Solar Power Roof Fans
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If I add 4 large 12V computer fans to my roof vent and power them by a solar panel, will it make a difference?
i would like to construct 4x 12VDC computer fans under my roof vent. These would be wired in parallel to a 12V solar panel (Wattage depending on size of fans). I know this would only work during the day, but that’s really all I need. My question is, would this make a difference in the temp in the attic or am I wasting my time. Really, I don’t want to spend $300 of a pre-made kit and have to replace the vent.
We had a solar vent put in our roof, and were amazed at how much cooler the house got. Years later, the house was still cool, but when I went up to check the fan, I found that the solar panel had burned out, and the fan was not moving. Apparently, just having a large vent near the ridgeline, even without forced air, is enough to make a huge difference.
If I had to do it again, I would put one of those wind-powered vents, the kind that looks like a turban, up there. In our neighborhood, those things have been on people’s rooftops for like 20 years. They’ve rusted, but I still see them turning in the breeze.
If you really want to use the existing vent, maybe consider one of those really powerful attic fans, that plugs into AC. You would only need to run it on low, or maybe just for a few minutes to clear out the hot air.
Solar Attic Fan Using A Tandem (auxiliary) Solar Panel System mfg by Active Ventilation Products
