Solar Powered Trailer Vent Question

[rbsWELDER]

So I would like to add a powered vent to my trailer, and I would like to make it solar powered. This should eliminate the need for a thermostat to open & close the vent.

The 12 volt fan motor draws 5 amps. My questions are:

• So what power do I need for the solar panel? Is it as simple as 12v*5a=60 watts?

• Do I need a 'solar controller? or is this design too simple to need a controller?

• If I add a battery to this circuit, so the fan will run at night, what size battery do I need?

I would appreciate any assistance that you can provide.

[fwestrup]

Mark, check out WWW,Defender.com and go to Solar Powered Vents, they have units designed for Marine use.


FRed

[rbsWELDER]

Thanks Fred! I raced sailboats years ago and know about Defender. Those 4" solar fans move about 16.7 cfm, where as a 14 x 14" powered vent will move 950 cfm.

When I bought the trailer, I put one of these in https://ultra-fab.com/product/mini-solar-plumbing-vent/ However it died this year and only moved 3 cfm, which was not enough to keep the temperature down in the trailer.

So the defender would be an improvement, but with the trailer 8x8x20=1280 cu. ft., so it will take about 77 minutes to change the air. Where the fan that I am thinking about will take 1.3 minutes to change the air.

I could be going at this incorrectly and if I am please let me know.

[Indycars]

When I bought the trailer, I put one of these in https://ultra-fab.com/product/mini-solar-plumbing-vent/ However it died this year and only moved 3 cfm, which was not enough to keep the temperature down in the trailer.

What kind of temps are you seeing and in what kind of environment???

[rbsWELDER]

Summers here in NC, we generally see upper 90's. I have measured the trailer interior temperature at 137*.

[Indycars]

So I guess you are mainly worried about the temps when the trailer is parked and no flow thru the other vents ?

[rbsWELDER]

So I guess you are mainly worried about the temps when the trailer is parked and no flow thru the other vents ?

Yes!

[Lugnut]

Mark,

Shoot me the side of your trailer, I need to see what you have for vents. And just EMAIL the pics to me DIRECTLY, don't go thru the secret channels because I will NOT respond.

Luigi