Forum Discussion

JCat's avatar
JCat
Explorer III
Apr 04, 2016

solar vent install for windshield heat

I get a lot of heat from the windshield. I have sun screens on the outside, and MCD on the inside, but it is like an oven up there.
I am out in Palm Springs area.

I have 3 AC units and the RV does fine, but I was thinking if I installed one of those small solar powered roof vents above the TV cabinets it would draw out the heat through the windshield.

What do you think, anyone done it ?
  • Try installing a 12 volt fan under the front cabinets. We run one when the windshield heats up, even with screens on, helps a lot.
  • i think something (fan or vent) mounted in the cabinet
    to circulate the cooler A/C air into the cabinet is a much better idea

    when you pull air out of an RV, any air, you are going to pull fresh warm air from outside into the RV, this only cools, if the outside air is lower temp than the inside air, AKA no A/C
    when running the a/c this will only make the a/c work harder

    i guess if you had a roof vent that opened into the cabinet and the a/c blowing on the cabinet, you could cool the cabinet

    but if it ever leaked during rain
    all those electronics could get wet
    not too mention the outside dust that might settle in there
  • JCat's avatar
    JCat
    Explorer III
    Im looking at this vent
    http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=9494#

    My theory is that hot air rises cold sinks, so with the vent being on the roof behind the electronics it should only be pulling out hot air only if the fan is small and does not pull too much.

    We will see
  • Are you thinking of running ducting down behind the cap to the area just behind the glass but in front of the cabinet/woodwork? I like the idea but I doubt anyone has ever done it before. Remember though that as air goes out, air has to come in from somewhere else and that air may also be pretty warm and the new vent might be taking the cool air-conditioned air from inside the RV out.
    You got me thinking though as I have noticed that the area behind my front cap isn't insulated that I can tell, and is of course backed up to the cabinets that have all of my electronics for entertainment and internet in, and those cabinets become pretty hot too. Not sure if I could find a good way to vent just that area without having to suck air out of the RV. Maybe a vent on both ends?
    Curious as to what you might come up with.