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Recently I saw a commercial for a car vent that ran on solar power. It seemed like a good idea, but outrageously overpriced. The one on TV was $15 + S&H. Online they run as high as $40. I decided I could build one that was more functional and for under $10. The outcome is not exactly a looker, but it works and only cost $6.
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Signing UpStep 1Collect Your Materials
First of all, you must collect the materials you will need. This project is very simple and requires only a few items.
1 Solar Light -- These can be bought from Wal*Mart and most home improvement stores. They're the kind that you stick in the ground. They charge during the day and shine a small light during the night. You can buy them in singles or in packs. If you are going to buy in bulk, try ebay, as they will be cheaper. If you are only buying one or two, ebay is not a good option because of the shipping costs.
1 Small (personal) Fan -- These can be found just about anywhere for less than a dollar. I happen to have an old one sitting around, so it was free for me. Ask your friends if they have an old hand-held fan that they don't use anymore before buying a new one.
You'll need something to construct the ducting. I used duct tape and a vacuum attachment, but in another step I'll offer a way to make ducting out of just duct tape.
You may also want a couple of switches and some spare wire, and possibly some weather striping, but it isn't necessary. As with many projects, make sure you have plenty of common sense before starting this project!
The only tools I used were a soldering iron, a pair of scissors, wire stripers, and duct tape.
1 Solar Light -- These can be bought from Wal*Mart and most home improvement stores. They're the kind that you stick in the ground. They charge during the day and shine a small light during the night. You can buy them in singles or in packs. If you are going to buy in bulk, try ebay, as they will be cheaper. If you are only buying one or two, ebay is not a good option because of the shipping costs.
1 Small (personal) Fan -- These can be found just about anywhere for less than a dollar. I happen to have an old one sitting around, so it was free for me. Ask your friends if they have an old hand-held fan that they don't use anymore before buying a new one.
You'll need something to construct the ducting. I used duct tape and a vacuum attachment, but in another step I'll offer a way to make ducting out of just duct tape.
You may also want a couple of switches and some spare wire, and possibly some weather striping, but it isn't necessary. As with many projects, make sure you have plenty of common sense before starting this project!
The only tools I used were a soldering iron, a pair of scissors, wire stripers, and duct tape.
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I was looking at this panel:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90599
and this cpu cooler:
http://www.melcor.com/maa50t.html
but I don't have $400+ to experiment with it. But if it saved you 1 mpg (20,000 miles/year @ 25 mpg and $2/gal of gas), it would take ~ 7 years to pay for itself which is a way better return than for home solar energy systems. The only thing I question is whether or not 50 BTU/hr is enough to keep a car sufficiently cool. probably is if used in conjuction with solar shades for the windows.
I paid around £350 for this to be fitted to my first car which was only worth £700 for the car! (what a fool I was). but this thing was wicked, it kept the car cool when parked in the sun and when I sold the car, i clipped out the solar panel and it's last trip was to thailand in 2005, (at which point I threw it away because it was only giving minimal voltage in bright sunshine so it had done its day.
Ohh the days I had more money than sense
If only I had saved my money, I might be able to afford that vw camper I dream about now, enough to ask strangers for £1 towards it at www.buymeacamper.com . There doesn't seem to be any other mention on the net about the farmont solar II. I think it was on the market before Britain got the world wide web ! (about 2004 I think Britain got internet :O) well at least it feels like it!)
http://insight.fungiart.com/solarfans.html
good luck.
im thingy of trying a power take-off from the lighter just to cut the solar-panel costs.