Solar Powered Roof Vents

[Chill]

Anyone on here got one they can recommend?

Thinking of fitting in the front cabin hatch

Seem to be quite a few on the market.

Thanks

 

[stephen_h]

The general opion is that they are rubbish and I have to agree going by my own experiences!

 

[BruceK]

My front cabin hatch does my head in if I forget to put the cover board up at night. Condensation drips down and wakes me up. But solar power doesn't work at night. The gods are against me.

 

[LittleSister]

But solar power doesn't work at night.

Of course it doesn't. What you need, then, is a lunar powered vent.

 

[Gwylan]

Anyone on here got one they can recommend?

Thinking of fitting in the front cabin hatch

Seem to be quite a few on the market.

Thanks

We have one in the heads. Solar powered, when there is solar then it works. The built in battery has a finite (too short) life of a couple of years.
Does work at night.
Is useful to keep some airflow.

Can find the same product at vastly different prices. Shop around.

Extractor with 12v fan and switch might be better. But then someone will leave it running and you come back to dead battery.

On my project list for next spring, oops this spring.

 

[ctva]

The general opion is that they are rubbish and I have to agree going by my own experiences!

I would disagree with your 'general opinion' and so would many threads on this topic across YBW.

They are simple and do what they say on the tin. Solar powered, so work in daylight even under cloud to move a fair amount of air through the boat. Enough to keep fresh for the periods when it is not in use.

They do not work at night... No sh1t Sherlock! However they do have battery powered ones which charge during the day and you switch on at night. They will last quite a few hours but not all night. For that if you are on board you need to either open a window or fit a 12v supplied one.

They are great if you are on a mooring with no 24h mains supply.

As to the OP, I have use the ESC one which is expensive but good and also a cheapo off ebay which was bastardised to fit in a 4" cut out.

 

[longjohnsilver]

The general opion is that they are rubbish and I have to agree going by my own experiences!

Unfortunately I have to agree with you. But that was 20 years ago, maybe they’ve improved since then.

 

[PCUK]

I had one that ran continually for years as long as the battery was changed occasionally. Cut down condensation to nothing. They'll definitely be going on my new (old) boat. Can't remember makers name though!

 

[Chill]

Thanks guys, have ordered one from Force 4 has a 2 year warranty and uses 2 rechargeable aa batteries