Please Share Your Solar Roof Experience

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Prianista, May 30, 2009.

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  1. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    ManualOnly, despite that, Toyota warns that people should not occupy the car in this case.

    rtlt, I intend to, but would like to get my hands on an IR thermometer for this first.

    Tideland, I think they are. Everything about this generation seems quieter except the stereo ;)
     
    #21 HTMLSpinnr, Jun 1, 2009
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  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    And yet the weight only went up by 100lbs. Amazing.
     
    #22 Tideland Prius, Jun 1, 2009
  3. raygundan

    raygundan New Member

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    I'm in the Phoenix area, and ordered an IR thermometer a few days ago for use in trying different ways to reduce the heat transfer of our home's metal window frames. If you don't have one of your own by the time mine shows up in the mail, you're welcome to use it. I can't wait to see the test results.
     
    #23 raygundan, Jun 1, 2009
  4. no_to_co

    no_to_co Junior Member

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    What about the air quality? The air in LA is very dirty. If you park your car outside over night, the car will be covered in gunk and grime by morning. How well is the air filtered the comes through this vent? I doubt that is has the same filtering as the regular AC pipeline. Would it bring extra dust and dirt into the car if it just ran everyday?
     
    #24 no_to_co, Jun 1, 2009
  5. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Actually it goes through the same filter as the A/C pipeline. This is why solar roof cars have 10,000 mile clean and 20,000 mile replace intervals instead of the 15k/30k interval of the non-solar roof version.

    The blower motor is also "beefier" (dual ball bearings, brushless design, etc.) to last longer as it operates quite a bit more during it's service life.
     
    #25 HTMLSpinnr, Jun 2, 2009
  6. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Short of having a thermometer handy, I was able to do one of the best comparisons yet. Both the 2004 and 2010 are sitting in the driveway this morning. The 2004 had a sun shade up, but it's kinda losing it's rigidity and thus fell onto the dash.

    It was well over 100F in the 2004 as I went to take it around the block for another post (http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...heels-steering-shocks-oh-my-2.html#post863995).

    I then sat in the 2010 which had the solar roof functioning to make the same drive. About ambient (maybe +2-3°F). Ambient is about mid 80's at the moment. Big difference.

    Glad I got the solar moon roof. ;)
     
    #26 HTMLSpinnr, Jun 2, 2009
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  7. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    yep, i tried using thermometer, but it takes time to register the temp and kinda messed it up because i didnt think about it and put it where the sun shone on it.

    now the SPM is gone to work, so have to wait for another day to try it again
     
    #27 DaveinOlyWA, Jun 2, 2009
  8. zyonuf79

    zyonuf79 New Member

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    Solar Roof Measurements

    If someone with a solar roof has the time, then I would like to see a comparison of the degree difference the solar roof makes in the cabin of the car. Hopefully we have a largish number of people that can provide some numbers for those of us on the fence about the solar roof.
     
    #28 zyonuf79, Jun 7, 2009
  9. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    #29 Boo, Jun 7, 2009
  10. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Re: Solar Roof Measurements

    Yesterday, I got to compare the interior height difference of a solar & non-solar. With quick & crude measure, it appeared as though the greatest difference was 3/4 of an inch.

    For me being dead average for size, that meant I still had about 2 inches of space above my head while I drive with the seat adjusted to be straight vertical.
    .
     
    #30 john1701a, Jun 7, 2009
  11. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Re: Solar Roof Measurements

    Maybe this would be a good place to post additional reports. I would like to know if people have tried the remote air conditioner feature and how much difference that makes.

    Another question is: when you unlock and get in the car, does the solar ventilation shut off or does it continue until you start the car?

    Roy
     
    #31 royrose, Jun 7, 2009
  12. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Re: Solar Roof Measurements

    It continues to run until you start... which is quite a sensation.
    .
     
    #32 john1701a, Jun 7, 2009
  13. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Re: Solar Roof Measurements

    No offense, a good thread for that would be the solar roof experience thread here:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...-please-share-your-solar-roof-experience.html

    Changing topics (hijacking) or creating new threads w/ the same info makes the forum less than usable.
     
    #33 HTMLSpinnr, Jun 7, 2009
  14. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    #34 royrose, Jun 7, 2009
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    *Threads merged*
     
    #35 Tideland Prius, Jun 7, 2009
  16. paulemus

    paulemus New Member

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    I just got the solar roof a month ago, and in January I was actually cold for eating my lunch here in San Diego in the sixties. I have an electric cooler that a put blue ice in the morning for my juices and salad. Generally park under the shade of some palm trees with sun shield in front. But with the solar ventilation going, it was down right chilly. Even more so than my Gen2 Prius where I had one of those solar powered ventilators that hang on the window.
     
    #36 paulemus, Jan 17, 2010
  17. skeptic1

    skeptic1 New Member

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    #37 skeptic1, Sep 14, 2011
  18. goober_nut

    goober_nut Member

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    #38 goober_nut, Sep 14, 2011
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  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    #39 Tideland Prius, Sep 15, 2011
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  20. katiesdad7

    katiesdad7 Member

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    Here in S Florida it is a must. Along with the tinted windows. I had a black "loaner" Prius for 2 weeks with no solar. I can tell you that getting in that car was like going inside the 7th level of hell. I was thinking that my skin would melt. Then when I got my white prisu with the solar back I found that it was not bad to get in. And also my AC cooled a lot faster and I didn't have to drive all day with the fan on high.

    A must have option in certain areas. Now would you need it in Michigan? Probably not. :)
     
    #40 katiesdad7, Sep 15, 2011
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