How to Install a Solar Panel & All-Purpose Ventilator With a Turbine Vent

Mounting the Fan

• 1

  Locate the turbine vent on your roof. Close other vents in the attic so you’ll be able to focus the extraction on the turbine vent.

• 2

  Measure the distance between the two rafters closest to the vent and cut two pieces of 2-inch-by-4-inch lumber to extend between them to make the braces for the ventilator.

• 3

  Screw the lumber in place on the rafters; the pieces should be 15 inches apart and centered on the vent opening.

• 4

  Position the ventilator so it’s under the vent, with the screw openings over the wood. Screw in place with a screwdriver, then use a wrench to tighten the eight nuts that hold the ventilator against the support tabs and prevent it from moving.

Installing the Solar Panel

• 5

  Select a sunny, south-facing space in the roof for the solar panel. Measure the distance between this spot and the fan; this is important as the panel comes with 30 feet of wire, so you need to be sure the panel isn’t located too far away.

• 6

  Loosen the screws on either side of the panel and move the panel away from the base.

• 7

  Thread the wire from the panel through the center of the base and out; leave it hanging loose.

• 8

  Screw the base in place on the roof, using 3-inch galvanized screws. Cover the screw heads with a dab of silicon caulk to prevent moisture from seeping into the roof.

• 9

  Slide the panel flat on the base or angle it, whichever gains the most sunlight. Tighten the screws on each side of the panel to hold it firm.

Completing the Job

• 10

  Run the wire along the roof, securing it in place with coaxial staples, then into the house through an unused vent.

• 11

  Strip the insulation off the ends of the wire with a pair of wire cutters.

• 12

  Attach the red wire to the red connector on the ventilator and the black wire to the black connector; the thermal switch on the fan will start running once the temperature in the attic reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit.