Ask the Rabbi

Solar fan

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Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

Sivan 17, 5783
Question
Can a fan, which works by connecting it to a solar panel (i.e not electricity), be switched on or off on Shabbat?
Answer
ב"ה This question is dealt with extensively in the Hebrew counterpart of this website by Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt. https://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/15071 I will just basically repeat the conclusions and what can be deducted. The solar panels do create electricity. Nonetheless, if the fan is exposed to sunlight before Shabbat and there is no intervention with the exposure to the sunlight during Shabbat and the fan then goes on and off automatically, it may be used on Shabbat. However, one may NOT do any action to expose the solar panel to sunlight on Shabbat, because it would be like turning on an electric fan manually which is forbidden. Even if a person opens a shade not for the purpose of using the fan, but merely to let light into the room which inevitably will turn the fan on , it is still forbidden on Shabbat. All the best
את המידע הדפסתי באמצעות אתר yeshiva.org.il