How about cars? (Score: 3, Interesting) by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-08-09 17:54 (#GX4R) Sounds like a great idea for car windshields... They're clear so should be street-legal, they block the infrared light responsible for much of the heat, they block the ultraviolet light that hurts your eyes and makes you squint, and they also float-charge your battery while you're parked in the sun, or maybe even turn an exhaust fan. A little less load on your alternator would improve gas mileage by a hair.Only big problem with the idea is windshields get damaged and need to be replaced somewhat frequently, so the solar tech needs to be cheap enough that it doesn't quadruple the cost. Re: How about cars? (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-08-09 22:42 (#GXM6) Frequently? I have never had to replace a windshield. My cars have lasted for 5 and 11 years. Re: How about cars? (Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-08-10 02:04 (#GXXB) A truly powerful anecdote. But according the Internets "13-14 million windshields are replaced each year". Lower figure is 7.5 million. I imagine that doesn't necessarily even include the millions of windshield repairs (not replacements). I've had it done 2 or 3 times.Your mileage may vary. But your anecdote (and mine) aren't worth anything.Did I fully explain that your anecdote is meaningless?Also, the poster wrote "somewhat frequently". Re: How about cars? (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-08-10 18:47 (#H067) There are ~250 million passenger vehicles in the US. Assuming that each replacement was on a different car (which they are not) that's only about 5% being replaced. That's not even "somewhat" frequently. Re: How about cars? (Score: 1) by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-08-10 20:00 (#H0C9) 5% per year is plenty frequent. That's a 50/50 chance over 10 years. If you've got two cars, make that a 100% chance you'll need to replace one of them in 10 years. And none of this is including all the years people drive around with a cracked/chipped windshield before replacing it. That's not long enough of a horizon for solar panels, which should last 30+ years, easily.
Re: How about cars? (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-08-09 22:42 (#GXM6) Frequently? I have never had to replace a windshield. My cars have lasted for 5 and 11 years. Re: How about cars? (Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-08-10 02:04 (#GXXB) A truly powerful anecdote. But according the Internets "13-14 million windshields are replaced each year". Lower figure is 7.5 million. I imagine that doesn't necessarily even include the millions of windshield repairs (not replacements). I've had it done 2 or 3 times.Your mileage may vary. But your anecdote (and mine) aren't worth anything.Did I fully explain that your anecdote is meaningless?Also, the poster wrote "somewhat frequently". Re: How about cars? (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-08-10 18:47 (#H067) There are ~250 million passenger vehicles in the US. Assuming that each replacement was on a different car (which they are not) that's only about 5% being replaced. That's not even "somewhat" frequently. Re: How about cars? (Score: 1) by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-08-10 20:00 (#H0C9) 5% per year is plenty frequent. That's a 50/50 chance over 10 years. If you've got two cars, make that a 100% chance you'll need to replace one of them in 10 years. And none of this is including all the years people drive around with a cracked/chipped windshield before replacing it. That's not long enough of a horizon for solar panels, which should last 30+ years, easily.
Re: How about cars? (Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-08-10 02:04 (#GXXB) A truly powerful anecdote. But according the Internets "13-14 million windshields are replaced each year". Lower figure is 7.5 million. I imagine that doesn't necessarily even include the millions of windshield repairs (not replacements). I've had it done 2 or 3 times.Your mileage may vary. But your anecdote (and mine) aren't worth anything.Did I fully explain that your anecdote is meaningless?Also, the poster wrote "somewhat frequently". Re: How about cars? (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-08-10 18:47 (#H067) There are ~250 million passenger vehicles in the US. Assuming that each replacement was on a different car (which they are not) that's only about 5% being replaced. That's not even "somewhat" frequently. Re: How about cars? (Score: 1) by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-08-10 20:00 (#H0C9) 5% per year is plenty frequent. That's a 50/50 chance over 10 years. If you've got two cars, make that a 100% chance you'll need to replace one of them in 10 years. And none of this is including all the years people drive around with a cracked/chipped windshield before replacing it. That's not long enough of a horizon for solar panels, which should last 30+ years, easily.
Re: How about cars? (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-08-10 18:47 (#H067) There are ~250 million passenger vehicles in the US. Assuming that each replacement was on a different car (which they are not) that's only about 5% being replaced. That's not even "somewhat" frequently. Re: How about cars? (Score: 1) by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-08-10 20:00 (#H0C9) 5% per year is plenty frequent. That's a 50/50 chance over 10 years. If you've got two cars, make that a 100% chance you'll need to replace one of them in 10 years. And none of this is including all the years people drive around with a cracked/chipped windshield before replacing it. That's not long enough of a horizon for solar panels, which should last 30+ years, easily.
Re: How about cars? (Score: 1) by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-08-10 20:00 (#H0C9) 5% per year is plenty frequent. That's a 50/50 chance over 10 years. If you've got two cars, make that a 100% chance you'll need to replace one of them in 10 years. And none of this is including all the years people drive around with a cracked/chipped windshield before replacing it. That's not long enough of a horizon for solar panels, which should last 30+ years, easily.