solar exaust fan performance proof?

[doehunter]

I have one of those Nicro, Day/Night solar powered vent fans.
I can't hear or even feel it running, so I always wondered if it was worth having.
While working on my boat this weekend I decided it was time for a past due cabin clean up. The walls had junk left over from leaking rubrails, the ceiling was filthy, generally it was a mess.
I noticed in the rear portion, Id say from the aft bulkhead (at the mirror) back, there was a lot of black spots. Mold I guess. Most of it just wiped off with a wet rag but there was NONE, forward of there.
My vent fan is in the hatch over the V berth. Funny thing, on the outside, on the deck there is a clean area just outside the fan, and then a few inches out from there is the same little black spots in a ring around the fan!
It looks like the fan pulls enough air to keep the mold out of the front area, but it just transfers it outside on the deck. Weird, I wouldn't think it could live out there.
At $140.00 those things are expensive but now that I've seen that, I might add one more somewhere in the rear.
Jim

 

[finding41]

I was thinking of adding one in the laserette. Its just a nasty place back there. I'm thinking of mounting it in the motor area on the side. Has anyone ever mounted these sideways?

 

[centerline]

the fan on one of mine turns stiff... is there a way to lube or repair them? can it burn the little motor up due to not turning?

 

[doehunter]

I was thinking of adding one in the laserette. Its just a nasty place back there. I'm thinking of mounting it in the motor area on the side. Has anyone ever mounted these sideways?

I believe the solar panel needs to be facing up, into the sun.
If I put one in the back I think it would have to be on the sliding hatch.
That way at least it's not a major hole in in the deck.
Here's a pic of what I was talking about.
Maybe it's not mold but just dirt? My boat really needs a bath!

 

[Chris & Lenore]

Consider a non-power vent above the galley and use dryer flex hose to bring it to a 12 v muffin fan mounted on the side of the galley liner. You can get muffin fans that move 10X the air volume and draw 50 to 75 ma. Main battery won't even notice it and a small solar panel can run it / charge the battery in the daytime.
Wayyyyyyh less expensive and it works when the hatches are open (my main complaint with the one we have in the hatch is that it's useless when sleeping on a hot night with the front hatch open).

You can even do away with the dryer hose and vent inside the boat. Just attach the fan directly to the underside of the vent. It will draw air from between the liner and hull which is open to the inside of the boat all over the place. Might even suck some of the "bad air" from the bilge.

Chris

 

[doehunter]

Consider a non-power vent above the galley and use dryer flex hose to bring it to a 12 v muffin fan mounted on the side of the galley liner. You can get muffin fans that move 10X the air volume and draw 50 to 75 ma. Main battery won't even notice it and a small solar panel can run it / charge the battery in the daytime.
Wayyyyyyh less expensive and it works when the hatches are open (my main complaint with the one we have in the hatch is that it's useless when sleeping on a hot night with the front hatch open).

You can even do away with the dryer hose and vent inside the boat. Just attach the fan directly to the underside of the vent. It will draw air from between the liner and hull which is open to the inside of the boat all over the place. Might even suck some of the "bad air" from the bilge.

Chris

I haven't had my boat 2 years yet. I still a skeyrd of cutting holes in the deck!
But you have a good point. It's in my driveway way more than it's in the water and I have plenty power to spare. I should look into that.

 

[vwjon Mac25]

Nicro fix

I've had two motors burn out. Here's a thread to a cheap fix.

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/47138-nicro-day-night-2000-solar-vent-repair.html

 

[finding41]

Hey Chris do you think a 18v solar panel would run 2 muffin fans 24-7 and keep the charge up on the battery during daylight hours?
That is looking like a great solution!