POWER VENT FAQ's

Trace Inverter related questions
Q. Where are the auxillary relays in the Trace SW inverter?
A. The relays are located on the left side to the rear of the inverter behind the access panel for the ac hookups.

Q. How do I wire the Power Vent to the Trace auxillary relay?
A. Make sure the inverter is off and there are no ac inputs connected to the inverter! Remove the upper access panel on the left side of the inverter. You may use relay 9, 10 or 11. Generally R10 is the easiest to get to. Sometimes a flashlight and a mirror can be handy. Each relay has three spade terminals labled "C", "NO", "NC". Use the "C" or common terminal and "NO" or normally open terminal to switch the Power Vent. There is no power available at the relay terminals until you wire it. Run the fused positive wire from the battery to one side of the relay. The positive wire to the Power Vent from the other relay terminal. (You will need the appropriate female spade connectors to do this). This creates a switch to turn the vent on and off. The negative wire from the battery to the Power Vent does not get connected to the relay.

Q. How do I program the Trace relay?
A. This information is in the Trace manual in more detail. You must access the Setup Menu in the Trace inverter. (Push the red and green buttons simultaneously.) Cycle through the Menu Headings until you get to the auxillary relays. Cycle through Menu Items until you get to the relay that is wired to the Power Vent. Set the volts as per the table in the Power Vent instructions. Press menu item once and program the hysteresis as per the table in the Power Vent instructions.

Q. What is "hysteresis"?
A. The difference between the relay activation and deactivation.

Other Questions
Q. Can I stack two Power Vents in a row to move more air?
A. No. If you need to move more air you can use two vents, but each one must have its' own vent pipe. You could combine the two exhausts into one larger vent. i.e. combine two 24 volt Power Vents with 2" outputs into one 3" vent pipe using an inverted wye.

Q. Is the Power Vent Explosion proof rated?
A. There is no explosion proof rating on the Power Vent. The fans are brushless dc motors using electronics to switch the fields without arcing. The cost of an explosion proof rating is prohibitive.

Installation Diagrams

POWER VENT INSTRUCTIONS

The POWER VENT must be placed vertically with the label right side up in order for the backdraft damper to function properly. Place the POWER VENT higher than the top of the battery box and indoors, especially in cold climates. Use no more than four 90º bends including one at the exterior terminus facing down. Put a screen on the outside pipe terminus to keep insects and debris out. Use 2" PVC dwv pipe on 12 and 24 volt systems. Use 2" intake and 3" output PVC dwv pipe on 48 volt systems.

Place a 1 amp fuse (included) at the start of the positive circuit wire. A controller is usually used in the circuit to cycle the fan . Either an auxillary relay in the Trace SW series inverter or a Solar Converters Simple Switch may be used. Refer to the appropriate manual for hook up and programming instructions. The voltage set points for turning the fan on and off are above the full state of charge voltage of the battery but below the battery gassing voltage. In the case of grid tied systems where the batteries are kept at float voltage 24 hours/day it may be necessary to run the fan full time as the batteries are always gassing.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER.
This vent only moves a small volume of air. It is designed for home systems with typical charging capabilities of 150 DC amps or less. Hydrogen gas creates an explosion risk at concentrations of only 4%. Make sure vent openings are free and clear including safety vent hole at the bottom of the POWER VENT. Periodically check to make sure fan is running during charge periods. Keep your batteries and connections clean and tight.

During equalization charges on large systems provide additional ventilation.

Having no control over the use or installation of this product, we assume no liability connected with its' use. The Power Vent itself is warrantied for 2 years if installed in accordance with these instructions.