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 Solar Vents		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts
Initially Posted - 12/04/2007 :  20:22:04  Show Profile
Hey, you folks out there that installed solar vents, could I please get some opinions? Nicro makes a three inch and a four inch, a plastic and a stainless vent. Which one do you think will work better installed in the forward hatch? Where's a good place to put the inlet vent? The main hatch maybe? Thanks for your opinions.
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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts
Response Posted - 12/04/2007 :  20:58:40  Show Profile
John,
I got the 4" day/night Nicro in (Randy will be proud of me) Stainless.

Installed it on the back half of the forward hatch. I looked around for a picture couldn't find one.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 12/04/2007 20:59:56
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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts
Response Posted - 12/04/2007 :  21:56:35  Show Profile
Here's a link to the vent I installed.
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true& TOPIC_ID=8818& SearchTerms=vent,
It's been running non-stop for 2 1/2 years, no problems so far...

Here's the link to the intake vents.
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=8817&SearchTerms=vents
Edited by - Al on 12/04/2007 22:02:25
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JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts
Response Posted - 12/04/2007 :  22:17:49  Show Profile
Thanks, you guys are great. Did you see that Nicro has a brand new design that looks different, moves more air, and has an on/off switch? Al, where did you get the vent grills that you installed in the coamings?
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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 12/04/2007 :  22:25:56  Show Profile
Unless your boat is a lot tighter than any I've been on, you shouldn't need an inlet vent. I chose the 4" white plastic--it seemed maybe a little tougher than the stainless (if stepped on). The downside is it's less visible (on the deck or the fiberglass C-25 hatch), and therefore maybe easier to step on...
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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts
Response Posted - 12/04/2007 :  22:56:26  Show Profile
<i>...where did you get the vent grills that you installed in the coamings?</i>

The grills are just West Marine standard issue, but I just checked and I only see 3" there now, and I'm pretty sure mine are 4".
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/24800/377%20710%201657/712/vent/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201657& Ne=712& Ntt=vent& Ntk=Primary%20Search& Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial& Nao=0& Ns=0& keyword=vent& isLTokenURL=true& storeNum=5002& subdeptNum=12& classNum=12408

That's great about the vent being a new design. Some people have complained about the (very faint) sound of the fan when trying to sleep right under the vent, and have stuck a matchstick or something in the blades to stop it. I figured I'd wire in a switch later if it bothered me, but so far I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow...
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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts
Response Posted - 12/04/2007 :  23:23:44  Show Profile
Gotta go stainless, just like Tom said!

I installed my unit on the port side of the cabin roof. Here is an outside photo.



Here is the inside view.


Alas, my unit is not running well these days. Could the battery be bad or does the cloudy PNW weather not give enough solar power during the winter??

Mine has the on/off switch. We turn it off when we go to sleep.

Let me tell you something. NOthing is as scary as taking a 4" holesaw to your boat!



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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts
Response Posted - 12/05/2007 :  15:10:38  Show Profile  Visit Turk's Homepage
Randy,

The "C" rechargeable battery is available everywhere on the net and on Ebay usually in a two pack. I just bought a couple. Get one each year to keep the vent running at full capacity. Another thing to try is a "C" battery charger to give it a full charge now and then
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JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts
Response Posted - 12/05/2007 :  16:53:31  Show Profile
Will they work with a standard nimh or ni-cad 'C' battery??? Are they 1.5 volts?
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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3460 Posts
Response Posted - 12/05/2007 :  17:00:33  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage
I have a Nicro solar vent located on port side of main cabin foward near the bulkhead. I have a photo of it on my website. I lucked out since the PO had a vent covered in that location. Having scoured the West Marine catalog and looking at the solar vents diameter hole (believe it was approx 4" opening), it seemed about same size as the one in my boat. So I picked up a solar vent at a West Marine store in my area, popped off the vent cover on my cabin top and turns out the solar vent is asnug, perfect fit. So...it was a quick an easy install.
Edited by - OLarryR on 12/05/2007 17:02:18
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Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts
Response Posted - 12/05/2007 :  18:27:54  Show Profile
[url="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/frayed-knot/projects/solar_vent.htm"]<font size="4">Here's</font id="size4">[/url] my installation of the Nicro solar day/night 2000.
If I had it to do over again, I'd go with stainless. I believe after four years in the sun the plastic has become brittle. It's been stepped on and I've glued several breaks in the plastic.

FYI the rechargable C-cell battery is a Sanyo KR-2000C. It's a 2000 mAh NiCad. [url="http://www.batterystore.com/Sanyo/KR2000C.htm"]<font size="4">Here </font id="size4"> [/url] are the specs.

I agree with Dave B., plenty of air comes in around the companionway hatch when closed.
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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts
Response Posted - 12/05/2007 :  19:26:54  Show Profile
Thanks Bubba. WM wants $22 for that battery!!
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ed_spengeman
1st Mate

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USA
98 Posts
Response Posted - 12/07/2007 :  12:01:23  Show Profile
Go to Radio Shack #23-124. Can get two for about $5. I got the number from Nico.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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