Sunglasses

If your problem is the green color of the gauges, that is entirely under your control.

See the manual for setup instructions to change it to beige, blue, or white. Similar to the background MFD color, these can be different for up to 3 (I think) different drivers of the same Prius (if they bother to switch to their settings). They can have their own destinations too if Nav-equipped.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jimofdg\";p=\"83066)</div>

I was not aware you could change the color of the instrument panel display. Is this in Prius models in the US? And if so, where in the manual does it show you how to change it?

 

I also am not aware that the speedometer color can be changed, what pages in the manual say that?

 

Start with page 152. This allows you to change the background color of the MFD whether you have Nav or not.

This may also affect the "instrument cluster" (Toyota's name for that speedometer/gas gauge area just below the front wipers) color; I didn't see it listed anywhere else but I have made it change.

 

I have 2 Oakley Square Wire 2.0 frames with polarized and normal lenses and have no problems seeing the MFD screen or the green digital display. Maybe you need to change to a different pair of glasses.

The digital display cannot be changed. Only the MFD screen. It is under menu button, then dispay I think. Choices are green, blue, grey, and beige.

 

There's a simple test to check if the problems are due to polarized sunglasses: tilt your head sideways in each direction and see if the display changes (or rotate the sunglasses by 90 degrees). The LCD display of the MFD should go from bright to black to bright again as you rotate your sunglasses through 180 degrees.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tadashi\";p=\"83079)</div>

Or maybe just tilt your head to the side when you wish to read the offended displays . . . but that could become a real pain in the neck.

Trivia: To tell if a pair of sunglasses are polarizing, find a pair of known polarizing glasses. Hold one eye piece from one pair in front of one eye piece from the other pair. Look through both and slowly rotate the glasses. If the view goes dark, both pair are polarizing. TaaaaDaaa!

 

I wear polarizing glacier glasses (with side protectors removed) sold by REI (www.rei.com). The visual displays (front and the MFD) are clear and easy to see.

 

I'd go with cheap glasses, I wouldnt suggest spending too much on glasses such as oakleys that can go over 100 just because of the brand name..

 

Some cheap polarized lenses are cut at the wrong angle, meaning they don't filter light in the proper direction for practical purposes.

If the sun is directly in front of you, you should notice the maximum filtering effect if your glasses are aligned properly. If you have to turn your head from side to side to get the filtering, AND the sun is directly in front of you, then the alignment is off, and LCD screens and displays may be partially or fully darkened.

Always test a pair of cheap sunglasses in the store before buying them. The lens should not have wavy transparent patterns in it, and the polarization should be aligned.

 

I believe the digital display is flourescent, like some clock radios. I can see the fine cathode wires cutting across the display. I don't believe flouescent displays have polarization like LCDs do.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(reesdude\";p=\"83150)</div>

There is more difference between cheap and expensive sun glasses besides brand name. 8)

I subscribe to the logic of buying a good pair with outstanding optical qualities. Sure they will cost more to purchase, but I tend to take better care of expensive sunglasses - thereby negating the costs of constantly replacing cheap ones that I tend to misplace, scratch, crush, etc.

It’s kind of the “purchase a Prius or cheaper car debate†. . . sure, you can buy a cheaper car and save money in the long run . . . but you have to drive it. :x

I had a pair of Revo sunglasses which lasted me over 15 years. I, or should I say they, convinced several pilot friends to purchase a pair after comparing their glasses to the Revos . . . “Wow, I can see everything clearly outside the aircraft without squinting, and I’m able to read the instruments too! HOW MUCH!! #&)$#&!!!†They ended up purchasing in spite of the cost because they had seen the difference a quality pair of sunglasses made, and they all are now sunglass snobs too.

 

Yep the Oakley Polarized lenses were awesome. I bought a cheap pair of polarized glasses to go fishing with and then my friend showed me these. I could see all kinds of stuff I could not with the other pair I had. I nearly passed out when I saw the price but got them anyways after using seeing them first hand. Fishing is easier when you can see the fish.

The difference in glasses is the amount of light they let through and at what wavelengths, protection, etc.

 

thats definitely awesome that you can keep a pair for so many years, I tend to break or lose mine fairly frequently and so want nothing more than not "cheap", but inexpensive pair. I guess it depends on how you long u plan to keep them Russ...

 

Are the glasses colored? I have one pair of brown tinted glasses, which I sometime wear when I am a passenger but avoid when I drive because they tend to make some traffic lights disappear. Some colored glasses might block the green light from the speedometer.

 

This is the problem I had with my cheap Walmart polarized clip-ons. I needed a 45 degree tilt to see the MFD. I couldn't find any non-polarized ones. I needed new glasses, I chose the frame that comes with a polarized magnetic clip-on. I asked if they could get them non-polarized. She said no, but I could order another clip-on and she could put non-polarized lenses in them. I did that. Now I find that the polarized ones are almost good enough to use in the car, maybe a 5 degree tilt. But since I have the others, I use them.

 

Since I'm rather near-sighted, I always need to wear glasses. I used to have regular glasses with AR coating and prescription polarized sunglasses.

It became a huge PITA to worry about having two pairs of eyeglasses to lose/misplace. Not to mention that prescription polarized sunglasses are really $$$ too.

Last year I got new glasses with magnetic clip-on sunglasses, and they work great. I can confirm that some polarized sunglasses, more often the cheap Wally World or discount place variety, are *not* polarized at the correct angle.

Some LCD's, especially older ones, also have the polarizing filter at the wrong angle. The Nortel Meridian phone system at work is such an animal.

It's around 10 years old, works perfectly, and is easily software upgradeable. However, that large LCD screen turns black if I clip on my sunglasses.

You can easily tell if you have "real" polarizing sunglasses, if you have an LCD watch. Simply hold the sunglasses in front of the watch and rotate the sunglasses. If they are properly polarized, at 90 and 270 degrees of rotation, the watch display will turn black.

Especially on a bright day in winter with fresh snow, there is no way I would be without polarized sunglasses.