autovent cooler

[attgig]

anyone have anything like this, and does it work? seems like it would work well, but not sure.

http://www.shop.com/op/prod-8956122

[Airencracken]

I'd be worried aobut the window being open.

[DarkFury]

Interesting little gadget... Hmmm... :D

[InfiniteNothing]

I'd be worried aobut the window being open.
Don't people usually leave their windows open a crack.

[DarkFury]

Don't people usually leave their windows open a crack.
Yeah.. but that could let rain in... if it should rain.

This looks as if you could close the window to the top... with the top of the gadget in the window seal.

[attgig]

exactly. it would create a seal, so that water wouldn't get in. i'm afraid it'll be one of those hokey as seen on tv things that don't work, but the concept makes sense. keep the inside the same temp (or pretty similar) as outside.

anyways, i just ordered one. if it works, i'll tell you guys.

[DarkFury]

anyways, i just ordered one. if it works, i'll tell you guys.

Sweet let us know... I'm kinda interested as well :D

[ramazank2]

I had a pair a long time ago and the sun was never strong enough. My pair were a little different. They were just a solar powered window fan. They did not bring outside air in.

[mechmike0034]

They probably wouldn't move enough air to make a measureable difference in interior temperature. Sun load is a powerful thing...

[nhbilly]

keep us posted please :-)

[Houdini]

Looks cool, but how much air exchange can really happen in that VERY SMALL gap b/w the top of the window and the top of the window frame where the gadget sits? I'd just assume keep my sunroof tilted or something, if you have that ability. Or rig up a way, if your car doesn't have it, to roll down your windows/sunroof frmo your keyless entry. Mounting that thing on your window every time might be a pain, and could plausibly make it easier for someone to break it, depending on year and make of car. :shrug:

[DarkFury]

So attgig, did you ever get this installed?

How did it work? Are you happy with it?

[attgig]

yeah, so i did get this...

the solar panel is very weak... if it's not in direct sunlight, fan does not go.

the fan is very weak.

i'm convinced the concept could work...but very very poor execution on this product.

i'm thinking about taking it apart and putting a computer fan in there or something. of course...if the solar panel isn't strong enough, it'll be a waste of time.

[DarkFury]

yeah, so i did get this...

the solar panel is very weak... if it's not in direct sunlight, fan does not go.

the fan is very weak.

i'm convinced the concept could work...but very very poor execution on this product.

i'm thinking about taking it apart and putting a computer fan in there or something. of course...if the solar panel isn't strong enough, it'll be a waste of time.

Heh... well actually, I have a 2V Coleman dash solar power cell that would power up a concept like this nicely. Hmmm... it would be nice if there was a way to tie one of those into this fan system.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0007KGWDW.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1113624814_.jpg

[kgsilvas]

I figured the fan would be way too weak to do much good. Those commercials are blanketing the airwaves these days since so much of the country is still in a heatwave.

Glad to know it isn't really worth it. Thanks for the update!

[johnnymk]

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=12797

Cooling Your Car: What Works?
Posted 8/2/2006 11:25 PM

12 News tested three ways to keep your car cool on a hot summer afternoon.
Story by Amanda McCall Email | Bio

Local businesses are looking to cash in. A solar powered fan claims to keep your car a little cooler. Will the fan do the job? What about other products that say they'll cool your car like a sun visor?

In a 12 news test we used three cars, same make and all light colored. In car number one a solar fan was installed; car number two, the windows were cracked and the third car a visor was placed in the windshield.

Then we put a meat thermometer in each car and after one hour we took a look at the thermometers.

The first car with the fan started at 144-degrees, and dropped to 118, a 26-degree difference.

The second with the windows cracked went from 145-degrees to 117, bringing that down 28-degrees.

The third with the visor went from 144 to 115 with a total of a 29-degree drop.

[InfiniteNothing]

Cool. Thanks. It looks like it works almost as good as simply having your window cracked.

[Kim]

We could have a whole new forum...let-attgig-buy-it-and-try-it!

[Markel]

Seems like what someone should do is build a "hybrid" vent fan with a "remote" (wired) solar panel that could be placed on the dash or rear deck. The smart way to do it would be to have the solar panel be detachable from the fan so it could be positioned wherever the sun is best.

[InfiniteNothing]

With intake and exaust fans? ;)

[guiseppewv]

Heh... well actually, I have a 2V Coleman dash solar power cell that would power up a concept like this nicely. Hmmm... it would be nice if there was a way to tie one of those into this fan system.


Does your Coleman solar power cell actually charge your car battery or do you use it to directly power an accessory?

[attgig]

We could have a whole new forum...let-attgig-buy-it-and-try-it!

I thought that's what the reviews on gotapex were supposed to be: "let darth get it for free and try it." too bad that disappeared.

I'll try it and review if i can get it for free. *sigh*

[DarkFury]

Seems like what someone should do is build a "hybrid" vent fan with a "remote" (wired) solar panel that could be placed on the dash or rear deck. The smart way to do it would be to have the solar panel be detachable from the fan so it could be positioned wherever the sun is best.
That solar panel I posted earlier will draw power regardless if it is sunny or cloudy.

I guess maybe they are using an "el cheapo" solar panel in the autovent gadget. :shrug:

[DarkFury]

Does your Coleman solar power cell actually charge your car battery or do you use it to directly power an accessory?
It trickle charges the battery... keeps it topped off for the months when I am not driving the vehicle.

However originally I bought one of those for my truck (which mostly sits during the hot Summer months as I'll drive it mostly in the Winter now when the 300C is in the garage)... however my truck battery needed a bigger one (2V wasn't enough), so I went ahead and got a 6V version which is currently sitting on my dashboard keeping the battery, the clock, the alarm system, and the car stereo system fully charged.

It's been running all Summer long now and I have not had a dead battery since installilng it. (Previously, the battery would die after sitting for 3 weeks without cranking the vehicle.)

[guiseppewv]

Cool, thanks for the info. I might need one of those soon. Any suggestions as to the best place to buy one?

[DarkFury]

Cool, thanks for the info. I might need one of those soon. Any suggestions as to the best place to buy one?

Well the Coleman 1.8V version... I bought from Amazon.com for like $24.99

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007KGWDW/sr=8-7/qid=1155154825/ref=pd_bbs_7/002-4588238-8520021?ie=UTF8

As far as the 6V version... I bought that one at my local Fry's for like $70.

Here is a link to it at Outpost.com: http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4653548;jsessionid=kz6-WKrG-XVnxoMLwntvVw**.node2?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Honestly, to keep a car charged, I'd say go with the 6V version. The 2V version just doesn't have quite enough juice to charge properly in my opinion (especially if you have "constant drain" electronics in your vehicle... like a car alarm or a high end stereo)

Also on a side note... I wired my solar panel DIRECTLY to the battery. For some reason, when using the cigarette lighter adapter the continuity of current may get cut off from the battery (thus the battery never gets the electrical current from the panel), however in the 6V pack there are alternative wiring harnesses that you can use to wire a lead straight to the battery and then just plug the unit into the line inside of the vehicle. It worked perfectly with this setup.

[guiseppewv]

Thanks for the info!!!! :thumbup:

[SmokeyDP]

I know someone with an Audi S6 Wagon and it has this system built in at the factory. The sunroof has a solar cell and it runs the vent in the summer months. The car is usually nice and cool when we get in it after its been sitting in the sun.

http://www.webasto.com/products/graphics/file_brochure_car_solar-slide_en_218kb.pdf

[InfiniteNothing]

Just curious but how do you charge a 12V battery with a 6V solar cell.

[DarkFury]

Just curious but how do you charge a 12V battery with a 6V solar cell.

With time you can top off a 12v battery with the 6v charger (it just takes longer than a 12v charger)... The 6V solar cell is not meant to be RUN as a battery replacement. It doesn't deliver enough charge to take over a battery's function, however at 6 volts, over the course of a few hours it can fully recharge a battery that has been depleted.

Same as with a 2V trickle charger... those have enough charge to "top off" a low battery, but not enough charge to restart a dead one. I don't even think that the 6V battery can restart a dead battery, however it is 3x as fast at recharging than the 2V version.

One good thing is... since it is only 6V, it can never overcharge the battery.. only top it. That way you don't have to worry about unplugging it until you are ready to use the vehicle (and the main battery)

[Daedalus]

Heh, you can't charge a car battery with a 6V solar cell. The solar cell is 6 watts, not 6 volts. Power = Current * Voltage. @ 12V & 6W, current = 1/2 amp.

[DarkFury]

Heh, you can't charge a car battery with a 6V solar cell. The solar cell is 6 watts, not 6 volts. Power = Current * Voltage. @ 12V & 6W, current = 1/2 amp.
My bad, I said volts instead of watts... I used the wrong term with the right number. (sue me, I'm not an electrical engineer... I'm an Accountant/Web Developer :D )

This solar cell is a 6 watt trickle charger... does that make your calculation any better? :D


http://shop3.outpost.com/product/4653548?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

And yes, it does in fact keep the battery in my truck fully charged. :D