Attic Fan for Summer
- Thread starter retrofive
- Start date
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dont think it really makes a difference. i guess it couldn't hurt. i'd just put it where it's an easier hookup for the electric
alia176
SILVER Star
Hey guys,
Just curious about attic fans since it's being discussed in this thread: what about those spinny things on top of the roofs that I see all over. These are the passive units that spin when there's a breeze. Does anyone have any experience to share? Here's a link to the vent I'm referring to.
thanks.
Just curious about attic fans since it's being discussed in this thread: what about those spinny things on top of the roofs that I see all over. These are the passive units that spin when there's a breeze. Does anyone have any experience to share? Here's a link to the vent I'm referring to.
thanks.
What a bummer......
While sweating like a pig, I get the fan and control box mounted, wired in, and it blows the ancient 20A breaker. There's no amp rating on the box, in the paperwork, nor on the motor that I can see.
The wiring is too easy. 1 black, 1 white, 1 green screw for the ground. Other things on the same circuit: 3 lights (all unscrewed), 2 - double plugs (empty).
I guess I'll put in a new 20A tomorrow and see what happens.
While sweating like a pig, I get the fan and control box mounted, wired in, and it blows the ancient 20A breaker. There's no amp rating on the box, in the paperwork, nor on the motor that I can see.
The wiring is too easy. 1 black, 1 white, 1 green screw for the ground. Other things on the same circuit: 3 lights (all unscrewed), 2 - double plugs (empty).
I guess I'll put in a new 20A tomorrow and see what happens.
Well, ended up calling an electrician friend of mine for input. He told me it sounded like a short in the wiring. So I go back up into the attic to double check my wire nuts. Everything appears to be secure, but I found the ground wire inside the control box was across 2 leads. After fixing that situation, everything works like a champ. Our house is already much cooler that at this time last night, and it was a hotter day. Big thumbs up.
The next 3 days will be a big test.....it's supposed to be 80 and sunny each day.
The next 3 days will be a big test.....it's supposed to be 80 and sunny each day.
good job. i would've told u the same thing. those little fans only draw like 5 amps... couldn't be enough to trip the breaker.
they definitely work
they definitely work
Well, the results are in.
I set the thermostat to 90 and the humidistat to 30%. It comes on around 6 a.m. and kicks off around 8 pm. The past 3 days have been 80 and sunny. That would usually make it darn near unbearable in our house, without a swamp cooler. We have opened the doors at night and pulled in cool night air with box fans, then closed the house up when the sun comes up. The interior temp has been 60 in the morning and just over 70 by the early evening. This is a huge improvement over what was previously high 70s/low 80s inside between noon and 6 pm.
Noise factor you ask.......it's less than noticeable than a fart fan.
I am truely amazed that such a simple thing makes such a difference.
I set the thermostat to 90 and the humidistat to 30%. It comes on around 6 a.m. and kicks off around 8 pm. The past 3 days have been 80 and sunny. That would usually make it darn near unbearable in our house, without a swamp cooler. We have opened the doors at night and pulled in cool night air with box fans, then closed the house up when the sun comes up. The interior temp has been 60 in the morning and just over 70 by the early evening. This is a huge improvement over what was previously high 70s/low 80s inside between noon and 6 pm.
Noise factor you ask.......it's less than noticeable than a fart fan.
I am truely amazed that such a simple thing makes such a difference.
alia176
SILVER Star
awesome news dude!
As an aside, I see that our Costco is now carrying solar powered gable attic fan for less than $280 (i think). I'm going to take some measurements and may go this route. It's a chinese POS I'm sure considering the low cost but their return policy is good in case something comes up.
Here's the link to their website: http://www.ussunlight.com/products/index.shtml The model (not shown) at costco is 1010APV
As an aside, I see that our Costco is now carrying solar powered gable attic fan for less than $280 (i think). I'm going to take some measurements and may go this route. It's a chinese POS I'm sure considering the low cost but their return policy is good in case something comes up.
Here's the link to their website: http://www.ussunlight.com/products/index.shtml The model (not shown) at costco is 1010APV
i knew you'd see good results.
now, the next job...get a whole house fan and install it in another gable with a shutter. then cut a hole in your hallway ceiling and put a shutter there (don't mount the fan to the attic floor/hallway ceiling...although it's more efficient that way, it's VERY loud). if you think a box fan works well cooling the house, try one of these.
now, the next job...get a whole house fan and install it in another gable with a shutter. then cut a hole in your hallway ceiling and put a shutter there (don't mount the fan to the attic floor/hallway ceiling...although it's more efficient that way, it's VERY loud). if you think a box fan works well cooling the house, try one of these.
- Thread starter
- #31
Yep, we have been getting in the 80*+ lately. Put a t-stat on our current fan. Been working great. Now for the whole house fan setup 
. Between those 2 should be able to keep from using the a/c much.
. Between those 2 should be able to keep from using the a/c much.
Excellent. I have the same one sitting in my garage waiting for me to get motivated to put it in. Of course, that will be when it's 120* in the attic.
Excellent. I have the same one sitting in my garage waiting for me to get motivated to put it in. Of course, that will be when it's 120* in the attic.
Well, if you already have gable vents, it should be a bang up job. Fit 4 - 1/8" lag bolts with 3/8 washers to mount the fan and take up 2 - 1" wood screws to mount the thermostat/humidistat. I used 2 wood screws to hold the fan in place while I fought with the lag bolts. Take your screwgun (with heads), a healthy length of Romex, 3 large wire nuts, 2 small wire nuts, and your Romex wire strippers/cutters, some Romex staples and a hammer. I threw all my misc screws and wire nuts into a ziplock. If I would have had my head out of my ass, I'd have been done in under 30 minutes easily. Oh, a headlamp helps tremendously. See my post above about the ground wire and the leads in the control box.
