Patent ID: 8915778

Claim:
A hybrid solar attic vent comprising: a housing configured to be mounted to a building in communication with an attic space of the building; a fan disposed in the housing and arranged, when powered, to move air out of the attic space; a switch selectable between a first input and a second input and having an output connected to the fan; a photovoltaic solar panel located for exposure to sunlight to produce a DC electrical voltage, the solar panel being connected to the first input of the switch to form a first DC power circuit with the fan; an alternate DC voltage source connected to the second input of the switch to form a second DC power circuit with the fan; a controller separate from the first DC power circuit and the second DC power circuit and configured to monitor the DC electrical voltage from the solar panel, the controller also being coupled to the switch and configured to connect the first input with the output to cause the switch to supply power to the fan from the solar panel when the solar panel is exposed to sufficient sunlight to power the fan, and to connect the second input with the output to supply power to the fan from the alternate DC voltage source when the solar panel is exposed to insufficient sunlight to power the fan; and a thermostat configured to switch off the alternate DC voltage source when the temperature of the attic falls below a predetermined threshold, wherein the thermostat includes an adjustment for selectively adjusting the predetermined threshold.