Read this before you will install any solar panels in your car to support power to your dash camera:
About 6years ago I have bought quite a large solar module (15watts) for the car to get extra electricity for the dash camera during parking mode, and unfortunately, that is more complicated and problematic than you think:
I have installed 15watt "Flexi" solar panel under the sunroof, which looks really nice, and a 15Watt panel fil well as on the picture, but things get more complicated with time, here is why:
- car sunroof glass has an invisible UV cut filter, and because that UV light is mandatory to convert light to electricity solar panel works extremely poorly (if was giving me just around 0.5W from 2Watt which typical dashcam needs). This UV filter is probably there to reduce heating car interior during summer and cut light which can cause damages to the car leather interiors.
- DC-DC step-down converter also generates some electricity losses which means that already very low power also is even poorer.
- with the time Flexi solar panel gets micro-cracks inside the structure due to car vibrations, which caused power drop to almost 0.1W (from 15W),
All project was a big failure, but here is some hope for others:
- make sure that your car glasses have no UV filter
- some car rear windscreens have no UV filter coat (and there you can place a solar panel if you really want).
- don't buy Flexi solar pannel types like mine, is poor and it will get cracks with time, some people recommended below Flexi type solar panels (this is different technology Flexi solar panel type, is stronger and shouldn't get cracks in cars),
but still, it needs a full light spectrum to provide good power, especially high energy light spectrum which is IR and UV.
- the best and the only one way to support dashcam by the solar panel is to convert power from solar by DC-DC step-down converter and connect to the same power line which going to your dash camera, just avoid charging batteries, power banks...that really doesn't make any sens sue to huge power losses, and a small amount of power to really charge anything apart support power line to the dash camera. the best DC-DC converter and the most efficient is that one:
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