I'm almost embarrassed to ask this but for the life of me I can't figure out how to remove my solar vent. It leaks in a good rain so I figured I'd re-seal it. There are no screws on the solar panel to remove and pull the cover off to get to the base plate. There are three screws inside the cabin that I can remove but I'm not sure what keeps the exterior cover on the base. Before I twist it too much and break it I figured I'd ask here. Thanks.
Solar Vent Removal
- Thread starter MikeK2B
- Start date
Most likely, it is glued in with adhesive caulk. Before I would start, I would resolve you may need to replace it if you break it. Get some piano wire from the hardware and then go under the vent to debond the flange. Once you have done that, try twisting it again. Really hard. It is possible the installer may have also gotten some adhesive on the sides of the mounting flange, so even when you free the deck, there will be some resistance. Good luck!
I agree the older passive nicro vents just had 3 screws through the flange inside that screwed into the deck or hatch. Really older and off models actually had threads , wrap in towel gently lefty loosey righty tighty. Look up inside too to check for allen head tension screws that go against the mounting flange to hold it in place.
Are you sure the sealant is bad? My solar vents are bedded in butyl tape but still leak a tiny bit in a driving rain. I believe the rain bounces up and through the exterior slots and works its way down the fan hole. They are not 100% completely rainproof.....mine anyway.
Uncledom is dead on. If it is one of the newer ones, you push up from the bottom on the sleeve. However, my newest one I put on this year and the one that came off did not have a female flange with a press in fit like the older ones. They were both direct mounts. The really old ones had the screws.
Look for screws on the inside that maybe holding in place,mine has 4 screws that hold
the solar window part on top that comes off and than 3 or 4 screws hold the whole thing on to the hatch window,
But the one you show is very different.
Nick
the solar window part on top that comes off and than 3 or 4 screws hold the whole thing on to the hatch window,
But the one you show is very different.
Nick
Mike, What a timely question. I just got around to looking at mine (1983 H34) not sure if they are original as I found four old screw holes under the cover. Here's what I found.
Removing the four screws on top only allowed the stainless cover to come off. Seeing no other fastener's I gently pried up from underneath. The units were pressure fit with a black gasket. Of course the gaskets need replacing but I doubt they are available but maybe a newer version will fit. Each has a ni-cad C-cell (battery) that is dead but low and behold the solar cells and fans came on when I carried them outside after removing the batteries. After a little clean up they are back in the boat RUNNING! Still looking for replacement batteries.
Removing the four screws on top only allowed the stainless cover to come off. Seeing no other fastener's I gently pried up from underneath. The units were pressure fit with a black gasket. Of course the gaskets need replacing but I doubt they are available but maybe a newer version will fit. Each has a ni-cad C-cell (battery) that is dead but low and behold the solar cells and fans came on when I carried them outside after removing the batteries. After a little clean up they are back in the boat RUNNING! Still looking for replacement batteries.
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I replaced one in our h30 with a nicad from Batteries Plus...there everywhere. You are correct in that when the cell is dead it won't allow the fan to run until you remove it. Mine was a nicro from the 2005 era.
Nick, so you mounted it through one of the 2 deck hatch lenses? And not the place of the cowl vent?