What do I get in the kit?

Our kit comes with:

• 1 wall-mounted automation controller with an integrated CO2 sensor.
• 2 UV stabilized ABS wall vents (choice of black or white)
• 2 Heat Recovery Modules, marked “main” and “aux”. Modules contain a core with your choice of Steel or Ceramic
• 1 Tube of Cyanoacrylate Adhesive
• 30ft of 4Conductor 18AWG wire that should be enough wire for a standard install. Additional cable can be purchased through us or a network cable provider.

Interface plates may be required for specific vehicle installations with sloped walls. We sell special kits for common parts and we can work with you for anything out of the ordinary. Contact us.

How much space will it cover?

CO2 and humidity are created when you breathe and cook, but humidity is also trapped in your wet clothes and gear. Our system is designed for 2 people and maybe a small pet. If the capacity of the unit is exceeded, CO2 levels will start to climb over desirable levels. Our unit should provide good results in a small mobile space up to 600 cubic feet.

We can make custom units for larger spaces; let us know what you need.

Will the system drain my vehicle’s battery?

The system is designed to operate efficiently without significant battery drain. Our fans are Electrically Commutated Motors (ECM). All devices are 12VDC and no power is wasted converting from AC to DC. Our system typically takes 10W to run. On a modern installation with 200AH plus of battery, you could expect to run the system for over 240 hours.

Do I need to Install both modules?

Both modules work together; at any time one module is exhausting dirty moist air while the other is preheating fresh outdoor air.

Will the core assemblies in the modules freeze in cold weather?

Unlike other heat recovery systems that have a continuous airflow, our systems are designed not to freeze; by alternating the thermal charge and discharge cycles on the cores, we don’t let them condense water and freeze.

Where should the modules and the controller be installed?

The system is designed to provide a bi-directional river of clean air through a steady alternation of the modules in opposite directions, so a fan mounted at either end is ideal. The system also has a kitchen purge function where both fans modulate to full speed in a single direction; a fan can be located closer to where you are cooking and this fan is identified in the group as the “lead”. A fan should be located in your sleeping area to give the maximum amount of unobstructed clean outdoor air as you sleep.

The modules can be installed at different heights. Dead air spaces can trap CO2 so mounting modules at different heights can be a good thing if you are occupying different heights in the cavity, or you have small pets occupying spaces near the floor.

Mount the controller in a location you are occupying at a height you are breathing and away from dead air spaces. The controller displays the temperature and humidity for monitoring purposes, but it controls ventilation rates purely on the measured CO2 during normal operation.

What if I have roof fans installed already?

Roof vents become a liability when snow and ice are concerned. If you have roof vents we recommend you check to see they are perfectly sealed to the vehicle body, insulate the cavity and ensure there is no air exchange. Natural convection brings warm air to the top of the cavity and we don’t want to leak it out. All air leaving the cavity needs to be accounted for and mined for heat recovery.

How much noise does it make?

Our system has a normal operating noise level below 40dB, similar to a sleep noise generator except that there is a fan transition every 2 minutes. You produce less CO2 when you sleep, so the fans will run more slowly through the night versus the normal daytime activity. Customers often stop noticing the system after a few nights since it is running all the time. Others locate the fan a few feet further away from the bed, or sleep with a portable sleep noise generator to overlap the sound and mask the short absence of fans as they stop to reverse direction. We can return unmounted products if they are unused and suitable for resale to another customer.

Why don’t you have large air filters?

We have a small bug screen in each module as mosquitos are attracted to the flume of CO2 laden air leaving the modules to the outside. In order to maximize efficiency, form factor and quietness we were unable to incorporate air filters into our design. We anticipate our products being used on location where the air quality is suitable for you to be outside, but want to bring shelter to be cozy.

If you need filtration we recommend the use of a plug in HEPA filtration system, which can also provide a more consistent noise environment.

Why the two different module core materials and what are you planning for future products?

We have tested both of our core materials to work. Our goal is to have our next generation product incorporate a Phase Change Material (PCM) into our ceramics that stores latent heat and will allow our cores to supply a stable supply temperature through their entire discharge range. We are also working on embedding desiccant material into our steel cores to upgrade it to an Enthalpy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) that will allow our customers in hot regions to reduce their air conditioning loads on mobile spaces and make their batteries last longer. If you buy a system today, it will be compatible with any replaceable cores we make in the future.