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The initial price for a fully automatic (year around temperature and humidity control) SolarAttic
Ridge Ventilator with a nominal 900 CFM air flow rating and a 25 foot standard duct was set at
$599.95 wholesale. The question has been asked: “Why shouldn’t I just put a $39 fan at the gable
of my house?” Or, “Why can’t I just install a roof mounted power exhaust fan? What’s the
difference?”
Ignoring the fact that these other products have been available for years and buildings still suffer
from poor ventilation, the answer is relatively simple. The SolarAttic Ridge Ventilator is the first
attic ventilation product that provides a systems solution to attic ventilation. The key factor is the
new duct technology. Stretched along the attic’s apex, the duct collects air evenly throughout the
attic. Power roof vents do not. The Company believes it could take several power roof vents to be
as effective as the Company’s Ridge Ventilator. Then there are the issues of control technology,
aesthetics, holes in the roof, etc. The Company’s SolarAttic Ridge Ventilator provides a systems
solution to attic ventilation problems. The Company believes that the technology is easily
adjustable and adaptable to any conceivable building structure. And, the Ridge Ventilator, because
it is in the attic, eliminates the need for roof holes or roof vents.
Initial controls used in the SolarAttic® Ridge Ventilator were off-the-shelf mechanical devices.
The humidity sensor had a lower operating limit of about 50º F. The mechanical temperature
sensors used had broad dead bands before switching with relative accuracy limited to ± 2-4º F or
even higher. While these devices were useful initially, the Company recognized their inherent
limitations and has now developed a custom electronic control called the SAVC02 for use with its
products. This new control includes an electronic humidity sensor that has a broad temperature
operating range and an accuracy rate of ± 1º Rh. It also has a highly accurate temperature sensor
accurate to ± 1º F for better temperature sensing. This was a high priority need for the Company’s
products. The Company believes that, having reached this control objective, that is has a definitive
market advantage in high-end ventilation systems.
The Company's Ridge Ventilator is a high-end ventilation product and is designed to compete
against continuous ridge vent systems and other high-end ventilation products. It is not designed
to be competitive with $39 roof fans that do-it-yourselfers would purchase at a Home Depot.
The SolarAttic Ridge Ventilator is designed for controlled ventilation of the attic. It can also be
used to collect attic heat and to redistribute this heat to another location. Unlike simple roof fans,
the ridge ventilator provides a “systems solution” to the problems encountered in attics. It does
this by using a patented custom duct technology that allows for the even collection of heat along its
length. SolarAttic owns 100% of this new technology represented by U.S. Patent 5,746,653.
Now, for the first time in history, proper ventilation of the attic is no longer guesswork. The ridge
ventilator eliminates the need for roof based passive vents (holes).
The electronic control senses the temperatures of 28º, 60º, 70º and 105ºF. When the attic peak
temperature drops to 28ºF the first time, a winter condition is sensed and the control activates its
humidity sensor. The attic is then vented whenever relative humidity exceeds a preset (adjustable)
%Rh (factory set to 35% Rh). Between 28º F and 60º F (spring), the attic is vented constantly. As
an alternative, the SAVC02 can also be set to the manual-on position and the ventilator would then
simply vent constantly regardless of temperature or humidity. This could be useful in prolonged
extreme subzero weather conditions. When the attic reaches 60ºF, the SAVC02 stops ventilation.
Ventilation, then, only occurs when the attic temperature exceeds the 105ºF setting. The SAVC02
control provides for fully automated year-around ventilation.
SolarAttic Ridge Ventilators are complete with an in-line fan or centrifugal blower unit (nominal
900 cfm @ free air) which is matched to a 25 foot length of custom perforated 12-14" circular
mylar non-insulated flex duct. Includes end cap and gable mounting flange. The automatic system
operates on temperature and humidity settings for year around automatic ventilation of the attic.
The manual system allows for user supplied controls. Purchaser is responsible for proper
installation and compliance with applicable codes.
•Blower: Inline 14" Assembly
•Blower Motor UL File: E-59097
•Fan: Axial In-line 12" Diameter
•Duct Size: 14" Non-insulated Flexible
•Duct Length: 25 feet (standard)
•Air Discharge Method: Gable (typical)
•Power Requirements: 115 vac
•Full Load Amperage: 1.9 amps
•Operating Current: Nominal 1.5 amps
•Automatic or Manual
•Optional: Custom duct lengths
•Optional: Custom discharge methods
Once the product’s potential is fully developed using custom electronic controls with robotic or
automated perforation of the flexible duct, the Company believes that the main benefits of the
Ridge Ventilator technology will be realized. The Company believes these product benefits are:
Eliminates Ice Dams
Reduces Air Conditioning Costs
Eliminates Roof Vents
Extends Roof Life.
The above photos are taken from the Company’s August 1997 Ridge Ventilator system
installation in the Energy Home I located in Elk River, Minnesota 55330. This is the first system
installation. This energy home is a joint project of Energy City (Elk River), Energy Alley (a
project of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative) and the Suburban Northwest Builders
Association of Elk River, Minnesota. SolarAttic has been actively involved in Energy Alley and
Energy City helping to direct this project and others which are designed to promote energy efficient
and renewable energy technologies (EERE). More information on Energy Alley, Energy City and
the new Energy Home can be found at the Company’s World Wide Web site. The Company has
received some significant initial product exposure as a result of participating in this project.
The Company first introduced its Ridge Ventilator product during the 1997 Minnesota State
Fair. As a result, several systems were initially sold. The product concept was received
enthusiastically by fair visitors and the Company believes that its Ridge Ventilator will do well in
the market place after it is placed into full production.
The Ridge Ventilator is now available for purchase. The Company is hand producing them in
limited quantities as requested. SolarAttic believes that it will need to build in 500 quantity lots to
produce this product at a reasonable cost.
A new solid state temperature and humidity
sensor comes with the SAVC02 and is placed at
the attic's peak. It simply plugs into the side of
the SAVC02. There are no complicated controls
to operate or settings to make. Simply plug the
control into a 115-vac source and plug the Ridge
Ventilator, Space heater or the combination unit
into the control. Everything is fully automatic!
115 vac @ 10 Amps Max current output
n Can be used with existing attic fans
n Temperature sensing -40º F to +150ºF
n Humidity sensing 0-50% Rh @ -40 to 185ºF
n GB-Series comes with house thermostat
The SAVC02 has been designed to work with existing attic fans. It can directly power up to 10
amps of current at 115 vac. Larger amounts of currents and 220 vac fans can be powered by using
relays to amplify the power output of the control. SolarAttic's new control makes all existing fans
smarter by allowing them to use the Company's new proprietary ventilation technology. The
Company believes that this compatibility will broaden the market appeal for its technology.
Other specs include the following: Winter vent condition is set at 28º F; Summer vent condition
is set at 105º F; Excess humidity vented @ 28º F and below when humidity exceeds 35% Rh;
Summer heat is vented above 105º F; Winter ventilation occurs from 28º F - 60º F if winter is set;
GB-Series heat sensing and buildup allowed at 60º F; GB-Series heat available from 70º F to 105º.