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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Old Topic - Nicro vents

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3367 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/26/2017 : 04:49:10

Bringing back this old topic regarding Nicro vents that fail and options that are available. In the link below, I mentioned that one can use an Eva Dry which you charge at home to dry out the dessicant and then place onboard. The unit can be reused for many years , recharging it every 1- 3 weeks based on humidity.

The other options that have been discussed are to replace the motor in the NicroVent either by searching for an adequate motor or utilizing a kit that Nicro supposedly sells to recondition with identical OEM parts but this option believe costs over $50.

The other option which I believe I mentioned somewhere in below link was to buy a Nicro vent on sale and purchase West Marine's Extended Plus warranty. Having just had my Nicro vent fail (again !!), I believe this is the best option and here is reason why:

Most, experience a Nicro-vent failure between 1-3 years. The Nicro vent comes with a limited warranty of 2 years and so you may be able to get a free replacement or parts under Nicro's warranty but that then takes care of the situation until it fails again and then you need to catch a Nicro vent on sale and start fresh once again. This week, West Marine has the Nicro Vent on sale for $99 !! However, since I last bought my Nicro with a 1 year extended Plus West Marine Warranty, I just brought in my failed unit and they just told me (no questions asked) go pick another one off the shelf ! I then bought the West Marine 1 yr Extended Plus warranty on the replaced unit...The 1 year Plus warranty is now up $13.50. So....by getting a West Marine 1 yr Plus warranty, whenever my Nicro vent fails, I can just pick up another one and a new 1 yr Plus extended warranty for $13.50 . This certainly controls the cost of all replacement units. So, if fretting over continual Nicro vent failures - Do yourself a favor and just get a unit on sale and buy the WM Plus warranty. This definitely lowers overall costs for new units to a non-topic for discussion.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=29487&SearchTerms=nicro

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/26/2017 04:51:34

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2017 : 06:58:00

I'll agree that nothing does the job that it does so well - so long as it's working. Like the extended warranty especially when it's on sale for $99.
Sadly mine died well after the warranty expired so I found this nearly direct replacement strategy. The O2 Cool 3.5" USB fan. The fan is meant to run at ~1500 RPMs with 5V from the USB. At a nominal 2VDC from the solar panel the fan still spins at 60-100 RPMs and moves air. The fan body fits nicely into the bottom of the Nicrovent and if you cut off the USB plug and connect the wires to the old motor wires, it's a direct replacement. Spin direction depends on wiring polarity.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3367 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2017 : 08:53:49

What these Nicro vents really could use is a photo-diode switch like they have in some of the Anchor LED lights - The fan then would only come on, automatically, when the sun goes down. When the sun goes down is when these vents are really needed because that is when the air mostly cools and the humid air in the cabin may condense. During day time hrs when temps warm up, the moisture in the air does not condense. If the fan only ran after the sun goes down, the life of these vents would probably be extended 50-100%. Though, you don't get something for nothing - They would probably raise the cost of the Nicro vent if equipped with a photo-diode switch.
Cool
So...you are using an O2 Cool fan as a replacement and it utilizes the same battery and solar panel in the Nicro Vent ? I must have glanced over this in the postings. I would be curious as to how it is mounted within the Nicro vent housing. I still have an extra failed Nicro Vent - Maybe worthwhile, even as an experiment, to try your suggestion and see how it works out for the long term.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/26/2017 08:56:31

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2017 : 19:23:00

Larry
A phototransistor costs about 50�. So that's $10 extra in boat dollars! It's a brilliant idea.
So the OD of the fan housing base is just 1/8" less than the ID of the vent body on the inside, so I got some double-sided foam tape to hold the fan in place. I extended the motor wires about 6" to make attachment easy to do in place. I just twisted the wires together and dipped the ends in liquid tape (latex in a can) to insulate and weatherproof them. After a year it's still running fine and the battery charge peters out around 3-5 hours after sunset.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3367 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2017 : 04:47:35

Bruce - I took a look at the O2 Cool fans and with your info makes it tempting for me to fool around with my extra failed Nicro - See if I can bring it back to life !

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2017 : 06:13:52

Sweet!!!!

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2017 : 08:50:03

I did some testing yesterday and found that the fan will run with a direct connection to the small solar panel, sans battery. When I put a battery in, the fan slowed down even in direct sunlight. I found that the solar panel puts out about 2.5VDC at 125 mA. A rechargeable C cell NiMH battery operates at 1.2VDC, thus the problem. I checked the Home Center and they have a 3VDC Lithium rechargeable battery for solar lights. I'm going to try that one in the Nicro. Two AA NiMH batteries would work too, but then I'd need a battery pack.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3367 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2017 : 14:41:14

Bruce,
I do not think the solar panel will be able to charge the 3 volt battery. In order for the electrons to flow from the panel to the battery, the solar panel has to have a voltage output greater than the battery.j

There is the possibility that as the battery weakens, it's voltage may drop below the panel voltage of 2.5 volts and still run the fan faster than it ran with the 1.5 volt battery. Then the panel may be able to charge the battery but only till battery voltage reaches or come close to the panel voltage output. I just don't know if the 3 volt battery is never getting above 2.5 volts, what that means regarding battery service life.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/30/2017 14:48:54

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2017 : 11:46:16

Hmmmm, that could be right. I'm going to check it later today while it has been in full sun all day. I did not current limit the motor so it's possible the motor starved the battery. If this doesn't work I'll revert to two NiMH AA cells @ 1.2VDC each, or 2.4VDC in series.

Edit: When I went back the fan motor was running well and the voltage was at 2.5VDC. The battery may have partially recharged but I don't think it will work into the evening.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 07/01/2017 14:33:33

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1736 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2017 : 18:23:01

I think (and certainly hope) Nicro gets some competition from the creative folk here -- it could lead to a more than comfortable retirement for someone!

Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2017 : 04:37:18

You could just use an A/C fan connected to shorepower.

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2017 : 15:59:19

You could. However for those on a mooring or floating dock like me, solar power fan with rechargeable battery backup is the way to go. I finally settled on using the 3.0 VDC, 0.15A solar panel with two NiMH AA batteries for 2.4VDC @ 1200 mAH. The fan runs for about 4 hours after sunset which provides enough dehumidification to put the relative humidity in the boat below 75% in the evening.
I'm not sure how long it'll last since salt water environments are tough on all electronics.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

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