Forum Discussion

jamescook's avatar
jamescook
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013

solar powered vent

Hi,
I'm considering to install 2 solar powered vents to my class-b motorhome (Sprinter Van). Is this worth the effort?

Smartvent 300S
(880 ft³/h at best)

Do you have any experience with these kind of vents?

Peter

5 Replies

  • I have had these in a motoryacht, and they will help a lot with excess heat.
    quiet, and will run all night after a sunny day.
  • I already have a 100Wp panel on the roof. I need the power for my fridge. The solar vent is not meant for operating at night. It should prevent the car from heating up, when parked in the sun.

    (btw, the car has more likely less than 500 cubic feet)

    Peter
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    The panel is tiny. 3 hours of work is nothing. Forget about it. Get a 100W panel with a small solar charger, should be less than $200 altogether, and power up a proper fan for 8-12 hours every night.
  • I don't know that vent specifically, but it seems pretty small.

    My vent fan can do a complete air exchange in 5 minutes and is rated at 800 cubic feet/minute, the size of my 5er being roughly 3,800 cubic feet. The fan does a good job when the temperature is in the 80's.

    The proposed vent fan is 5 inches in diameter and moves 880 cubic feet/hour (not minute), if I converted your specs correctly. Your vehicle, if it is 20 feet long, probably is something like 1,100 cubic feet. One of those fans would do a complete air exchange every 75 minutes, at best.

    Looks like 15-20 fans should do the job! :)

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