Solar Shed Project, Part 8 - Mission Accomplished!
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- Installing the fan and vent cover in the shed to finish up the project just in time for summer.
I'm really pleased with the finished product. The vent looks like it belongs and all the wiring inside is out of the way and safe. This system should just operate by itself, keeping the shed ventilated and lit if I need to get something inside on a hot summer day. Plus my battery operated devices will always be topped off and ready to go.
I used a 4" Deflecto dryer vent cover (affiliate links):
amzn.to/2o8hajO
And a 120mm Arctic F12 PC case fan:
amzn.to/2pWe4fb
I marked the diameter of the fan opening on the back of the vent cover and used a Dremel moto-tool with rotary cutter to enlarge the opening in the back of the dryer vent. I also removed the back draft flap in the vent as that is not needed in this application. I also cut a piece of window screen and glued that over the vent grill to keep bugs out.
Lastly, I marked and drilled mounting holes for the fan into the back of the vent cover. The 2 top holes are close to the edge of the housing, but seem to work OK.
Next, I placed the vent on the outside of the shed and traced the opening to mark where to cut a hole in the wall. I used a cordless jig saw to make that cut. Then I drilled holes through the vent cover and wall.
Silicone sealant was applied to the back side of the vent and it was screwed in place. Some of the screws just hold the vent to the wall, others go though the wall and into the 4 fan mounting holes to secure that in place.
Then, the fan wire was connected to the fan controller and the thermostat set and that's it. I'll still need to dial in the thermostat setting once warmer weather sets in. I'll also try doing some A/B testing with and without the fan to see if one fan is enough or if I may need to add a 2nd one on the other side of the door.
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And as always, thanks for watching
Intro:
Louisiana Fairytale by Austin Rogers
drfiddle.com/show_tune.php?id=94 - Наука та технологія
I think I might add these solar fans to my attic roof vents. There’s about 8 small vents on the roof. I could mount the solar panel on top of the vent on the roof.and drill a small hole in the vent to run the wire into the attic for the fan. Good inspiration for DIY’ers.
I find it works well. I've been running 8 - 12V fans in my attic since 2013 and they do a decent job of keeping the attic bearable:
ua-cam.com/video/IXnU8SDihSs/v-deo.html
I've used superglue to stick that fibreglass flywire to metal mesh grates before. Quite amazing how strong the glue bond is.
Thanks for the comment. Sounds like a good approach to get a finer mesh. I used some Shoo Goo clear adhesive here. Ran a bead around the rim of the grill and then embedded the screen into that.
awesome job! Good idea would to insulate it.
Thanks for the comment. It doesn't really get cold enough here to insulate it in the winter and in the summer, the pair of fans do a good job getting the hot air out. But the 12V solar battery charger is working great. Needed to use the backpack sprayer a few times this winter and it's fully charged and ready to go.
Good job! I would do another vent without a fan somewhere to exhaust heat
There are existing ventilation holes on the back side of the shed. I didn't specifically show those int he video.
What is the brand of charge controller. Nice video..thanks
It's an old Harbor Freight solar charge and fan controller. I cover it in a separate video:
ua-cam.com/video/ZrjkyeQQAZE/v-deo.html
I used it for a while then tried an inexpensive PWM charge controller and now have a better MPPT charge controller in the shed. The main issue with the HF unit is it has no low voltage disconnect feature to protect the batteries from over discharge.
Nice outfit. What size solar panel are you using? I have an 8x12 storage building that I use as a hunting shed. It gets pretty darn hot in there during the summer, preventing me from comfortably being able to stay the night due to the heat. I have been wanting to do some type of venting process like this and found your project to be more like I had in mind. I do have a new 30 watt monocrystalline panel. I assume that panel would power the fan just fine. If I install a battery to use at night if the building gets too hot, I assume the 30 watt panel would keep the battery charged for that purpose, assuming the fan doesn't pull much power. Appreciate some advice.
I used a pair of 15W amorphous (Harbor Freight) panels for most of the time:
ua-cam.com/video/l0R0Hl4oS4Y/v-deo.html
They work fine except on overcast, hot days. So recently I threw a pair of old 60W panels on the shed roof. That is way more panel than I can use but that's what I had laying around. My shed is right up under some trees to the east so in the summer it'll be 10-11AM before the first sun hits the panels. Then the house blocks the sun to the west around 4PM, so I don't get a lot of hours of good sun.
But try your 30W panel, if you need more power, add another similar panel.
Did you try the 30 watt panel? If so how did it work for you? Greetings from sunny Jamaica.
Wete can I buy this system
You can find links to the dryer vent cover and 120mm case fan in the video description.
That window screen after the fan will get clogged after a while.
Likely so, but in a year and a half, it's still working fine. I do check it and the air flow from time to time to make sure it's not clogged. Main thing is to keep things like bees from making a home inside and so far it's been successful.