Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

Looks like I have the same experiences as many-And I thought it was just me... I had a older model that ran for 10 yrs or more effectively until it gave up. I bought the fancy new model and of course it didnt fit into the old opening. Bad news. Then it ran part of a summer or so and even when changing batteries it wont spin anymore. My rubber switch is also about ready to fall apart and yes my O rings for the top dissasembly disintrigated when I tried to replace the battery- Well now the real test is to see if West marine will support the product and replace or get me my money back....

Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

The motor failed after a year of use.
The proper Voltage is coming from the Solar Array/Battery but the Motor will not turn. Reviews from other users on the internet confirms poor design and durability with this product. IF they were to increase the durability of the parts used this would be a good product for the money. 4-5 star.
If you are handy with tools and a soldering iron you can order another solar motor and replace it if you are out of warranty.
http://store.sundancesolar.com/smmoforsopr5.html
Item part#: 700-60062-00 for the motor replacement.

Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

The good news is that these vents work well and really move the air in my cabin. I put one in my aft hatch and one in my forward hatch and my mildew problem was pretty much eliminated. The really bad news is that they only lasted two years. For this price, I would expect something MUCH more durable. Now, I am stuck with trying to find something that will last longer AND fit in the holes cut in my hatch. I wish I had read these reviews first!

Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

I assume that they have made some changes to increase profitability, but is suffering in the durability area. I purchased one about a year ago; first one didn't work at all. Returned it for another; it lasted 14 months. I expected more for the price. At least have it work on solar alone. I will attempt to replace the battery, but do not have confidence that it will fix the issue.

Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

I had an old one of these on my first boat and it worked for more than a decade. However when it finally died I bought one of the new ones and it only lasted about a year before it died. Becuase It's about the only game in town I purchased two more for the new boat. 1 and a half years later they are dead. Motors will not turn. Replaced batteries and that didn't fix them.

I'm sorry but for this amount of money for a small fan I expect much much better longevity and quality.

Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

I replaced a Nicro solar vent after 23 years of coninuous operation. This replacement did not last a year. It seemded to be very cheaply made, compared to the old product that actually had solar cel in the top, not an add on patch. I have bought another one hoping that I got a one-off cheapy, but I do not have a lot of faith.

Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

I'm with Divecoz's review on this: I have one of these on a 20' sloop and several on a 50' ketch and they're reliable and do a great job keeping air flow up and moisture down. It stuns me that some others report trouble with them - but then, we *are* more inclined to complain about products than to publicly praise them.

I had *huge* problems with dampness and mildew on the 20 footer - and one of these little vents cleared that right up where a typical scoop-style vent did nothing but let moisture in. They run constantly and quietly and the one on my 20' has been doing that for years. (I just got them for the 50' which is fairly new but am happy so far!)

Now... I do live and sail predominantly in SoCal - where there's a lot of sun and we don't stick our boats in storage for half the year: for people in climates which vary from that, keep in mind that you're dealing with solar power and a rechargeable battery. If the battery fully discharges, it will become weak when recharged - possibly never taking a charge again.

Additionally, given the option, I would *love* to have one with a solid brass and/or stainless case on it - and would pay for the price difference. I worry about kicking these, hitting them with a spar or something. I think they could take a kick, but I'd love brass ones. It would be attractive AND durable.

Another thing I would love to have - an optional connector for external power. Something small that would anticipate 12v power and only turn on when the internal battery was low and no solar power was available. This would improve battery longevity and give us options when it's damp and cloudy.

Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

It lasted just under a year before it stopped working. The rubber cover over the switch has also perished/cracked exposing the inner switch mechanism.

Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

I installed this unit six weeks ago prior to launch for the season. My first visit after launch was this past weekend. The fan was still running and there was no mildew odor and no mold present. Interior cabin was almost totally dry considering the rain we have had. It appears this fan solves the dampness problem.

Service and delivery comments:

Delivery was prompt and arrived in good condition. Installation instructions were very good and easy to follow.

Comments about Day/Night Plus Solar Vents:

I've had My Nicor for over 5 years and it still runs like the day I installed it.. I cannot even imagine, why others are having issues.. I am 40 Miles West of Chicago and my location has Got to be hard on these units..