I would not get it. Bottom line it will not operate when you need it nor will it reduce the attic temp.
The basis for my statements:
I had an electric fan and a way to monitor it's hours of operation remotely , I'll skip those details for brevity. The fan would often operate past 11 PM to cool the attic. The solar fan will have ceased operation well before that. Solar efficiency is not linear, so the evening hours generate far less electricity than solar noon. You may have a fan running at 1/4 speed at 6PM when you still need 100% speed.
Second, the fan will draw air from all vents, however most will come from the closest vent as air has friction. Visualize where the fan will be installed, at the peak, next to other vents. So the 'vented' air enters at the peak from another peak mounted vent to the solar peak vent. The 'vented' air may travel a few feet. The fan draws little to no air from the hot attic, which is it's purpose.
For these reasons I would not get a solar or 120 volt powered fan. I recommend what I have done and add extra non powered static vents, these will increase your air flow from the soffits to the peak. The standard vents which the builder installed meet code but no more. The code simply does not require much ventilation.
|