- Joined
- Sep 17, 2003
- Threads
- 64
- Messages
- 4,427
- Location
- Sunnyvale, CA
- Website
- www.george4wd.taskled.com
Solar on the hood.
If you are driving and it's hot, well, the alternator is providing all you need anyway.
If you are parked, the engine's not producing heat other than the first little while as it cools down - but then the alternator was running up to that point and fridge is likely fully cooled down, so all good.
I don't see an issue from a heat perspective. Solar panels get stinking hot when sitting under full sun (they are dark and absorb a lot of that IR as heat), sure they are more efficient when cool, but that's the case when the sky is overcast and you need every watt you can extract in that situation anyway (win/win)
cheers,
george.
If you are driving and it's hot, well, the alternator is providing all you need anyway.
If you are parked, the engine's not producing heat other than the first little while as it cools down - but then the alternator was running up to that point and fridge is likely fully cooled down, so all good.
I don't see an issue from a heat perspective. Solar panels get stinking hot when sitting under full sun (they are dark and absorb a lot of that IR as heat), sure they are more efficient when cool, but that's the case when the sky is overcast and you need every watt you can extract in that situation anyway (win/win)
cheers,
george.