Solar Hat Fan

Hardware Weather Station Equipment
1

I was thinking about getting this solar hat fan that I saw mentioned in another topic by carterlake.

http://www.realgoods.com/shop/shop5.cfm/dp/502/ts/1090323

I just made a new sensor shelter for my thermo/hyrgro sensor (as seen in my other topic).

2

Have you seen the other threads on the stevenson screens? Some of those ideas cost less than $10 to fabricate…

edit: Here’s one example http://discourse.weather-watch.com/t/9317

3

[quote author=NorCal Dan link=topic=9136.msg65068#msg65068 date=1116466726]
Have you seen the other threads on the stevenson screens?

DSCN0497[1] (2).JPG

DSCN0498[1] (2).JPG

4

When I go with a passive shelter I prefer more airflow through the shield. What if you cut some angled slits into the side panels similar to that of house shutters? Improved airflow, greater temp response, yet still blocking the sun’s radiation.

5

The base of that seems perfect for the other solar powered fan I mentioned in an earlier post…
http://www.4lots.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=357

Which I have received the one I ordered but before it was received I had relocated my thermo-hygro sensor and am unable to use it at the present time. I did test it and the solar panel does detach and allows more options with placing the solar panel…

-Bob

6

[quote author=JaxWeather link=topic=9136.msg65125#msg65125 date=1116521682]
Which I have received the one I ordered but before it was received I had relocated my thermo-hygro sensor and am unable to use it at the present time.

7

Actually I am gonna hang on to it, at least for now…

But I also ordered a similar, but not the same solar hat fan, as was posted earlier in this thread and the one I got would probably be able to clamp to 1" thick material…

-Bob

8

How is it working for you, and where did you buy it from? If your report back to me is positive, I just may have to order it…

Thanks.

9

Hi again,

I bought it from same place as the larger unit I posted above 4lots…

Again haven’t had a production use for this one it was primarily bought as a gag for my kids :wink:

-Bob

10

And what could the gag have been :wink:…? LOL.

Anyways, right now I’m torn between the two solar fans. I just looked at the solar clip fan that you mentioned, but I was wondering if you know how it would clip on. Is it like an ordinary clip?

Thanks.

11

Hi Tim,

I think what NorCal and others are saying is that your shelter is not very efficient for keeping your thermo sensor accurate. Basically what you’re getting is a “bubble” of stagnate air in the bird house which is throwing your temps off.

Adding a fan will certainly help but also adding some holes to the top area of the box sides to let some current flow should at least help.

The clip-on variety of solar hat fan (which I have not tried but suggested as a low cost option) could easily be added with a small metal tongue on the end of the box. My concern would be how much sun that spot would be getting to power the fan. Also, at night, you will have the same problem as during the day, because as the fan grinds to a halt, a pocket of warm air will stay in the bird house.

Ideally, the stevenson shield should actually have two roofs and be very well ventilated to prevent stagnate air from building up.

In my case, I have my sensor up under an eave on the NE side of the house where no sun will ever hit it. My issue is similar to yours with a pocket of stagnate air, particularly on windless days. A powerful 12v computer fan mounted in a well-ventilated shelter does the trick on moving the air 24 hours a day.

12

I do have about 1/4" - 1/3" thick space that goes all around the top of the bird house (the spaces are underneath the roof of the bird house…you probably cannot see them because the roof comes out so far).

Also, at night, you will have the same problem as during the day, because as the fan grinds to a halt, a pocket of warm air will stay in the bird house.

Although you may think that, my temperatures are just about dead on the temperatures that are recorded in my town.

13

[quote author=aifan27 link=topic=9136.msg65163#msg65163 date=1116543529]
By the way, where could I get one of those fans that you mention (12v computer fan)?

14

Great!

15

[quote author=aifan27 link=topic=9136.msg65167#msg65167 date=1116546387]
Great!

16

Thanks for the positive feedback :lol:…just kidding.

I don’t think I’m going to bother with the type of fan you have if it is not run by batteries. I will probably just end up buying one of those solar hat fans.

Thanks for the help, and if you find anything else that would be helpful to me, please share the information!

17

That sounds back to front. I’m sure you don’t run the fan at 120v!

18

But it goes REAL fast :lol:

19

At least until the solder starts flying out !

20

LOL 120v…that probably wouldn’t even help the temp readings at all.

Chris, if you ever buy a 120v fan, tell me how it is working for you…I may have to look into it :lol:.