Wolf-specified Broan-NuTone blower assemblies will certainly fit the Wolf hood, and will interface with the hood's motor control circuit as would be expected. As the P12 looks like an induction motor, then the control circuit is simple, much like my 1500 CFM Wolf (Broan) roof blower and Pro Island hood control. What I don't know, and you can find out at some expense risk (or maybe by calling Broan) is whether the P12 fits the Wolf hood without any inconvenience, such as some mounting difference. I write this because 'we' don't know if Wolf adds any requirements onto Broan to make one of their standard models into a Wolf part number.

I think 12 sones is a tad loud. You will be much happier, I will assert on general principles, if you use a Wolf or Broan down-roof blower and an intermediate silencer such as made by Fantech.

On the question of IQ12 vs P12, please note that the IQ12 is a dc motor, and has to have supporting control electronics, which may not be built into a Wolf hood. The ac operating induction motors that Wolf uses, however, have their circuitry in the hood. Wolf answers their phone, so you may be able to get an answer about compatibility. I think the IQs were intended to operate by a temperature sensing control without user interaction. In my view that is not appropriate for most cases, and may not work with induction.

Thank you for your reply, kaseki. I'll respond in somewhat meandering order...

> You will be much happier, I will assert on general principles, if you use a Wolf or Broan down-roof blower and an intermediate silencer such as made by Fantech.

Though I know this is the case, that ship has sailed. A wall mount exterior blower was ruled out aesthetically and a roof mount is potentially problematic during the winter due to the possibility of ice dams from its warm exhaust. An inline blower and the space to incorporate a silencer would, I suspect, introduce a counterproductive number of bends and increased duct length.

> What I don't know, and you can find out at some expense risk (or maybe by calling Broan) is whether the P12 fits the Wolf hood without any inconvenience, such as some mounting difference.

I'm probably willing to allow the expense risk (since I don't necessarily trust the zero-accountability response I'll get from a phone agent) as I'm not adverse to fabricating something to mate the units together.

> On the question of IQ12 vs P12, please note that the IQ12 is a dc motor, and has to have supporting control electronics, which may not be built into a Wolf hood. The ac operating induction motors that Wolf uses, however, have their circuitry in the hood.

It seems that there Best hoods (e.g. WP29) that are sold listing P12 or IQ12 as options. If that hood is agnostic to the blower electronics, I suspect the Wolf is too, and that any 'compensating' circuitry exists in the blower assembly, not the hood. (But what do I know?)

> I think the IQs were intended to operate by a temperature sensing control without user interaction.

As far as I can tell, the heat sensing features in some of these hoods are in the hood, not the blowers. The IQ12's claim to fame is lower noise and a self-calibration function to ensure it achieves maximum cfm.

To be lower noise at the same CFM, the IQ has to have a better fan blade profile than the non IQ blowers. [Edit: or be larger in diameter.] This would be a missed opportunity for Best to tout lower noise for the regular line.

Stable blowers have monotonic fan curves, so maximum CFM occurs at maximum RPM (as does maximum noise). Perhaps the IQ is operating with an "unstable" fan curve that works OK if one has synchronous control of motor speed, as synthetic dc torque motors have.

I think my 'built-in' point was that Wolf puts their triac/diac motor control in the hood (at least for my external blower Pro Island hood). It will not work with the dc motor. Suggest confirming that the IQ motor has its circuitry on the motor or in some neat package that can be installed in the hood volume. Then you will need to revise whatever Wolf builds in so that the control for the IQ replaces it.

It is OK to experiment, so long as you know ahead of time that experiment may be called for.