Solar Power Attic Fan Cools Without Added Electric Cost
Many homes will have a fan installed in the attic to help push hot air outside, many connected to thermostats to run the fans only when the internal temperature reaches a certain point. The idea of the thermostat is to save electricity as well as cooling costs on hot summer days. A solar power attic fan can provide the same service without increasing the cost of electricity and will operate on its own whenever the sun is shining, typically when the fan is the most needed.
Controlled by a thermostat, the solar power attic fan will only come on when needed, usually on hot summer days, drawing its power either directly from the solar panel or from a storage battery connected to a converter. While most attic fans are designed to run on 120-volts of alternating current, some newer ones are made for 12-volt direct current operation, the current produced by solar cells.
Roof vents are also designed to run on electricity and new designs enable the solar power attic fan to operate from solar cells or batteries, only operating when needed. The idea is to move the hot air out of the attic, to allow better circulation of the cooler air in the house.
Size Of Panel Determined By Size Of Fan
Since the size and power requirements of a solar power attic fan will vary based on the size of the fan, the size of the solar panel installed on the roof will also vary. The larger the fan's motor, the larger the solar panel that will be needed. During the early morning hours the heat may not be high enough to require the fan's operation and the power from the solar panel can be stored in a battery located in the attic.
As the day heats up and the attic gets hotter, the solar power attic fan will kick on pulling power from the battery, which is recharged as it is drained by the solar panel. Keeping the power flowing to charge the battery or operate the fan is the job of a regulator, much like those in automobiles that operate the accessories while keeping the vehicle's battery charged.
One of the main attractions of a solar power attic fan is being able to keep the hot air out of the attic, resulting in lower cooling costs for air conditioning. It is just one way homeowners are finding to use solar power to reduce electric bills.
