Solar Roof Question

You've been given grossly wrong information. All information is covered in the owners manual.

The solar roof does not charge anything. Nothing. It simply provides a few watts of electricity to power the in-dash fan only. It does not power the air conditioner. It uses the fan to pull cooler outside air into the car while it sits in the sun. It's the equivalent of leaving your windows rolled down an inch or so but with much more security and because the air passes through the in-dash filter it's much cleaner too.

There is a button on the left lower dash that needs to be push before you turn the car off to activate the fan. It will take approximately 10 minutes for it to come on.

Remote A/C is on the keyfob and will run the a/c for a few minutes. It is powered by the hybrid battery which is NOT charged by the solar roof.

 

There's a saying, "How do you know a dealer is giving you false information? When their lips are moving."

Anyway, I actually found that the solar option works best in the winter. Why? Because the cooler outside air is more effective in reducing internal temps than hot, humid summer time air. I've spent more than a few sunny winter days sitting in the car listening to the radio while the cool air filters in. It feels just like a/c and you can enjoy it "guilt free" unlike others idling away.

Don't get me wrong, it's quiet effective in the summer too but don't think it's like having the a/c on!

If you are in a somewhat quiet location, you can hear the fan running by standing near the passenger side A-piller and lean down near the base of the windshield next to the wiper. Remember after activation and powering down, it takes about 10 minutes. If you get in and shut the door, it will stop but resume after a short bit if you don't power up the car.

 

On Pearl S the fan will not run unless the temperature in the car is high. Not sure how high. It doesn't run at all this time of year (it's been -10C or lower for the last 3-4 weeks). It also doesn't run this time of the year because Pearl S is parked in the garage with a battery tender on the 12V system.

 

Fotomoto already covered most of this. It sounds like the dealers you talked to very seriously oversold it. In my climate, the solar roof is a summer-only ventilation thing when the car is closed and unattended for more than ten minutes.

In weak or low angle sun, or partial shade, it often cycles on for a few seconds then shuts down for a bit. This not really a problem, because when the available light is too weak to steadily run the ventilation fan, it is also not strongly heating the interior.

 

Mine will run even on a cloudy day just not as often.
On full sun it takes a few minutes to charge a capacitor which then turns on the fan until it's depleted and then charges and does it again.

During really good sun it can run almost continually.

I leave mine on year round except on cold winter days when I don't want the cold air blowing in and would rather have a toasty car to come back to... Then I leave my sunroof slider open too.

Alan...
Sent with Tapatalk 2

 

I just purchased a new 2012 Prius 3 with the solar roof package and basically got that option for the sun roof . Like you the dealer told me the panel charged the batteries but I had read online that was a bunch of BS. Its really too bad the dealers are selling that as a feature. I live in MN where its cold a lot of the year (well below freezing) but I think the best part of the solar fan is to help keep the battery pack from getting really hot on those summer where the inside of the car can get over 150 degrees. I figure it will help prolong the overall life of the pack and help with battery health. I better run out and turn off the system, I think its about 15 outside right now, lord knows it does not need any outside air going in

 

Solar roof makes 12 volt only, compatible with the accessory / startup battery anyway and the juice can't go backwards to the main traction battery that runs at 201.6 volts that turns the wheels.

Besides 8 hours of charging on a full bright day might roll you for 30 seconds if even that "without doing the math'.

It's rediculous the amount of energy needed to run the car verses a little fan motor.

Alan...
Sent with Tapatalk 2

 

Even if the dealer bullshitted you on the roof function, it looks freakin cool on the car. That's why I ordered it on mine

Mike

 

I have to agree, I think its looks really nice. Plus, who doesn't love a sun roof?

 

I've had mine open a couple times but mostly my wife made me order the car with it so I couldn't complain later that I should'a gotten that option My first choice was a Three then that turned into lets add this and that and so forth I was totally happy with the rental Two's that I previously was driving. Now I want to utilize that solar panel for dual purposes and install a charge controller, switch & separate accessory jack for charging my batteries I use for operating portable. I'm a Amateur Radio operator. The panel is rated ~ 21v at 3.6a in max sunlight. I don't recall the exact spec's but around that. Totally usable with a 14v charge controller.

Mike

 

I would be afraid to tap into that, but I would be happy if I could link it to the 12volt to ensure that batt stays charged tho.

 

I have the 10/11 schematic's and hoping the 12 is similar enough so it is easy to find the wires from the panel without taking the interior completely apart. Surely a battery charge controller could be used as a maintainer on the regular battery. The panel is only 60w so it might have to be switched from the ventilation system or charge controller. I don't know what the ventilation fan draws until I measure it. There might be enough to run both systems in direct sunlight. Right now I am using a charger that can put out 300ma and it is way overkill for maintaining the 14v battery. I have to cycle it on for 2 hours per 24 hour time block or it takes the battery way over 14v. Using that same charger on a regular car battery it maintains it at 14.2v forever. That tells me the Prius 14v battery would require a tiny charge to maintain, so the solar panel might b fine running the blower fan & maintaining the 14v battery. We'll see after I get started on the project

Mike

 

I live in Florida, the sunshine state, and my fan runs all the time. You can hear it as you walk up to the car. It does keep the inside a lot cooler. Its pitch black right now but my guess is the fan is still running....... As for the remote A/C. I never use it. You have to be pretty close to activate it and by that time you are only 10 seconds away from getting in and starting it. Plus I never remember to put the fan on high when I get out.