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Why
is there visible condensation on the inside of the top
Lexan plastic layer of my SolarVenti solar air
collector?:
Once the SolarVenti has been installed, there will be
visible condensation on the Lexan plastic finishing coat
on the inside of the solar air collector at regular
intervals. This is quite normal and will in no way
damage the system.
When the warm air in the solar panel meets the cold air
– or at any rate colder air – outside the panel, the
condensation will become visible. When two extremes in
temperature meet, condensation will appear at the
“dewpoint” which, in this case, is on the top Lexan
plastic layer of the solar air collector.
Therefore, condensation will be most common when the
solar air collector starts up after an idle period
(short or long) due to cloudy weather. This is when the
difference in temperature between the warm air in the
panel and the cold air outside will be greatest. You can
avoid the visible condensation by switching off the
solar air collector for an hour or two depending on the
weather conditions. When the panel cools down the
condensation will disappear.
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How
does the SolarVenti work from a technical point of view?
The system is free to run and is not connected to the
main electricity supply. It is supplied with electricity
via a solar cell. When the sun shines it warms up the
air in the absorber and the integrated solar cell
produces electricity for the built-in fan which blows
the heated air into the house.
Fresh air from outside is sucked / pulled in through a
perforated back plate and a 2 mm layer of felt. The air
velocity is so low that only extremely small amounts of
dust, pollen etc. are drawn into the system.
When the system is running, air flow remains inside the
panel. When the system is switched off, it cools itself
down – even if there is bright sunshine. The heat
rises inside the solar panel and exits via the felt and
the back plate (open construction).
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Is
maintenance of a SolarVenti system necessary?
No, it is maintenance-free. Rain and snow wash dust,
pollen and other impurities off the system.
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Can
dust get into the house or into the system?
No, the air is filtered through the felt. The felt
cannot get clogged as the air is drawn into the absorber
through the whole of the rear of the panel.
A special filter can be used if you wish to filter the
air more.
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What
is SolarVenti’s primary purpose?
The main task is to dehumidify and ventilate the house.
The aim is to improve the quality of the air and lower
humidity. This makes the house better to live in and the
air easier to warm up. In many cases, SolarVenti will
result in significant savings in heating bills.
When a house is continuously ventilated with dry, warm
air, the risk of damp, rot and mould will be reduced in
the long term.
Many years of experience and use of the system have
proven that SolarVenti reduces humidity significantly.
In practice, SolarVenti’s dehumidification/ventilation
eliminates condensation on windows and doors which could
cause them to bind.
Furniture, cupboards and duvets no longer feel and smell
damp as there is no longer damp in the house.
And you can leave coffee, flour and salt in your holiday
home without worrying about it forming lumps or going
bad.
The SolarVenti system is an additional heat source, but
it also an indirect source of extra warmth. It provides
a supply of air which is warmer than the air already in
the building. However, dehumidification provides an
indirect source of heat: The heat supplied by the main
energy source (central heating, wood-burning stove etc.)
will be more efficient and distribution quicker when the
air is not damp.
And a completely dry house makes better use of the heat
from the sun through the windows than a damp house does.
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How
does the system dehumidify? Other dehumidification
systems have compressors. This one doesn’t.
It is true that the SolarVenti itself does not
dehumidify. The system has a dehumidifying effect due to
the fact that it sends dry, warm air into the building
at times when the air outside is at its driest and
cleanest, i.e. when the weather is relatively clear.
The best weather for dehumidification is actually a
cold, clear winter’s day with a little snow on the
ground. The air is particularly dry and clean and the
reflection from the snow gives the system an extra
boost.
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What
are the exterior SolarVenti panels made of?
The frame and the back plates are made of salt-resistant
aluminum. This makes the SolarVenti easy to lift, move
and install. Due to its construction, the solar air
collector is immune to corrosion – even in an
aggressive environment.
The “glass plate” is not glass but UV-resistant
Lexan (plastic) which has insulating properties and does
not splinter if the SolarVenti is dropped during
transport for example.
The Lexan plate is shockproof and will not even break if
you kick a football at it. It is also very easy to
replace.
The Lexan helps to keep the total weight of the system
down. It is much lighter than glass which, by the way,
does not insulate very well either.
All screws and rivets are made from stainless steel and
salt-resistant aluminum.
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What
is the life expectancy for a SolarVenti?
Based on the experience of Danish customers with the
early version of the holiday house pack, in which the
solar cell was positioned next to the panel, we expect
the life expectancy for the solar cell to be 10 – 20
years. This is the most critical component in the panel.
Our new solar cells – which are placed inside the
solar panel – will presumably last longer.
The fan is one of the best and quietest on the market -
a Sunon with double-row ball bearings and, in theory,
30,000 hours of operation which corresponds to approx.
25 years of wear and tear.
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Why
is the solar cell built into the panel?
It makes it easier to position the system on the wall or
roof, and it looks nicer.
The solar cell is more protected from plugs, footballs,
wind and other types of weather when it is built into
the panel.
When the system switches off on a hot summer day, the
temperature in the absorber will not exceed approx. 80
degrees centigrade. According to scientists at DTU (The
Technical University of Denmark), this regenerates the
solar cell and actually lengthens its lifetime in
comparison to a solar cell which is mounted on the
outside of the solar air collector.
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How
much noise does a SolarVenti make?
When it is running at full capacity, the acoustic
pressure is approx. 40 db (plus/minus 2 db, depending on
solar radiation).
This corresponds to the noise from a very quiet
extractor fan and we have not yet had any customers who
have been bothered by the noise from the SolarVenti.
Moreover, the noise level (air flow) can be adjusted
using the fan’s regulator. When the fan is turned down
the temperature of the injection air will rise.
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What
is the difference between a regulator and a on/off
switch?
The regulator can reduce the speed of the ventilator
(air) and, thus, increase the heat of the air while
reducing the noise level. The regulator can also be
switched off if you turn it to zero.
The on/off switch only has an ON/OFF function.
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What
is the optimal position for the system?
The system should face as close to due south as possible
and have as little shade, from trees or other buildings,
as possible..
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Is
it best to mount the system on a wall or a roof?
In theory, it is best to mount the system on a wall
because the sun goes down at 12 degrees centigrade to
the horizon (at our latitude) in the winter.
If you mount the panel on the roof, it must be tilted to
60 degrees centigrade in order to catch the winter sun.
The pitch also ensures that dirt does not collect on the
surface of the panel and snow does not lie on the
light-permeable surface.
Lastly, the pitch is required to ensure that the solar
air collector panel can release heat when the system is
switched off, e.g. on a warm summer day.
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Does
the panel have a right way up?
The solar air collector panel can be mounted vertically,
like a door, or horizontally. The position is solely
determined by what looks nicest and the limitations of
the building itself.
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Can
the system keep the house frost-free?
At our latitude, temperatures must be extreme before the
system is not able to keep the house frost-free.
However, we cannot guarantee that the system will keep
the house frost-free. We also export to Greenland where
temperatures of 45 degrees centigrade below zero are not
uncommon. The situation is quite different here.
There is also a great difference in the way in which
houses are insulated and there are other crucial
factors. For example, the way in which the air
circulates differs from house to house. It is also of
significant importance that the system has the right
dimensions and is positioned correctly. The system must
also have enough time/sun to ensure thorough
dehumidification. Once the system has had sufficient
time to dehumidify existing damp in walls, floors,
ceilings and inventory, and the house is thoroughly dry,
it will be a lot easier to keep the building frost-free.
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Can
I change my mind about installation on a wall or roof?
Yes, we can always send our roof set on afterwards. All
models are delivered with brackets for the wall.
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How
is the system delivered?
The system is delivered in the form of a do-it-yourself
pack in a shock-proof cardboard box. All accessories,
such as flexible pipes, vents, valve frames, straps,
brackets and screws, are packed in a components box
which is packed in the large cardboard box.
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What
happens when the system blows warm air into the house?
The system creates slight excess pressure in the house.
This constantly “pushes” the old air out.
The air will try to get out where the house is not
tightly sealed, e.g. at doors, windows, ceilings and
floors. You can send the air in the direction you want
using the house’s air escape vents. If you position
the air escape vent(s) at the opposite end of the house
to the injection air duct, the warm air from the solar
air collector will be optimally distributed throughout
the whole house.
If you wish to adjust, or examine, the effect of the
system on the whole house, you can start by closing all
vents apart from the air escape vent which is positioned
furthest away from the injection air duct. You will then
be able to feel (or measure) whether the air reaches the
end of the house. If you open the other vents you will
get an impression of the effect of the distribution of
the warm, dry air.
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How
many meters of piping can be laid?
In general, shorter pipes give a better utilization of
heat.
If the piping must be longer than the lead-in through
the wall, you should use smooth pipes in order to reduce
resistance/pressure loss.
In the case of the SV2 and SV3, 1 to 2 meters of smooth
piping is the standard length.
In the case of the SV7 and SV14, 1 to 4 meters of smooth
piping is the standard length (straight piece).
In the case of the SV30, 1 to 5 meters of smooth piping
is the standard length.
If you need longer piping than the above, of if you need
to run a pipe downwards into a cellar for example, you
will usually have to install an extra fan.
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How
big is the SolarVenti box/packaging?
The dimensions of the SV3 box are: 96 x 67 x 19 cm.
The dimensions of the SV7 box are: 120 x 80 x 19 cm.
The dimensions of the SV14 box are: 224 x 77 x 15 cm.
The dimensions of the SV30 box are: 302 x 105 x 12.5 cm.
The box for the roof set measures: 71 x 41 x 21 cm.
The dimensions of the SV30 solar cell box are: 97 x 36 x
15 cm.
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SolarVenti
blows new air in. Where does the air come out again?
The air will automatically be drawn to the places where
it is easiest to get out, e.g. to vents in kitchens and
bathrooms or other vents and openings in the house. If
possible, let the air blow directly into the most
important room and open the doors to other rooms. You
should be aware that a chimney damper in a chimney which
is not in use will create an outlet for the air in the
room. (There are further details in the answer to the
question: “What happens when the system blows warm air
into the house?”)
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My
house is over 90 sq m and it is a long way from one end
to the other. What should I do?
One possibility would be to set up a larger solar panel
(SV30 is 3 m2). If you ensure that there is
an air escape vent at the other end of the house, the
air from the SolarVenti will automatically be drawn to
it.
Another possibility would be to mount, e.g., 2
SolarVentis on the house, one at each end.
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Where
can I see a system in operation?
Please contact us!
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Can
I switch off the system if the summer is hot?
All models can be switched off. They all have a built-in
on/off switch. A supplementary regulator enables you to
adjust air flow and temperature on the larger systems if
the people in the building are close to the air
injection duct. The small systems can only be adjusted
using the air injection vent on the ceiling or the wall.
All systems have a switch so that they can be switched
off completely.
In addition, most of the systems – apart from the SV2
and SV3 – are supplied with a variable electronic
regulator so that you can turn down the air flow. When
the air flow is turned down. the temperature of the
injection air will increase.
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Can
SolarVenti produce cool air for ventilation?
Yes, it is easy to extend the system so that it blows
cool air into the building. This requires an extra fan
on the north side of the building and a room thermostat
which switches between the fans.
You can increase the cooling effect of the extra fan on
the north side of the building by drawing the air
through a “cooling pipe” (which is buried in the
ground) before it is injected into the building.
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The
air is not quite as warm as promised in the brochure?
If the system is under one year old, it will often blow
in more air than expected. This results in lower
temperatures and is due to the fact that the solar cell
produces an extraordinary amount of electricity to begin
with. After approximately one year, the solar cell’s
electricity production will stabilize at the specified
level.
The extra amount of air to begin with is usually an
advantage as it dehumidifies the house more quickly. If
you want warmer air, you can adjust the temperature by
turning down the damper at the air injection duct, or by
turning down the electronic regulator if the system has
one.
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I
have a SolarVenti system. Sometimes it doesn’t start
to work before I give the fan a little nudge. Why is
that?
The fan requires a certain voltage from the solar cell
before it can start up. Once it has started it is easier
for it to continue. If the sun is weak, for example if
it does not directly hit the panel or the sun is behind
a cloud, you might hear a low buzzing noise from the fan
(which is trying to start).
It is difficult to define the best conditions for the
system. A small cloud in a clear blue sky can cause more
problems than even cloud cover. This is due to the fact
that even cloud cover emits a lot of indirect radiation.
NB: Be careful not to put your finger in the fan when it
is running. Even though the fan is small it is powerful
when it is running - powerful enough to give you a nasty
surprise.
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SolarVenti
only runs when the sun is shining. What does this mean?.
When the sun shines, the air is warmed up and this is
what produces the dehumidifying and warming effect.
Otherwise, the system would just inject the air from
outside directly into the house.
Frost and sun often go together. The sun tends to shine
on really cold days. On a frosty, clear day almost all
of the moisture will lie just above, and very close to,
the ground. Therefore, all of the air above this is very
dry and suitable for injection into the house.
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What
would happen if the system was switched off for several
days?
The SolarVenti dehumidifies a house over a period of
time. During cloudy periods nothing will happen. When
the sun shines again, the limited amount of damp which
has accumulated in the meantime (and which you will
probably not even notice) will be extracted relatively
quickly.
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What
would happen if the upper section of the SolarVenti was
in the shade?
If, for example, you mount an SV14 in a vertical
position on the wall of a house, and a large overhang
prevents the sun from reaching the upper third of the
panel, this will still be alright. The solar cell is in
the bottom/lower half of a vertical panel. The shade
from the overhang will result in a slightly smaller
amount of heat from the solar air collector in the
summer, when the sun is high in the sky. However, in the
winter, when heat is really needed, the sun will be low
and the SV14 panel will not be in the shade.
If you mount an SV7 high up on the wall, under the
overhang, this will cause problems. The solar air
collector will probably remain switched off most of the
time. The solar cell is in the middle of the SV7 panel
and if it is mounted high up under a large overhang the
cell will be in the shade for too long. The problem can
be solved by mounting the SV7 a little further down the
wall.
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Can
I install the system myself?
Yes, anyone who is a little talented in the use of
ordinary tools will be able to install a system. The
SV14, which is the largest of the small models, weighs
19 kilos and is light enough for most people to handle.
The SV30 is our heaviest model. The solar panel weighs
28 kilos. In this case, two people will be needed if it
is to be installed on a roof and it would also be
advantage if there were two people involved in the
installation of the system on a wall.
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Can
the system alleviate allergies?
We believe that the system must have an effect in
relation to allergies and asthma. It dehumidifies and
has a drying effect, which creates the worst possible
conditions for fungus and mould. Also, the air the
system blows through the building will usually be very
clean. The only possible downside is the fact that the
system may draw in pollen from outdoors. However, the
air velocity of the injection air is so low that it
would only draw in very small amounts of dust and pollen
and, apart from that, the fresh air is drawn in through
a perforated back plate and 2mm of special felt.
Many customers have told our installation engineers that
they have noticed an improvement in allergic rashes and
asthma after installation of a SolarVenti. In some
cases, the symptoms have disappeared altogether.
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How
difficult is it to mount a SolarVenti and how long does
it take?
It is fairly simple to install a SolarVenti and anyone
who is a little talented in the use of ordinary tools
will be able to install a system.
The SV3 takes about 1 hour to mount on a wall. The SV7
takes about 2 hours to mount and the SV14 about 3 hours.
The roof model takes about twice as long in each case.
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Is
there a draught from the air injection duct in the wall
after installation?
No, if the solar air collector panel and the pipe
through the wall are mounted correctly, there will be no
draught through the air injection hole when the fan is
not working at night.
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Can
you mount a on/off switch, a regulator and a thermostat
on the same system?
Yes, SV Regulator Unit works as a thermostat, a on/off
switch and a regulator.
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Is
there a risk that smoke from my neighbor’s chimney
will be injected into the house instead of fresh air?
“A good indoor climate comes from outdoors”: Fresh
air is only available from outside; but polluted air
also comes from the outside. So, of course, it is
possible to draw the smoke from your neighbor’s
chimney into your living room but it could also come in
through an open window if the wind is blowing the
"wrong way".
The position of the SolarVenti determines which type of
air you will draw into the house.
The SolarVenti “breathes” – takes in air –
through the multitude of small holes on the panel. If
the air intake is placed where the air is normally
clean, the injected air will also be clean. In general,
the cleanest and driest air will be at the top of the
house. In practice, this means that you should not
install the SolarVenti close to the ground.
You should concentrate on finding a position in which
the solar panel can face south and where there is as
little pollution as possible from wood-burning stoves,
extractor fans etc.
Should the indoor air injection duct from an SV 14 solar
air collector be mounted on the ceiling, at the top of a
wall, in the middle of a wall or at the bottom of a
wall?
Most people would say that it should be at floor-level.
However, it appears that it is irrelevant whether it is
on the ceiling or on the top, bottom or middle of the
wall. The volume of injected air is of much more
importance to the result.
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Should
the indoor air injection duct from an SV 14 solar air
collector be mounted on the ceiling, at the top of a
wall, in the middle of a wall or at the bottom of a
wall?
Most people would say that it should be at floor-level.
However, it appears that it is irrelevant whether it is
on the ceiling or on the top, bottom or middle of the
wall. The volume of injected air is of much more
importance to the result.
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