bee cool hive ventilation ? Anybody know anything about this

[firetool]

I was looking on ebay this evening and made a neat discovery. They are called a bee-cool hive vebtilation. They are solar powered and have a temistat that kicks on at 70deg. and shuts of at 60. It pulls the hot and moist air out of the hive. I like the sound of that when you think about how hot it gets down here.
 I would like to know if anybody has got one and would tell us how to build one. I know we could build it for cheaper. At lest I hope so anyway.

Brian

[beemaster]

Hi Brian:

There are many fan based ventilation methods available, and having a thermostat to control venting wouldn't be a difficult thing to wore either.

Those parameters (which I think are offered as an example) are well outside the typical hive temperature range and I think generally I would aim the ON TEMP much higher - probably nearer 90 in a poorly vented hive with a shut off around 80.

Egg production is tricky and the bees can be rather picky about where they aim their work effort toward and having too much venting could cause then to over load the hive with propolis and wax, not to mention hoarding around the eggs cells rather than going about general hive duties.

In nature, a one hole in/out door is most common - today we like the ideas of bottom screen board for venting and varroa control, and except in extreme heat conditions - fan venting isn't a real issue. But then I look where you are and can only imagine the temps you are dealing with at different times of the season.

Note: I'm writing on my work PC and it is really screwy, if I miss any points, it's because the cursor is pointing and moving anywhere it wants and I'm not flying this plane - lol.

Venting is always important - it allows the bees to do be duties at a normal pace without having to waste energy and workers for regulating hive temps. This particular fan device sounds interesting, but I would play around with the temperature range (which is my main point) until you see your bees working around it seemlessly.

A point often missed is scavenging and animal attraction due to fanning the honey smell. Skunks and other critters are better alerted to your hives when air is forced into or out of the hives.

Keeping the hive comfortable though is a great way to better healthy larger bee-count colonies - allowing you to build upwards without the need to deal with swarming AS LONG AS YOU closely watch the bee count - since bearding isn't as prevalent as without fanning.

Remember too that fanning can also bring moisture into and out of a hive - throwing off the balance of the fanning done to evaporate nectar to honey.

I guess my main point is, it is handy to have, but changes the natural order a little inside the world of the hive. And any time we  alter the bee's enviroment, there are changes that occur - imagine having a large light in the hive (blacklight, incandesent, floresent) on in the hive 24 hours a day - bees work in near total darkness, communicate through touching and pheromones. All these changes can cause weaker communication skills which are instinctual to the hive - I guess I'm old fashion and probably you will get a dozen different adverse opinions, but these are mine.

Using vent fans have their purpose, but be careful in the ranges that the fan cycles, I honestly believe it can do a DIS-SERVICE to your bees if over used. Coming on and off at around 60 to 70 sounds like it will be running most all day and evening long - what effect might that have in the long term?

[Robo]

I have the patent listed on my website if you want more info, or want to try building your own.

http://robo.hydroville.com/html/modules.php?name=Script_Depository

[firetool]

I migth be wrong about the temps. they might be as high as 90 deg. I found the information hard to read. It can get hot down here though so I could see a need for it. Some times the temp. can push close to the 104 or higher on akations. The humdity is not much of a problem here.

Thanks,

 Brian
Robo I was not able to see the patent. Is there something I need to do to view the patent?

[lively Bee's]

Robo I was also unable to open any of the pdf's


but here is a web site I found some time ago


http://www.beecool.com/BeeCool/abstract.htm

[beemaster]

I'm just all giddy inside - I think Robo AGREED with ME                It's like Santa dropped Cialis in my stocking for Christmas    

Now.... if I'm wrong, I'm jumping of my tallest beehive and killing myself again!!!!  

[Robo]

Robo I was also unable to open any of the pdf's

Should be fixed now,  found a problem with Internet Explorer.  Was working fine with Firefox, and I had never checked it out with IE.

Sorry about that.....

[firetool]

thanks robo I was abale to get it.

Brian