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Solar fan location?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by taxachusetts, Dec 19, 2009.

  1. taxachusetts

    taxachusetts Junior Member

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    Does anyone know where the solar powered fan is located in the 2010 IV?

    Thanks
     
    #1 taxachusetts, Dec 19, 2009
  2. going red baby!

    going red baby! still a n00b

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    "contained within the air conditioning system" is what is says on pg.282 of the manual. If you are looking for something more specific than that I cannot help you.
     
    #2 going red baby!, Dec 19, 2009
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Same fan that powers the regular A/C. They've been beefed up compared to the non-solar-equipped models.
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Dec 19, 2009
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Except that you'll be draining the 12V battery and you won't have Remote A/C. When you position the car properly and it's a mid-summer's day, the fans are blowing quite fast. Feels like about 3/4 of the way up the fan-speed scale (so med-high)
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Dec 20, 2009
  5. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    The NCF document mentions about Solar ECU.
    "Solar ECU: Activated by power generated by the rear glass panel and controls the solar ventilation system."
    I don't think your Prius, without solar option, has the Solar ECU.

    Ken@Japan
     
    #5 ken1784, Dec 21, 2009
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    What he's saying is that he's gonna try and make his own version by installing his two 20W polycrystalline panels in the rear window and figure out how to wire that to power the car's fans.



    Just a note undrgnd that the solar panel equipped cars do have beefed up fan motors.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Dec 21, 2009
  7. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    2 x 20W panels != 56-60W panel of the roof version. Don't expect the same speeds unless you run on low. The point of the solar ECU is to isolate the fan from the vehicle's 12V electrical system and permit the solar panel to power the fan directly, thus preventing any 12V battery drain.
     
    #7 HTMLSpinnr, Dec 21, 2009
  8. Philosophe

    Philosophe 2010 Prius owner

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    The fan motor in the Solar panel models is also brushless, as it is expected to have a much longer life expectancy. Running the base model fan motor most of the day will shorten its life.
     
    #8 Philosophe, Dec 23, 2009
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    See above. It'll depend on how often the solar panels are used.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Dec 23, 2009
  10. garygid

    garygid Senior Member - Blizzard Pearl

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    Where does the "outside" air enter the A/C (for the solar-powered ventilation)?

    Where does it exit, through the grill to the batteries, then out where?

    When doing A/C with recirculating "interior" air, how does the battery get cooling air?
     
    #10 garygid, Dec 24, 2009
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    1. passenger side in the plastic cowl near the wiper. It then goes through the air filter behind the glovebox.

    2. out the rear on the driver's side rear wheel well

    3. The battery has its own vent located on the passenger side at the top of the rear seat. It has a fan located within the vent if extra cooling is needed. So far, I've never heard the fan come on even in 30c weather. Some people have, however.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Dec 29, 2009
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