This project is continued from Part 5.

Panasonic WhisperCeiling FV-11VQ5 Wiring

If you’ve started reading at this part of the series, take care the electricity is shutoff at the main circuit breaker panel before proceeding to prevent electrical shock and/or death.

I’ve temporarily suspended the Panasonic FV-11VQ5 bathroom vent fan from a general purpose steel wire wrapped around a pan head screw set high on the joist where it’ll be clear of the fan body so I can work with two hands to connect the electrical wiring and ductwork while on the step ladder.

Panasonic WhisperCeiling FV-11VQ5 Exhaust Fan: Suspension Wire

To connect the Panasonic FV-11VQ5 vent fan wiring:

1. Remove either the top or side knock-out from the fan junction box with a flat head screw driver.
   I removed the top knock-out because this will be the most direct path for the house wiring.
2. Remove the fan junction box screw and cover.
3. Lift the spring tab on the Raco 1/2″ REDI-LOC® Connector.
4. Slip the NM-B 14/2 wires through the REDI-LOC connector.
5. Twist/press REDI-LOC connector over the end of the aluminum flex cable.
6. While holding the REDI-LOC connector on the flex cable, insert the wires into the fan junction through the knock-out hole.
7. Hook the stationary metal tab of the REDI-LOC inside the fan junction box, then squeeze the REDI-LOC spring tab closed and push the tab into the fan junction box to secure it to the box.

A minute or two of study and practice to see how the REDI-LOC connector works and you’ll have it down.

Panasonic WhisperCeiling FV-11VQ5 Exhaust Fan: Electrical Hookup

Next, take a 2 inch piece of duct tape, reach into the ceiling and feel along the aluminum flex cable to the other end. That red plastic Milne No. 0 MM Bushing installed in Part 5 has most likely slipped out of the flex cable. Push the red MM bushing back into the flex cable so the sharp edges don’t chaff the NM-B 14/2 cable, then secure it with that short piece of duct tape so it doesn’t slip out again.

The fan wires are pre-stripped stranded copper wire. Should your fan wires be broken or badly frayed, cut off the expose wire and strip 1/2 to 5/8 inch of insulation. Twist the ends of the stranded copper fan wires in a clock-wise direction to make a solid end.

For each fan wire, hold the end even with the matching NM-B 14/2 house wire and use wire nuts (not supplied with the fan) to connect the:

• Green fan wire to the bare copper ground wire.
• White fan wire to the white (neutral) house wire.
• Black fan wire to the black (hot) house wire.

Here’s a closeup of the Panasonic vent fan wiring connections and REDI-LOC flex conduit connector:

Panasonic WhisperCeiling FV-11VQ5 Exhaust Fan: Electrical Wiring Connections

Tuck in the fan wires, snap on the junction box cover and secure it the cover screw:

Panasonic WhisperCeiling FV-11VQ5 Exhaust Fan: Junction Box Cover

Panasonic WhisperCeiling Vent Duct Hookup

To attach the exhaust fan duct:

1. Slip a 4 inch metal worm gear band clamp over the flexible vent duct.
2. Slip the 4 inch flexible duct over the fan duct adapter.
3. Wrap two layers aluminum foil HVAC tape over the vent duct to seal it to the fan duct adapter.
4. Slide the worm gear clamp over the duct and duct adapter, then tighten the clamp with a screw driver until it’s firmly snug.

Panasonic WhisperCeiling FV-11VQ5 Exhaust Fan: Vent Duct Attachment

Panasonic WhisperCeiling Installation

Remove the temporary suspension wire from the fan and screw in the ceiling joist, then slide the fan into the drywall ceiling mounting hole. I mounted the fan to the joist and 2×2 wood frame with four of the Simpson Strong-Tie SD8 #8 1-1/2 inch pan head wood screws as shown:

Panasonic WhisperCeiling FV-11VQ5 Exhaust Fan: Drywall Ceiling Installation

Notice how the metal flange is against the drywall ceiling in an “old work” installation between the bathroom ceiling and 2nd floor that is not covered in the Panasonic WhisperCeiling installation instructions.

Interior Soffit Bathroom Ductwork Installation

The Panasonic WhisperCeiling exhaust fan basic installation is now complete and I’m eager to see how well it works with the flexible duct and that “pinch point” through the garage ceiling to the interior soffit.

The bathroom ceiling flexible vent duct is will be connected to the second section of duct to the outdoors with a 4 inch galvanized pipe connector inside the interior soffit in the garage.

Bathroom Vent Fan Ductwork Installation: Interior Soffit

The flexible duct is slipped over the duct connector to the center rib:

Bathroom Vent Fan Ductwork Installation: 4 inch Duct Connector

And sealed with two layers of aluminum foil HVAC tape:

Bathroom Vent Fan Ductwork Installation: Duct Connector HVAC Tape

Panasonic WhisperCeiling Fan Testing

The Panasonic WhisperCeiling FV-11VQ5 exhaust fan is installed in the bathroom ceiling and ready for testing. My main concern is if the air flow will be significantly reduced by that rectangular hole (pinch point) in the garage ceiling. Elbows, kinks and long duct runs of vent duct create friction and impede the airflow.

I turned on the electricity at the circuit breaker panel and switched on the fan inside the master bathroom. Wow! The fan was really quite! Especially compared to that old economy fan that roared.

Back in the garage, I could feel a strong air flow coming from the end of the flexible duct that blew back my hair. Without special instruments, I don’t have a means of specifying exactly how much air is blowing, but this video of a strip of newspaper blowing demonstrates the fan is working quite well:

This project is continued in Part 7.

Hope this helps,

Bob Jackson

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