We are not going to lie. We love solar screens!
Solarscreen has been making top-notch gear since 1998 right here in Australia, and they have become extremely popular here in Western Australia – for a good reason!
Started in Queensland, this family-run team has built and designed their multi-layer composite material to ensure light and heat doesn’t penetrate. Like Western Australia, Queensland sees incredibly hot temperatures and harsh sun that dramatically raises vehicle temperatures and destroys the interiors over time.
The Solarscreen was born to keep vehicles cooler. No more burning your hands on steering wheels, seatbelts, or hot leather seats.
What does a Solar Screen Achieve?
Using a fancy material to cover your windows and windscreen sounds nice and all but what does it achieve?
Well, simple, it keeps your vehicle substantially cooler than the ambient temperature outside. So rather than jumping into your vehicle and it being 10 degrees hotter than the outside temperature it is actually 10 degrees cooler than the outside temp. You will be jumping into your car to keep cool when you have a full set of solar screens in place. We have tested them in temperatures up to about 45-50 degrees and seen a substantial difference Vs cars without them.
How do Solar Screens work?
Solar Screens Keep You Cool
Multiple layers of mylar and polyethylene insulation inside the material prevent heat waves (infrared) from passing through the Solar screen. These waves of light – visible, UV & Ultraviolet – all have the inherent ability to create heat, so rather than allowing these lightwaves into the vehicle, the Solar Screens bounce them back out. Add this to the fact that each set of solar screens is designed to fit the window perfectly, no light enters the vehicle and therefore no heat from light.
Note: Your vehicle can still get “warm” as heat can still be absorbed through the metal panels and travel through the air.
There are a few extra upsides to the solar screens that are less commonly talked about;
Solar Screens Keep You Warm
As well as keeping light out of the vehicle, the same reflective properties can allow you to keep heat in the vehicle. If you sleep in your vehicle this could be a massive upside for you. Often heat will dissipate through the glass of the windows at night making your vehicle cold. The Solar Screens will stop the warm air from inside the car from interacting with the cold air around the glass. Win-win for everyone.
Solar Screens Reduce Condensation
The by-product of the hot and cold air not mixing means that condensation is not created. This stops those pesky water drops from getting down into the cracks of your windows, or worse, dripping on you in the middle of the night.
Reduced Power Consumption for Fridges/Freezers
Installing solar screens in your vehicle can significantly reduce the power consumption of 12V fridge/freezers by maintaining a cooler interior temperature. Solar screens are designed to block up to 97% of solar radiation, effectively lowering the ambient temperature inside the vehicle. This reduction in heat means that your 12V fridge/freezer doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain its set temperature, leading to decreased energy usage and increased battery endurance. By minimizing the workload on your 12v fridge, solar screens contribute to a more efficient and sustainable power management system during your travels.
Solar Screens Come in a Number of Packages
Solarscreen Touring Set
The Touring set is one of our most common sets. It essentially covers everything behind the driver. This option is a great solution if you are traveling most days, or if you have a lot of gear in the back of your vehicle. A fridge will also be much more efficient if you are able to keep the ambient temp of the vehicle down.
Solarsceen Complete Set
As the name suggests this is a complete set with all the glass in the vehicle having a cover option, from the windscreen to the back of the vehicle. Obviously, you wouldn’t have all the screens up while driving but if you are stationary for a few days at a time you can set them up and allow them to do their job. Also great if you sleep in your vehicle and want to have some added privacy or just like it really dark when you sleep.
Solarscreen Cargo Set
The Cargo set is a great solution for covering the rear of your vehicle. Keeping the sun out of the cargo areas of the vehicle allows them to stay cooler and offer a more stable and comfortable temperature. This set is lesser known but is a great set for families or people that still want to have the rear passenger windows clear.
Solarscreen Dash Protector
This one is pretty self-explanatory, it is a small thing piece of solar screen designed to sit at the bottom of your windscreen to reduce the light that is streaming in and heating up your dash and slowly destroying it. This piece is small enough that it can be left on while driving without causing any interference with your view of the road. It’s only available for certain models though, usually ones with straighter screens.
What does a Solarscreen set include?
The Solarscreen sets come with;
- The complete set of screens designed specifically for your vehicle
- All screens have suction cups attached and are ready to stick to the window
- Solar Screens are supplied with a heavy-duty 210-denier nylon storage bag
Want to get your hands on some of the range from Solarscreen?
Get in touch with the team and we can help you out!
