An attic fan is designed to pull heated air out of the house. You can convert an electric powered attic fan so that it uses solar energy instead. The power supplied by the solar panel will eliminate all electrical costs to the fan and let the fan function without any maintenance requirements on your part once it has been hooked up to the fan. You will need a few supplies from around the home and from a hardware store.
Instructions
1. Turn off the circuit breaker at the fuse box to cut the electricity to the electrical junction box that is providing power to the attic fan. Sweep loose dust from around the attic fan's cover grille, using a broom.
2. Remove the screws surrounding the outside cover grille, using a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the grille off the roof and place it aside.
3. Place the solar panel, shiny side up so that it can receive the rays of the sun, on the roof next to the hole that the grille was covering. Strip ½ inch off the ends of both of the wires coming from the bottom of the , using wire strippers.
4. Screw roofing screws through the panel's pre-drilled holes and into the roof, using a Phillips screwdriver. Apply a drop of silicone sealant on each screw head to insulate it from the elements. Apply a line of silicone sealant around the solar panel, where it meets the roof, to insulate it from the elements.
5. Run the wires from the solar panel into the hole and along the inside of the fan so that they are not touched by the blades. Tape the wires to the inside of the fan, using strips of duct tape. Place the grille back on the fan and reattach the screws.
6. Apply a line of silicone sealant around the grille where it meets the roof to insulate it from the elements. Run a line of on the wires where they touch the roof to insulate them from the elements.
7. Remove the screws surrounding the inside cover grille on the back of the attic fan, using a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the grille off and place it aside.
8. Loosen the two screws on the motor at the bottom edge of the fan, using the Phillips screwdriver; a wire is already wrapped around each of these screws. Wind the end of the black wire from the solar panel a quarter turn around the screw that has the black wire wrapped around it -- this screw will have a "+" etched into the fan next to it to designate that it is the positive contact for the motor.
9. Wind the end of the red wire from the solar panel a quarter turn around the other screw -- this screw will have a "-" etched into the fan next to it to designate that it is the negative contact for the motor. Tighten the screws. Place the grille back on the back of the attic fan and reattach the screws. Tape off the wires leading from the junction box.
Tags: solar panel, from elements, Phillips screwdriver, silicone sealant, using Phillips, using Phillips screwdriver, cover grille