Solar Whiz - Frequently Asked Questions

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1 Solar Whiz - Frequently Asked Questions Can you tell me how much air each type of Solar Whiz is able to move compared to a Whirlybird working at capacity? The different Solar Whiz units are capable of moving times the amount of air that a Whirlybird moves - depending on the type of Whirlybird. An average Whirlybird moves around 100cbm/hr. The SW1400 is capable of doing times that amount. The SW2100 has a capacity of 2100cbm/hr - about 50% more air than the SW1400. Or even better the SW3000 is capable of moving 3000cbm/hr 30 times the air volume that of your standard Whirlybird will do! What size Solar Whiz do I need? It depends on the size of roof space of your home. The SW1400 will provide enough ventilation for a standard pitched home up to around 16 squares or 150 square meters. The SW2100 would be suitable for those who want extra power and improved results or people with larger homes up to about 25 squares or about 225 square metres. The more powerful SW3000 is suitable for extra large homes up to about 33 squares or 300 square meters it is also ideal for commercial applications where huge amounts of air need to be moved. For example warehouses, office buildings, sheds, stables etc. How noisy is the fan of the Solar Whiz? The noise of the fan pretty much compares to the fan of a refrigerator (50dBA) but will be on the roof of your house! The SW1400 runs at less than 40dBA, SW2100 runs at less than 45dBA and SW3000 runs at less than 50dBA. Is the Gable end unit mounted at the end of the house in the wall towards the apex instead of on the roof? What models are available and what is their capacity? Yes, that is what the Gable end unit is designed for. Three models are available SW1400G, SW2100G and SW3000G. The air moving capacity is the same as the roof mounted Solar Whiz units (see question 1 and 2).

2 Can the Solar Whiz gable model be used for ventilating sub floor areas? The Solar Whiz Gable model is ideal for sub-floor ventilation. They are ideal as they only run when the sun is shining which means you will in general terms only be drawing relatively warm and dry replacement air into your sub floor area. You may need a longer cable to power the unit via the external PV panel, which probably will be placed on the roof or other good North facing position. How big an area/roof space does the Solar Whiz ventilate? In order to keep the temperature in your roof space as close to the outside ambient as possible, GES recommends that a minimum of 3-4 air changes per hour are needed. To facilitate these air changes, eave vents (or other openings) are required to allow replacement air to flow into the roof space. The vents will help to minimize the amount of resistance encountered by the air, but resistance does need to be factored in when considering what sized unit is required. Considering this, GES provides the following guidelines: SW1400 for areas up to 150 square meters SW2100 for areas up to 225 square meters SW3000 for areas up to 300 square meters What if I have cathedral ceilings with no/minimal roof space? The Solar Whiz can be installed on buildings with cathedral ceilings or no/minimal roof space. In cases like these, the Solar Whiz would be set up to extract hot air directly from the inside of the building, with a large ceiling vent mounted to cover the exposed fan. Cooler replacement air would be drawn through cracks under doors, or possibly by leaving windows slightly ajar. Can you over-ventilate your roof space? No! In general terms the more air changes the better and the closer you get to the temperature of the replacement air (ambient). Lower temperatures in your roof space, translates into lower temperatures in your home. Remember a Solar Whiz has the option of being thermostatically controlled and may therefore be turned off in the cooler months to avoid reducing temperatures in the roof space in the colder months.

3 What is the difference between an intake and exhaust vent? The most important difference between an intake and exhaust vent is their location on the roof. All exhaust type ventilators are to be installed on the upper 1/3 portion of the roof space. Intake vents are generally installed in the under-eave/ overhang or fascia area. Ask us about the type of eave vents we recommend complementing your Solar Whiz installation! Can I install a Solar Whiz on my shed/workshop etc.? Absolutely! Tin and other variety of sheds can get extremely hot in the summer months making them very uncomfortable to work in. The Solar Whiz is a great, cost effective way to keep a shed or workshop cool! As the Solar Whiz is completely solar operated, a unit can be installed in sheds with no electricity available. Why is passive ventilation not enough? By the time passive ventilation kicks in - the roof space is already too hot. The Solar Whiz starts working as soon as the sun shines, preventing your roof space from reaching high temperatures in the first place. As previously mentioned, the Solar Whiz is capable of moving a lot more air than your standard Whirlybirds. As far as other roof extractors at comparable prices go the Solar Whiz is a class leader. What are your product warranties? The Solar Whiz has a 10 year warranty on its PV panel and 2 years on all other components.. A full Warranty statement with terms and conditions can be found on the Solar Whiz or Global Eco & Environmental Solutions Website. How do I obtain warranty service? In the unlikely event of making a warranty claim, you will need to give us a call on (03) or and let us know the nature of the problem. Alternatively you can send us an with a photo attachment showing the problem. Replacement parts will be sent ASAP, and can be sent anywhere in Australia. Remember the Solar Whiz has only one moving part and is covered by our 2 year warranty. My warranty has expired - can I purchase replacement parts?

4 Global Eco & Environmental Solutions has Solar Whiz parts which can be purchased if something happens outside the warranty covered. These parts are reasonably prices, and can be delivered anywhere in Australia. Contact us via or phone (03) or for current prices. How difficult is it to install a Solar Whiz? Installing a Solar Whiz is pretty straight forward for a competent handyman or a professional installer. It is therefore possible to do the installation yourself and we are happy to provide installation instructions and advice. Most Solar Whiz units are installed by our dealers/installers. How does roof line design affect a ventilation system? The flatter (lower pitched) your roof is the more difficult it becomes to achieve even air flow and hence ventilation. We recommend the installation of more eave vents in order to secure the necessary airflow though the roof space. If you would like specific advice on your requirements contact us by calling (03) or or solarwhiz@ges.com.au. What if I do not have much space between the roof and ceiling (cathedral ceiling or flat roof)? Simple - all you need to do is install a Whirlymate vent directly under the Solar Whiz unit. This will allow you to extract hot air directly from the affected rooms. This is frequently used in 2 storey homes and homes with cathedral ceilings. Contact us for further details and photos of how this works. Does the Solar Whiz turn off in winter? Can I install a thermostat? The Solar Whiz will operate when it is powered by the sun! To ensure it does not work during the cooler winter months we recommend installing a thermostat which can be used to set the unit in a way in so that it doesn t operate during winter. Provided you don t have moisture issues in the roof space (many houses do), you will want to keep as much heat in your roof space as possible during the colder months to minimize heat loss. I want to stop warm air escaping during the winter months from the Solar Whiz opening even after installing a thermostat. How is this done?

5 All you need is to use one of our closing covers which slots into the flashing of the Solar Whiz unit to prevent warm air escaping from the roof space. Where are Solar Whiz products produced? Solar Whiz is designed in Australia by Global Eco & Environmental Solutions (GES Pty Ltd) and developed and manufactured in cooperation with our Chinese partner. Where can I purchase Solar Whiz products? GES has an extensive network of dealers throughout Australia. Please check our website for our dealer list or contact us to link you up with your nearest dealer and/or installer.