60 Hz. Fan is UL listed for tub/shower enclosure when used with a GFCI branch circuit wiring.
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