How to check functionality of solar vent on Cobra trailer?

Is there an easy way to check that my solar powered vent on top of the
Cobra trailer is functioning properly? I haven't heard it running
lately, but don't really know what triggers it to run (besides light
of course...)

Thanks,

Matt

If it's the Intersolar vent as delivered from Cobra, it's likely
"D.E.D."
The 4" Nicro Day/Night vent with C-cell NiMH battery works very
well. You'll just need to drill 3 new mounting holes and plug the old
ones if replacing an Intersolar vent.
If the battery is completely dead, the Nicro may not work. If the
push-button switch inside (not everyone knows it's there) is in the
OFF position, it won't do much either.
The Nicro is available from most gliding suppliers or marine
suppliers.
Jim

So these things are designed to run continuously? They don't kick on
when the temp is above a set point?

On Sep 25, 10:13*pm, "Matt Herron Jr." wrote:
So these things are designed to run continuously? *They don't kick on
when the temp is above a set point?

Nope. They just run whenever there is power (sun or battery)
available, as long as the push-button switch (which some don't have)
is ON.

On Sep 26, 8:35*am, brianDG303 wrote:
On Sep 25, 10:13*pm, "Matt Herron Jr." wrote:

So these things are designed to run continuously? *They don't kick on
when the temp is above a set point?

Nope. They just run whenever there is power (sun or battery)
available, as long as the push-button switch (which some don't have)
is ON.

Now, with winter coming, is a great time to hear the assembled wisdom
(and random opinions!) of r.a.s. on the trailer vent issue. It's been
nagging me for years.

Most trailers are left outside. Go look at your glider at 6 am. It's
covered with condensation. Bad. The sun comes out, the condensation
dries, and the vent sucks it all out. Well, that's better than no
vent, in which case it would stay dripping all day and the gel coat
would peel off in your hands after a few months. I bought a little
recording hygrometer to test all this, and the result is frightening
-- 100% relative humidity for the early morning hours.

So, I got a battery powered vent that sucks all night too. But am I
doing any good? I'm just sucking in more humid air. I stack the thing
with drying crystals, but who knows if that is helping. Sure, they
soak up a lot of moisture, but since I'm also venting perhaps they are
just drying air that I then promptly pump outside.

The right answer is to hook it up to power and throw in a
dehumidifier. This works like a charm... but there is no power at my
trailer. A small heater works well too, and I use one over the winter.
But there is no power at my trailer. An even better answer of course
is to store it inside in a humidity controlled environment. Note: The
average hangar can be worse than outside. They leak, the solar vent no
longer works, and that huge concrete slab below you is a humidity
magnet in the springtime; it also keeps the glider from warming up and
drying out.

Sooo. Does anyone have hard data or anything other than obvious
opinions on what works best? Vents were solution 1.0 to this problem.
Are battery powered vents better or worse? What's solution 2.0? Some
solar powered heating or dehumidifier system seems to be the way to
go, but it has to cost less than a hangar.

John Cochrane

On Sep 26, 11:42*am, John Cochrane
wrote:
On Sep 26, 8:35*am, brianDG303 wrote:

On Sep 25, 10:13*pm, "Matt Herron Jr." wrote:

So these things are designed to run continuously? *They don't kick on
when the temp is above a set point?

Nope. They just run whenever there is power (sun or battery)
available, as long as the push-button switch (which some don't have)
is ON.

Now, with winter coming, is a great time to hear the assembled wisdom
(and random opinions!) of r.a.s. on the trailer vent issue. It's been
nagging me for years.

Most trailers are left outside. Go look at your glider at 6 am. It's
covered with condensation. Bad. The sun comes out, the condensation
dries, and the vent sucks it all out. Well, that's better than no
vent, in which case it would stay dripping all day and the gel coat
would peel off in your hands after a few months. I bought a little
recording hygrometer to test all this, and the result is frightening
-- 100% relative humidity for the early morning hours.

So, I got a battery powered vent that sucks all night too. But am I
doing any good? I'm just sucking in more humid air. I stack the thing
with drying crystals, but who knows if that is helping. Sure, they
soak up a lot of moisture, but since I'm also venting perhaps they are
just drying air that I then promptly pump outside.

The right answer is to hook it up to power and throw in a
dehumidifier. This works like a charm... but there is no power at my
trailer. A small heater works well too, and I use one over the winter.
But there is no power at my trailer. An even better answer of course
is to store it inside in a humidity controlled environment. Note: The
average hangar can be worse than outside. They leak, the solar vent no
longer works, and that huge concrete slab below you is a humidity
magnet in the springtime; it also keeps the glider from warming up and
drying out.

Sooo. Does anyone have hard data or anything other than obvious
opinions on what works best? *Vents were solution 1.0 to this problem.
Are battery powered vents better or worse? What's solution 2.0? Some
solar powered heating or dehumidifier system seems to be the way to
go, but it has to cost less than a hangar.

John Cochrane

The opinion we have at our airport (and that's all it is, I'm afraid),
is that
the purely solar powered vents are best. When the weather is warm and
dry
and sunny they pull air through your trailer and dry it out. When the
weather
is damp and cloudy they leave well enough alone.

My plane sat parked in its trailer for 6 years before I bought it. It
didn't have
a solar vent. The condensation would collect on the wings and
fuselage,
run down to the low point (leading edge of the wings), and gradually
rot
the gelcoat. It had to have a partial refinish of the leading edges
before
I bought it.

I got a solar vent and installed it early this year to improve the
circulation.
In my case the passive vents were in the front of the trailer, so I
put mine
on top of the doghouse.

-- Matt

On Sep 26, 8:42*am, John Cochrane
wrote:
On Sep 26, 8:35*am, brianDG303 wrote:

On Sep 25, 10:13*pm, "Matt Herron Jr." wrote:

So these things are designed to run continuously? *They don't kick on
when the temp is above a set point?

Nope. They just run whenever there is power (sun or battery)
available, as long as the push-button switch (which some don't have)
is ON.

Now, with winter coming, is a great time to hear the assembled wisdom
(and random opinions!) of r.a.s. on the trailer vent issue. It's been
nagging me for years.

Most trailers are left outside. Go look at your glider at 6 am. It's
covered with condensation. Bad. The sun comes out, the condensation
dries, and the vent sucks it all out. Well, that's better than no
vent, in which case it would stay dripping all day and the gel coat
would peel off in your hands after a few months. I bought a little
recording hygrometer to test all this, and the result is frightening
-- 100% relative humidity for the early morning hours.

So, I got a battery powered vent that sucks all night too. But am I
doing any good? I'm just sucking in more humid air. I stack the thing
with drying crystals, but who knows if that is helping. Sure, they
soak up a lot of moisture, but since I'm also venting perhaps they are
just drying air that I then promptly pump outside.

The right answer is to hook it up to power and throw in a
dehumidifier. This works like a charm... but there is no power at my
trailer. A small heater works well too, and I use one over the winter.
But there is no power at my trailer. An even better answer of course
is to store it inside in a humidity controlled environment. Note: The
average hangar can be worse than outside. They leak, the solar vent no
longer works, and that huge concrete slab below you is a humidity
magnet in the springtime; it also keeps the glider from warming up and
drying out.

Sooo. Does anyone have hard data or anything other than obvious
opinions on what works best? *Vents were solution 1.0 to this problem.
Are battery powered vents better or worse? What's solution 2.0? Some
solar powered heating or dehumidifier system seems to be the way to
go, but it has to cost less than a hangar.

John Cochrane

You could buy about 100 of these:

http://tinyurl.com/254daal

If your trailer is well sealed maybe you won't have to dry them out on
a regular basis.

I think traditional dehumidifiers draw 3-5 amps - too much for solar
or battery.

9B

On Sep 25, 10:17*pm, "Matt Herron Jr." wrote:
Is there an easy way to check that my solar powered vent on top of the
Cobra trailer is functioning properly? *I haven't heard it running
lately, but don't really know what triggers it to run (besides light
of course...)

Thanks,

Matt

Lie down next to the fuselage.
Have your significant other close, latch, and lock the trailer.
After a couple of days in there you should have
a pretty good idea of how its working.

See ya, Dave