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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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NicroVent repair - one more time!

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5369 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/25/2013 : 12:29:24

I pulled my Nicro Vent again since it stopped working last month. Battery discharged completely.
If you recall I had to rewire mine last time I wrote on this. I noticed that the fan motor was connected directly to the solar panel and the battery was connected to the panel through the resistor. So I swapped it around and am testing it out on the deck. I want to be sure it'll run overnight. Running ok now.
I had to lube the motor (again). This time I cleaned the bearings with alcohol and used axle grease and 10W30 motor oil to lubricate the endpoints. Hope it'll run till the end of the season...
I think what happens is the lube stiffens up and the motor goes more and more slowly. Maybe the wiring is irrelevant and its all in the motor ...

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2013 : 04:23:52

Iffin it happens again.. Instead of 10w40 you might try Tri flo. Thin clear lube made for bicycles.

[url="http://www.triflowlubricants.com/Tri-Flow_Superior_Drip_Lubricant.html"]Bike Lube[/url]

My nicrovent is running slower than it was so I suspect the lack of lube might be the problem. I better go spend the weekend on the boat and put a few drops on it

Edited by - on

pastmember
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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2013 : 04:34:48

There is one on our dock that "grinds" as it runs, you can hear it from 50'.

Edited by - on

Voyager
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5369 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2013 : 18:46:16

I will give the Lubricant a try. WD-40 didn't work.
That reminds me of the Kevin Spacey and Danny Devito movie "the Big Kahuna" - they were selling lubricants!

Edited by - on

GaryB
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4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2013 : 20:27:22

I don't have one of these on my boat mainly because of all the problems I've heard over the years. For what you have to pay for one of these they should last at least 5 years yet I've heard of quite a few that failed after 2 - 3 years.

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redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2013 : 03:59:24

<< failed after 2 - 3 years. >>

It looks like with proper maintenance mine will last quite a while, but I will let yall know. Learning the proper maintenance might be the trick, but it doesn't look too difficult.. Change the battery, and oil the shaft every year. It is easy enough to get to open up for oiling. Thank you Voyager for the heads up.

The company was most helpful with me when my first one was "Noisy".. I asked for a new motor and they shipped me a whole new product at no cost. I sanded the outside of the blades some and made sure the blades were not on too far up and rubbing the housing.

Working 1 1/2 years now mine probably needs some lubrication. Tri Flow is an oil that I use on my bicycle chain and it is the preferred lube from the Atlanta Cycling bike mechanics as it does not collect dirt and gum up the chain as much as other products. Maybe it will work well on this application. I've never been a fan of WD40.. seems too thin to me.

For what the nicro does for ventilation it has been a really nice addition and overall I really like the design. I wish I had more solar powered options, even though they are usually a bit delicate.

Edited by - redeye on 08/28/2013 04:02:15

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2013 : 05:53:49

My Nicro solar-only powered fan has run quietly for the 7+ years that I've had the boat, and I would like a replacement outside cover. The jib sheets have cracked and broken the plastic cover over the years due to its location just forward of the shrouds.

The solar-powered fan may be 10 or 15 years old, or older, and I'm trying to avoid lubricating it or anything, thinking that doing so could mess it up!

Has anyone got a replacement cover - plastic or metal - from Nicro?

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5369 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2013 : 21:28:11

John - if I decide to scrap my vent, I'll send you the cover. I found a DC motor from an old VCR that's almost a direct replacement for the Nicro Vent motor.

Edited by - on

JohnP
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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2013 : 06:02:27

Thanks, Bruce!

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5369 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2013 : 06:06:38

The fan worked for a week, but now it's running more and more slowly. A friend who's a model airplane hobbyist mentioned that he uses a very light white grease to lubricate the controls. It is available in a small tube sold at the local home improvement store. If I can identify what he's describing I'll try that.
I just realized that since I now have a 4" hole cut into my hatch, I must either:
1. Replace the hatch - look for someone parting out a boat.
2. Replace the vent - W*M has a $99 sale every so often. Just got a flyer in yesterday's mail.
3. Replace the motor - I located a similar DC motor in an old VCR. Will check its current requirement vs the solar panel's output.
4. Live with it as is - the vent part works so when the wind blows air passes thru the vent but it keeps the rain out.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2013 : 06:24:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 The fan worked for a week, but now it's running more and more slowly. A friend who's a model airplane hobbyist mentioned that he uses a very light white grease to lubricate the controls. It is available in a small tube sold at the local home improvement store. If I can identify what he's describing I'll try that.
I just realized that since I now have a 4" hole cut into my hatch, I must either:
1. Replace the hatch - look for someone parting out a boat.
2. Replace the vent - W*M has a $99 sale every so often. Just got a flyer in yesterday's mail.
3. Replace the motor - I located a similar DC motor in an old VCR. Will check its current requirement vs the solar panel's output.
4. Live with it as is - the vent part works so when the wind blows air passes thru the vent but it keeps the rain out.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

There are lots of other options besides replacing the hatch. My hatch has a push-in deck plate. I suspect that it used to have a Nicro vent or maybe a soft vinyl dorade vent.

You could probably find a deck plate to match your hole diameter and (hopefully) screw pattern. Click below to see what WM has:

<center>[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SiteSearchView?view100page=100&Nao=0&Ntk=Primary%20Search%20West%20Marine&langId=-1&searchTermScope=3&catalogId=10001&searchKeyword=deck%20plates&viewTaskName=SiteSearchView&keyword=deck%20plates&beginIndex=0&Ntt=deck%20plates&storeId=11151&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&N=377%20710&Ns=Most%20Popular|0&pageSize=10&sType=SimpleSearch"]

[/url]</center>

Edited by - TakeFive on 09/01/2013 06:24:35

TakeFive
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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2013 : 09:54:38

Here's another option that may get you a simple snap-in plate to replace your Nicro vent. The cowl vent could leak water without a Dorade box, but you might be able to snap it in during dry conditions when you're on the boat. I'm considering getting one to use while under sail in calm conditions. But I have a horizontal hatch - it looks like your is slanted and probably not a good candidate for the cowl vent:

<center>

</center>

FWIW, I've read about so many problems with battery/solar panel failures with the Nicro vents that I abandoned plans to install one. In fact, I tried to buy one in 2010 and they could not be found because they were on recall for solar panel problems.

So instead of that, I installed a tiny Peltier dehumidifier that runs off of shore power. My humidity typically stays at 40-50%, and has never gotten above 60% even on the most humid days (I have a humidity monitor with memory). If you have shore power, you might want to consider that as an alternative. I've posted on these before and can dig up the link if you're interested.

Edited by - TakeFive on 09/01/2013 09:56:06

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5369 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2013 : 11:39:57

Rick - thanks for the suggestions on the vents. I like your humidity numbers, mine typically read 60-70%, but I'm on a float, so I do not have shore power. With the vent (when its running), my numbers go down by 10-20%, depending on external humidity (50-60%).

The baffling thing is this:
1. The panel puts out about 3VDC in full sun at ~60mA.
2. The motor runs well open loop (no battery).
3. The battery is new (I replaced the original NiMH "C" cell battery).
Over time, the battery gets completely discharged and "shorts out" the motor. The power budget somehow doesn't add up. Perhaps you're correct - the solar panel is defective.

I could always run the boat's main battery power to the fan motor, and properly size a resistor to keep the current within the motor's power rating. At < 100 mA, I could run the fan for weeks without it affecting the 12VDC battery.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2013 : 04:53:48

The white grease is lithium grease, comes in a tube. Perfect grease for sheet winches, gas struts, and keel winch too.

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