Anybody used a solar extractor?

[JP_]

I have come up with yet another extractor fan idea. I only just spotted on the outside kitchen wall an air brick that has been blocked / tiled over in the kitchen. It's just above and to the side of the window. I was thinking that a relatively simple solution might be to remove what's covering it (ha, this will probably result in a lot of swearing, broken tiles and upset wife) and popping one of these on the outside - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOLAR-VEN...een-DAY-and-NIGHT-Model-SWF-103-/161332137076

Obviously not a solution to no cooker hood, but a option that can be left on (when it's sunny enough!) and should help remove water vapour. The wall is south facing, and not shaded, so should gather plenty of sunlight.

Anybody used these before?

 

[stillp]

I'm not sure that having an external on/off switch is a good idea...

 

[JP_]

Well, ignoring the switch, what about the principal? I am sure there are other brands out there.

 

[JohnW2]

Well, ignoring the switch, what about the principal? I am sure there are other brands out there.

The listing makes no mention of power, performance (air flow) etc. - but with a solar panel that small one suspects that it probably has pretty limited 'extraction capabilities'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JP_]

OK, so, a different brand with a larger solar panel? My question really is not about that product - that is just the first one I found.

 

[JohnW2]

OK, so, a different brand with a larger solar panel? My question really is not about that product - that is just the first one I found.

I really have no idea. You'd have to look around and try to find the specifications of whatever you could find. However, I seriously doubt that any solar panel that would fit onto a sensibly-sized extractor housing would be able to support much of an extractor, particularly if, as you said, you wanted to 'leave it on'. The idea would be more credible, at least in summer, if you only wanted it on for a pretty short period of time each day, hence giving it a chance to charge up a battery to a significant extent in between uses. However, I personally would have doubts about even that.

Others may have more information, or ideas.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Well, ignoring the switch, what about the principal? I am sure there are other brands out there.

The principle is flawed - if you want an extractor fan have a real one powered by real electricity supplied via real cables.

And talking of principles - as a matter of one, don't buy anything from any company which tries to bamboozle you with fabulous-sounding technical features such as "Mono crystalline cells keeps the fan working and charge the battery in cloudy conditions".