Solar powered vents

[clyst]

Hi all

I'm thinking of fitting a solar powered vent . Anyone got one ? Are they all they are cracked up to be ? Any recommandation would be appreciated

Cheers

 

[ffiill]

My boat which spent a previous life in the Med.was fitted with them-by the time I got the boat they were long since defunct-the solar panels had gone after 25 years but motors were OK- good quality ECS make.
I could not afford the price so for my aft cabin where I had a particular problem I fitted one of the cheapest plastic varieties available-under £20-its still going strong after 5 years of permanent day time operation-good enough for me.
Oh yes and no winter mould or condensation on my deckhead whatsover although I do also have louvred cabin doors which allows some air in.

 

[Shanty]

Shanty has had two Solarvent ones - not very impressive. When they were working, they did a good job, but they fairly quickly packed up. Also, the design seems less than perfect. They have rechargable batteries connected to the solar panel, and the fan. If the batteries don't get enough charge during the day, the fan will run them flat during the night. The panel is then unable to recharge them, possibly because the fan is shorting it's output. The only cure is to take the batteries out & charge them elsewhere.

After the second Solarvent died (dead fan), I have just fitted an EC Smith solar fan - no batteries, so daylight only operation. Its smaller than the Solarvents, and so far seems a bit feeble. However, I will see how it performs next summer.

Plan C might be a DIY solution using a computer fan.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I had one on my boat when I bought it - it was not working. The surveyor commented that they rarely last more than a year or two so I just removed the guts and left it as a conventional vent. I did consider fitting a small external solar panel and rechargeable battery to power it. However, I have been told that the design has now been improved and they are more reliable.

 

[GrahamM376]

Hi all

I'm thinking of fitting a solar powered vent . Anyone got one ? Are they all they are cracked up to be ? Any recommandation would be appreciated

Cheers

I've used computer fans - still working fine after years and far cheaper than solar vents.

 

[Seajet]

Spark safety & shut offs

One thing to check; do the ECSmith vents allow the option of closing off in bad weather ? I know their normal static vents have this option, which I think should be standard.

Years ago I bought an expensive day / night solar vent ( I forget the make, but they're long gone anyway ) to fit on my petrol locker, I had checked and been assured it was spark - safe.

The thing's bearings /spindle soon conked out, resulting in a lot of noise at night.

Then it died completely, naturally about a nanosecond after the guarantee ran out.

It also came to light that it was anything but spark safe, and I'm lucky to be sitting typing this; I've been told no solar vent currently available is spark safe.

 

[greenalien]

I've had 2 Solarvents die on me, neither lasted more than a season or two - water always somehow gets into the solar cell and corrodes it. I've left the second one in place, just using it as a passive ventilator.

If I was going to fit another solar ventilator, it would be the type with the replacable 'works' - however, I think a better idea is to use a conventional ventilator with a small fan attached, such as the computer fan mentioned earlier, connected to a timer switch so that you can limit how long it runs for - the most obvious use for something like this is in the heads, instant post-performance pong removal

 

[capetown]

Pot luck really on how long they last.

The ones with the solar cell high up, so no shadow on it are the way to go.

I'm in the process of making my own as I needs it to fit the available space and to able to shut securely during passage.

They only need to move a very small amount of air.

 

[RogerG]

A 4" computer case fan will consume about 0.1- 0.2 amps and can be connected to the boats 12v system. They are made to run quietly and continuously and cost from about £4.99. I would suggest using one of these as the power conumption is so low and you could either use a small solar panel to keep the batteries topped up or just accept that you will only lose about 3 amps out of your batteries over 24 hours

Roger

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I've seen so many reports of the things not lasting that, long ago, I wrote them off as being unecessary gizmos. On a boat natural ventilation can usually be sorted out with conventional vents.

 

[TonyMS]

Mine has lasted 5 years or so. But it's noisy, so I've removed the battery to stop it at night. And it doesn't really provide much ventilation. I've since fitted 2 small Vetus hatches, which do provide some air at night

Tony MS

 

[multihullsailor6]

Well it seems I'm the lone caller in the dark! I fitted three solar powered vents three years ago (two with batteries) and they are all still working perfectly! In fact I would not have a boat without them, they helped to keep the boat mould-free over a 18 month non-attendance period. I have just upgraded to all solar vents with batteries to give me extra operation time. Make sure you buy the solar vents with the stainless steel covers, I managed to stand on the plastic covered once too often!

When istalling them make sure you have good cross ventilation with a mix of conventional vents / dorade vents and solar powered vents - air in at the front of the boat, air out at the stern!

 

[Fairwaystraveller]

ECS solar vent cells

I have two EC Smith solar vents on my Southerly 100. I managed to obtain two replacement clear tops (the originals were yellow and cloudy) but this didn't help them to work. The problem was / is with the solar cells themselves which had corroded - the motors work perfectly when fed with battery power. Unfortunately ECS don't supply replacement solar cells (got a very terse reply from them) and I have no intention of paying £90+ each for replacement units. This is a shame as the current motor units seem to use identical solar cell units so they must get them from somewhere - anybody know where?

 

[ghostlymoron]

I had 2 on my Mirage when I bought it and the surveyor commented that they rarely last more than a year. However, I think the quality has improved and they now seem to last quite well.
Would it be possible to replace the panel with one from a cheap garden light?

 

[capetown]

This is on ebay and are 59mm dia.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1PC-ROUND...ultDomain_0&hash=item3a618d4af6#ht_2892wt_952

Any use?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I've got one, which is now in it's third year and still running OK.

Solar cells are solar cells; I'd have a look for one the right size on one of the component merchants - RS or Farnell come to mind. Maplins might have one as well.

PS, I'd quite like to modify mine to include a small re-chargeable battery so it will run when there's no sun. Has anyone done that?

 

[Wunja]

I bought two from e-bay. One had a rechargeable battery. Both were mounted in the foredeck in extractor mode (different fan blade was provided to suck air in). They worked fine for a couple of years, keeping the boat fresh and free from condensation. The C cell battery would run the fan 24X7.
The downside is that they both seized up shortly after taking a wave over the bow and let large amounts of the wave down into the fore cabin.
I believe most of these are really designed for use in caravans and not marine environment.
My current solution is a couple of Vetus style screw down mushroom vents with a computer fan mounted underneath, powered by a 10W solar panel which can be switched between the fans or house battery.

 

[TQA]

I have three that came with the boat. Based on the age of other items they are at least 6 years old. All three still work when the sun is shining but soon die at night.

 

[RogerG]

With solar panels now costing less than £1 per watt, I can't see why it is now woth buying a solar powered vent, when you could buy a small panel and battery which would run existing solar vents (where the built in panels have failed) and led lights for probably less than £100.

Roger

 

[Burnham Bob]

I have one on the boat which was installed by the previous owner and is still working after what I beleive is many years! Doesn't move much air, but with a Plastimo vent in the heads and the solar vent by the companionway the boat has never been damp or musty.