I'm looking at some of Solar Powered Exhaust Fans, for my garage. It gets real hot in there during the day, and since the door is closed most of the time there is no air movement. Anybody put in one of those solar powered fans? If so, what model was it and did it work?
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Solar Powered Exhaust Fan?
- Thread starter garya505
- Start date
kd3pc
Well-known member
solatube and broan make some decent ones...but they are pricey and depending on where you are in the US and how much sun the unit can see, may or may not get enough sun to run and stay charged
Size of the garage may require two or more units.
the cheap $100 ones at box stores are not worth cutting the hole in the roof for.
YMMV
Size of the garage may require two or more units.
the cheap $100 ones at box stores are not worth cutting the hole in the roof for.
YMMV
jkwilson
Well-known member
The good thing about the solar powered vent fans is that they work best when needed most on sunny days.
The bad thing is that unless you get one with a battery or an AC backup, they can't fill your building with cool air at night. That can make a big difference in building temperature for a good part of the next day.
How big is your garage?
The bad thing is that unless you get one with a battery or an AC backup, they can't fill your building with cool air at night. That can make a big difference in building temperature for a good part of the next day.
How big is your garage?
pseudorealityx
Well-known member
Remember, if you exhaust air out of the garage, air has to come into the garage. Better to design a specific location for that to happen than just hope for enough infiltration.
TangoFoxTrot
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2009
- Messages
- 1,961
Most of the info I've seen is that the solar powered ones just don't have enough horsepower to really move the air. You'll see ratings like 10 watts, and that's on a cloudless day with the sun shining. That's less power than the dome light in your car. It's just not going to make much of a difference.
It's probably better than nothing, but I would go with a wired one. The actual electricity used is very little and they usually have a thermostat control so they're only be used when needed or you could put a switch on it.
They use around 100 watts, depending on the model.
So 100 watts x 10 hours a day is 1 kwh
1 kwh x $.10 (average utility rate per KwH) x 30 days =
$3 a month for the summer months
It's probably better than nothing, but I would go with a wired one. The actual electricity used is very little and they usually have a thermostat control so they're only be used when needed or you could put a switch on it.
They use around 100 watts, depending on the model.
So 100 watts x 10 hours a day is 1 kwh
1 kwh x $.10 (average utility rate per KwH) x 30 days =
$3 a month for the summer months
I have this one from costco for few years, it's not bad. not Air Condition cool if that is what you are looking for, but when the Sun hits your roof directly but it does the job fine. there is a temperature switch that only contacts if the temp if above 98 Deg.
http://www.costco.com/20W-Solar-Powered-Attic-Fan-by-U.S.-Sunlight.product.100117868.html
http://www.costco.com/20W-Solar-Powered-Attic-Fan-by-U.S.-Sunlight.product.100117868.html