Alternative to tint.

I think I might be concerned how it stays on when you activate the power window. I use mine to remove condensation in the mornings and the rubber guides make pretty good squeeges, they might displace a static hold film.

 

Sounds GREAT for the rear hatch window which lets quite a bit more sunlight than the side windows.

 

The static cling material works great if you want a non-permanent tint.. I had a sunshade before, but you can't open the windows with the shade installed. I've actually got a couple of "patches" of static-cling tinted material that were sold as children's back seat glare blockers on the two rear windows of my Classic Prius because I often transport stuff in the back seat area and I wanted to reduce the direct sun as well as provide a degree of privacy, but didn't want or need the full blown tint solution..

Anyways, the static-cling sheets work very well, and there's no problem opening/closing the windows at all- the material sticks tight and does not move. Small air bubbles are inevitable when installing, but they disappear after a few weeks- the squeegee action of the weatherstrip also helps to smooth out any air bubbles.

IMO, thiis is definitely an alternatuve (to conventional tint), and one that you can install easily yourself with minimal fuss, unlike adhesive tint films..

 

Let us know what you think after you have applied it.

 

My understanding of the physics behind tints and films is awfully basic, and hopefully people will pitch in. I think though, that this framework may help you shop and make a best choice:

I think of sunlight in 3 spectrums

UV
visible
infra-red

UV is already blocked by the windows we have. Additional blocking isn't worth it.
infra-red is *heat*, and the more you can repel, the better.
visible certainly affects how you subjectively feel in the car, but I cannot quantify how much. Driving at night is much more comfortable than mid-day at the same temperatue, but is that all due to less visible light, or is there less infra-red also ??

The film OP is considering decreases visible to 20%, and infra-red an uncertain amount -- probably not a lot, or the ad would mention it. So I tend to think energy requirements to cool to the same cabin termperature may not change a whole lot, but *perhaps* the same temperature will feel more tolerable ?

A possible downside to consider is night driving, where the visible light - such as it is - is welcome.

I googled self-adhesive films, and came up with quite a few choices. One that caught my eye is a metallic based film, with 30% infra-red reflection:
http://www.powerhousetv.com/stellent2/grou..._bu_000524.hcsp

Insight or opinions ?

 

You need to include trojanhorse visible light. It hits the black & objects and converts into infra-heat. You shove enough energy at something, and it'll turn into heat i.e. brakes.

And, we got a lot of pseudo-black plastic inside too.

 

infrared light consists of about 53% of the solar heat.

 

Has anybody had V-Kool 70 applied? Everything I've read indicates that it is a superior product to Huber Optic when it comes to passing visible light and rejecting IR. It also appears a bit more expensive.

I'm not thrilled with the "tint" effect of Huber and other films. I'm specifically interested in what effect V-Kool might have had on cell phone reception. I don't have a NAV system so its not an issue.

 

Doesn't the Prius have a rear defogger on the rear hatch window that would prevent the use of this window film? I just ordered a Prius about a week ago - most likely a 3-month wait.

 

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I don't care about the rear window. Just the side windows.

 

According to the link, that window tint alternative has a light transmission of 20%. Is it legal in your state? (Here in NC, 35% is the minimum.)

 

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?...991&cat=2,43224

Although sold as greenhouse window film, this is probably the same stuff in a larger roll, at a better price per sq. foot, and includes a knife and squeegee in the kit.. The roll is 36" x 168" and is supposed to block 98% UV and 51% of the heat. A single large roll is probably enough to do the whole car...

As I alluded to before, the real benefit of this type of tint is that it adheres to the window by static instead of adhesive, which eliminates the common do-it-yourself problem of film sticking to itself, and the inability to re-try if you get a bubble or a crease.. Thus, unlike typical window films, which really do require professional installation for best results, with this stuff, you can definitely do a credible job yourself, and if you screw up, simply peel it off, and try again until you get it right..

In terms of clarity, it is a little more hazy than regular film- this is due to it being a thicker vinyl film instead of the thin polyester that normal tint is composed of, but really, it's not that bad- I've seen some traditional films where the adhesive layer goes as hazy or worse after a couple of seasons..