It sits on the surface of a wood stove. When the stove heats up, a d.c.
fan blows hot air around your house. The temperature difference between the
base and the heat sink and fan on the top generates enough current to power
the d.c. fan. It is called an EcoFan and is made in Canada. Every time the
unit is dropped, the glass like PN semiconductor device goes NFG. (Like
breaking a piece of glass) The manufacturer wants $48.00 plus tax and
shipping to fix a unit. This is a bit much when a new unit costs about
$100.00. THEY WILL NOT SELL A SEMICONDUCTOR SEPARATE NOR WILL THEY PROVIDE A
PART NUMBER. I suspect it is some kind of house unit manufactured in the
Orient. It has no part number on it. This is a very Canadian way of running
a business. Anyone know where to get a replacement part? I believe the
device could be called a PN Thermoeletric Generator.

VA3JQ

On 25/03/2005 12:52 PM, Fudge wrote:
It sits on the surface of a wood stove. When the stove heats up, a d.c.
fan blows hot air around your house. The temperature difference between the
base and the heat sink and fan on the top generates enough current to power
the d.c. fan. It is called an EcoFan and is made in Canada. Every time the
unit is dropped, the glass like PN semiconductor device goes NFG. (Like
breaking a piece of glass) The manufacturer wants $48.00 plus tax and
shipping to fix a unit. This is a bit much when a new unit costs about
$100.00. THEY WILL NOT SELL A SEMICONDUCTOR SEPARATE NOR WILL THEY PROVIDE A
PART NUMBER. I suspect it is some kind of house unit manufactured in the
Orient. It has no part number on it. This is a very Canadian way of running
a business. Anyone know where to get a replacement part? I believe the
device could be called a PN Thermoeletric Generator.

"... very Canadian way of running a business." Uh-huh. Ever try to
research replacement parts for a laptop or mobile telephone? Ever
wonder why nobody seems to use the same battery in their devices, even
from the same manufacturer? Curious why all the major car manufacturers
seem to change consumables like headlights and engine-control
black-boxes on the same model from year-to-year?

I hate to break it to you, but no company has an obligation to share any
design details with you when not compelled by local law. No company is
compelled to supply you with discount replacement parts out of their own
manufacturing stock.

They even tell you this in the warranty (see the FAQ at
http://www.caframo.com/ecofanfaq.htm#5):

"... Simply put -If you overheat your fan or drop your fan your warranty
will be voided."

Vendor lock-in and built-in obsolescence are not limited to any one
country. It is a hallmark of modern transnational companies which don't
care at all what country you happen to be in. The fact the little guys
are emulating them should be no surprise.

I don't like this any more than you do, and sympathise with you to a
point. However, your problem has hardly anything to do with some
perceived "Canadian Way." The product has a warranty, and you are free
to not buy it. The company does not even appear to have a patent on the
tech in the device, so some enterprising American or Chinese company
should be able to cheat you as easily.

Ain't capitalism grand?