DELTA ELECTRONICS (AMERICAS) LTD. BreezSlim SLM50 50 CFM Exhaust Bath Fan, White

This is a review and some hints how you can replace your Broan 688 fan assembly with the inside of a purchased Delta Breez Slim SLM50 in order to get a quite motor assembly without replacing the box in the attic. All work was done from down below in the bathroom.All you need in addition to the DeltaBreez SLM50 :• three 10x3.0 inch long sheet metal screws• 12inch of metallic (aluminum) duct tape• 2/16 drill bit at least 3 inch long when inserted in Power drill• Power Drill• Large Flathead screw driver• Medium Philips screedriverI came up with this solution after I replaced the week before a Broan 688 fan with a Panasonic FV-08VQ5 WhisperCeiling for one of our small bathrooms and it was more work that I had bargained for.For the first Broan replacement I had to go in the attic and shuffle 2 feet of lose blown-in isolation material to the site in order to access the old box. Removed the old box, cut a larger hole and installed the Panasonic. That all worked well and the Panasonic fan is the quietest and most powerful fans I ever had installed. However that took me all 3 hours of install, climbing in the not easy accessible attic around and then anther hour of cleanup of the mess I created in the bathroom below.So when the “Honey Do” request came to replace in the small restrooms the 50ccm fans as well I looked around what options I have to avoid to go again in the attic and eat dust and fiberglass, besides the other ones have really only head room for laying the whole time across the joists on your belly. Not a favorable outlook.So I went back to Amazon where I got the Panasonic and found a lot of not so good reviews for the Broan fan upgrade kit. The point made with the upgrade kit from Broan is that you get a new fan motor and a new designed blade set, but still keep the housing and the fan metal inside deflector. The install is easy and can be done in 20 min including cleanup. The downside is that upgrade kit is not really quieter than the one you just replaced; if at all the new Broan 688 fan still sounds more like a heavy duty turbine starting up.By chance I came up to a review on Amazon of the Delta Breeze SLM50 and it was stated it is the only replacement Fan which can use the same cutout dimensions as the older contractor grade Broan 688 so many of us got in our homes from cost cutting construction crews installed.I checked the install manual of the Delta Breez and discovered that the dimension of the outer box are the same. So if the outbox is the same then whatever is inside will fit as well.So I ordered the Delta Breeze SLM50 via Amazon and as soon it arrived I took the Delta Breez Housing apart and the inside fan and motor assembly out. The whole inside assembly of fan, motor and airflow channel is one sturdy plastic enclosure. That is the reason why it is also so much quite because the way how the air get’s channeled is engineered and so reduces the overall operational noise.So next I used the box I had pulled out the week before and removed from the Broan 688 the round metal air deflector which usually is with installed motor and fan plates there to direct the air to the outlet. That part becomes visible after you pulled down the motor of the Broan 688 by inserting the screwdriver to get the metal slot freed up.That half circular bended fan deflector is with 3 rivets connected to the walls of the old Broan 688 box. Using the a large flat screwdriver you can work that tool blade between the walls and the deflector and by gentle wiggling around and twisting the screwdriver the rivet will loosen and break lose the rivet and free up the part. Do that with each of the 3 rivets to remove the deflector.The electrical power box in the corner has also to be removed and can be pulled down quite easily. With these part removed you can already see that the Delta Breeze motor assembly will fit.Remove from the Delta Breez housing you received the Power connector they provide becauswe you want to use that connector and connect that to the power cables coming into the old Broan 688 box in your ceiling.Connect the electric plug connector you removed from the Delta Breeze housing to the Broan Box power cables. The ground is already connected so you only have to connect the connector you removed with the white and black cable. Let it hung down so that you later can connect the two connector to each other and push the cables into the corner of the housing.Next you need three 10x3.0 inch long metal screws, a power drill with a long 2/16 drill bit. The drill bit needs to be at least 3 inches long so that you can drill through the wholes provided by the new Delta Breez SLM50 motor assembly.I applied around the motor outlet aluminum metal duct tape where I removed for installing only half of the backing paper and attached it to the assembly left and right of the air flow outlet. After the motor was pushed in I was then able to remove the paper and pushed the metal duct tape with a medium Philips screwdriver against the metal housing. That created a nice seal after I also taped then the top of the air outlet with metal duct tape. That way air can only go from the moto assembly direct out to the old Broan 688 air outlet. That can maybe left out, but you maybe get then a little less efficiency and a little more possible noise level.During install I used some Foam from the Delta Breez packing material I pushed between the motor and the Broan box in place to have a temporary hold before the screws where in place and so avoided the possibility that the motor is coming crushing down on top of me while balancing on the porcelain throne below.Next I used the long drill and drilled with the motor in place the three 2/16 holes. Take the 3 inch long sheet metal screw and attach the new fan/ motor assembly via the holes in the plastic at the side of the housing in place. If you use larger then size 10 screws you need to enlarge the pre-drilled holes at the motor assembly . I also used a flashlight to see if I get the screw aligned with the drilled hole and then hand tighten each screw, the flashlight was very helpful.Next remove the 2 foam blocks you may be used as I did to temporary wretched the motor into the housing.Add additional Metal duct tape on top of the airflow outlet which connects to the Broan 688 outlet.Now push the Power cables all in the corner and then test the motor. The motor is really quite, but not as quite as the Panasonic. It is most likely double the noise of the Panasonic which is rated with <0.3 SOAN. The Delta Breez SLM50 in the Broan Housing is maybe < 0.8 SOAN, still very quiet and yes powerful for its size.Congratulate yourself that you did this in 1 hour and that you did not had to go into the attic at all and the mess in the bathroom is minimal.Should the motor ever fail it will easy be removed by removing the three metal screws holding it in place and then disconnect the power connector.

I read many reviews prior to purchasing this Delta Breez fan, and I could not be more pleased with this purchase.The room: My first floor 3/4 bathroom is in a 85 year old home. Full of charm, but no bath exhaust in any bathroom. I was working with limited options as there was no attic access, and a bedroom directly above this bathroom. I needed a quiet bath fan that couldn't be heard or felt through the floor in the bedroom above. This managed to be the winner because of it's size, ease of install from below, and thankfully just enough space to vent to the outside.Install: I hired an electrician to install this fan. I wanted it done right, I don't have faith in myself to deal with electric or ripping apart walls/ceilings. Given the time to factor for finding studs, routing electric, finding where to place the exhaust exit, installing the exhaust, connecting exhaust and electric to the unit, placing it in the ceiling and the time to install the push button timer switch (I highly recommend one so you can set it and forget it), was about 2 hours. For not having ceiling access above and working in essentially a cramped space, this was the only fan that would do. I purchased 5 ceiling bath fans to work with (2 Broan, 2 NuTone, and this Delta fan), and this Delta fan was the only one small enough while also being quiet that would fit in the space above (take this into note if you have an older home).Appearance: A bath fan is a bath fan. The grill is usually what makes the final appearance. The grill provided is nice, stylish, and modern. It does not look dated like most of the builder's grade fans do.Sound: When I first turn this on, you can hear the fan start up on the slower end, and gradually pick up speed. Quite different for what I've experienced in the past, but it's kind of nice not to just instantly notice it. For a 1 sone fan, it does well with noise output. I cannot hear the fan run from the bedroom above (added bonus).Connected to: I highly suggest getting a push button timer for this, or any bath exhaust fan, you may consider. The "set it and forget it" mentally is nice to pick a time for it to run.What it doesn't have: This doesn't have a light. I didn't care. I have a light in my bathroom, the last thing I wanted was another bulb to change. I don't particularly prefer my bath fans to have lights. The one I purchased does not have a humidity sensor as I didn't need it. If you need one with a humidity sensor, it's an available option and doesn't cost much more.Final thoughts: For my needs, this fan does well. I will be happy to report back in the future with any updates on it's performance. Delta Breez seems to put out a good product. I took a chance purchasing it blindly without seeing a demo in one of the box stores, and it worked out perfectly. If you have an older home with no access above the bathroom, only have space from room-side to do an install, or have limited space in your ceiling to do a ceiling install, I highly recommend this fan.

I’ve installed about 5 of these. They’ve been my go-to brand for a while. It’s a good design, they use a better motor than the normal builders collection, they are efficient and work well.This particular one has been a little different in that the blades (squirrel cage) isn’t as balanced as well as others. You can’t tell in normal operation, but I discovered it while pre-testing it with obstructed airflow, in which case they turn faster. This one shook a little in that case. It’s fine in normal operation where they don’t spin that fast.I’ll stick with the brand, but if their quality starts slipping will try another.