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Solar Roof ventilation

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by duraace, Jul 15, 2009.

  1. duraace

    duraace New Member

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    I turned on Solar Roof ventilation per the instructions, and I can't tell if it makes any noticeable difference in keeping the car cooler?? Is there any way to confirm whether it is operating correctly? I sat in it for just over 10 minutes yesterday, waiting to see if I could hear any fans come on, and I couldn't. Are the fans ultra quiet?
     
    #1 duraace, Jul 15, 2009
  2. alcor

    alcor New Member

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    After 10 minutes, the fans will operate if the car is parked in direct sunlight. The only vents that operate are the two upper vents near the middle of the front consul. The fan is quite, however, you should feel a moderate air flow through them. I am happy with the way the system works.

    alan
     
    #2 alcor, Jul 15, 2009
  3. duraace

    duraace New Member

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    So if I walk up to the car, get in, should I be able to put my hand against the vent and feel the air coming out? The solar air stops only when you push Power on (and there is sun), right? I have not felt any air coming out of a vent yet.

    Also!! If I have the button pushed in (on) for the solar Panel, will it always work after I turn the Power off, like after driving?
     
    #3 duraace, Jul 15, 2009
  4. jaywolf

    jaywolf Member

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    Yes. If you sit in the car under full sun it blows on high. I was sitting in ours the other day reading, and when a cloud went over the sun the fan slowed it is very sensitive.
     
    #4 jaywolf, Jul 15, 2009
  5. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    I'd say "medium" fan speed is the fastest you'll get under direct sunlight.

    When operating the switch, there's no obvious on/off position unless you carefully observe whether the button is depressed by about 1mm or not.
     
    #5 HTMLSpinnr, Jul 16, 2009
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Might want to double check whether the doors need to be locked before the fan works. If you're sitting inside the car, chances are the doors are unlocked, right?

    P.S. we don't have a model so it should read N/A
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Jul 16, 2009
  7. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    I believe Solar will operate locked or unlocked. Remote A/C locks the doors first though.
     
    #7 HTMLSpinnr, Jul 16, 2009
  8. Radon

    Radon New Member

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    Once the fan is going I can unlock the car, open the doors, hatch and it will keep running the fan until I press the start button. It has been working very well with the 31deg C weather we've been having.
     
    #8 Radon, Jul 19, 2009
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    time to update your profile! Premium - CA under the package name.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Jul 20, 2009
  10. mfischer2

    mfischer2 Junior Member

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    Is the roof temp sensitive? We have several bright sunny -10 days here in Colorado.
     
    #10 mfischer2, Jul 20, 2009
  11. Radon

    Radon New Member

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    the roof isn't but the fans turn on based on the temp you set your climate controll and the temp outside
     
    #11 Radon, Jul 20, 2009
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Which kinda sucks cause back in May, it was a chilly 5°C but the sun was starting to shine brightly so you kinda need A/C (weird I know) or open the window and get a cold skin (which I prefer not too).
     
    #12 Tideland Prius, Jul 21, 2009
  13. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    We frequently get that same situation. The cold days are the sunny days.

    Tom
     
    #13 qbee42, Jul 21, 2009
  14. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    There's a 68°F lower temp threshold for solar roof operation. i.e. it's not supposed to operate if inside ambient is less. There's also the defeat switch to turn it off if that's not functioning as expected.
     
    #14 HTMLSpinnr, Jul 21, 2009
  15. TKY

    TKY Member

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    mfisher2, I'm not sure what you are asking about roof temperature sensitivity; here's my guess - the manual says it has to be 68 degrees or warmer for the solar roof vent system to work. I have gotten into my car after being parked outside and there are two indications of the solar roof vent. working. There is a slight sound and feel of air movement and the car interior does not feel like the interior of a broiler. It isn't air condition cooled, but it isn't 20, 30, or 40 degrees hotter than the ambient temperature. --TK
     
    #15 TKY, Jul 21, 2009
  16. Radon

    Radon New Member

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    That said at 5°C the interior isn't going to get hella hot.
     
    #16 Radon, Jul 21, 2009
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    You'll be surprised. 5°C in the middle of winter in Vancouevr, yeah it's not gonna get cold. 5°C in May in Edmonton, the inside will heat up like it was summer.
     
    #17 Tideland Prius, Jul 21, 2009
  18. Radon

    Radon New Member

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    Ya I was there a few years back at -30°C or some junk like that it felt warmer than 1°C here. I was really surprised at the number of muscle cars etc there as well... To much disposable income!
     
    #18 Radon, Jul 22, 2009
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    lol. It's 86.9¢/litre right now.
     
    #19 Tideland Prius, Jul 22, 2009
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