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Prius Solar - how early in day will it turn the fan on?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Haschwalt, Aug 9, 2019.

  1. Haschwalt

    Haschwalt Member

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    Didn't see this mentioned anywhere else but thought someone who uses it could let us know. If you've used it what season, & geographic area did you use it? How is its performance in different seasons i.e. Winter vs. Summer?

    Follow-up question: What time of the day will the fan stop working?
     
    #1 Haschwalt, Aug 9, 2019
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it turns on based on interior temp
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 9, 2019
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  3. Haschwalt

    Haschwalt Member

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    Say it's 79 deg out at say 6 AM in texas. Will it turn on then? And when will it turn off?
     
    #3 Haschwalt, Aug 9, 2019
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Turns on based on interior temp. I’ve had it turn on in March when it was -10°C outside because the sun in March is strong enough to warm the cabin. Granted, it runs 1-2 seconds at a time and sounds like a creaky door but it was kinda cool to see it work.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Aug 9, 2019
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  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It runs as long as there’s enough solar insolation hitting the panels and the interior temp is >20°C.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Aug 9, 2019
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  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    And the insolation might be the key to a question about how early in the day it will start.

    I find mine, around the borderline minimum insolation, will run intermittently, a few seconds at a time, as described in #4. With good sun directly overhead, it will run steadily and rather strongly.

    Just when the borderlines fall in the morning and evening will depend some on season and geography (not to mention trees, buildings, or other shade). There's a factor of cos(θ) in the power captured, where θ is the angle between the sun and straight-up-from-the-panel.
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Aug 9, 2019
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  7. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Sunset.
     
    #7 Johnny Cakes, Aug 13, 2019
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  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Yes. Turns off at 6:39pm :p

    Long as there’s enough sun rays at the right angles penetrating the solar panel, it will spin up. Even 40F winters with full sun, it will spin up but not at full speed. I have streamers on the vent blinds so if they’re flapping I know the there’s power to the vent. Hvac temp set to any temp or interior temp will not affect when solar panel can send power.
     
    #8 Grit, Aug 13, 2019
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