I think this will make Solar more viable for the Stealth minded.

[One Awesome Inch]

I think I have figured out how to make a solar panel more stealthy. 

take this solar panel (or something similar) and use some high quality black paint to cover all white areas. Probably best to mask it off using tape or something. It would likely take a bit of effort to get the masking right, as you dont want to cover any of the actual solar units but still want to cover the white.

The flexible panel would be lower profile than one covered in glass and would not require a roof or ladder rack.

Once painted properly it would just look like a big black rectangle. You could even paint a triangle on the top to make it look like an arrow... thus being a bit more deceptive. 

I think I may end up doing this as anyone looking down from an office building or apartment etc would be hard pressed to figure out that the black rectangle is a solar panel once its painted as one solid, uniform piece.

I am guessing some quality paint meant for plastic would adhere the best.

Any ideas as to what brand of paint?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Theoretically, if you make all the shiny parts black, they will absorb heat from the sun rather than reflecting it and will therefor get hotter.  The hotter a panel gets, the less effective it is.

But as a practical matter, given how small a percentage of the overall panel we are talking about, it may not really matter.

If you are going to do this, it might be very helpful to everyone here if you could get before and after measurements of the panel's output and let us know what you find.  If you had access to one of those IR thermometers, some comparative temperature measurements would be nice, too . . .

You know, science demands it, and all that . . .

Regards
John

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah do a before and after for the output. try to include temps. this is a great idea for some people if it works out. highdesertranger

 

[LeeRevell]

Have your van painted black too, and it'll blend right in!

Heat in the van will be a separate issue.......

 

[minimotos95]

I saw an article a few months back about white solar panels, solid white. Now all someone needs to do is make a flexible white panel for super stealth.
Let me find it....

here
http://www.gizmag.com/csem-white-solar-panels/34463/

 

[One Awesome Inch]

That white panel is "off the hook" as the kids say these days. I bet they are expensive though.

 

[Suanne]

Since I like my vehicle to be white, I think a white solar panel would be the best in stealth, especially if all of the panel's trim is also white.

But, if I had a black panel on a white vehicle, wouldn't painting the trim white to blend in with the roof be just as stealth as painting it black to blend in with the panel? And, it would have the extra advantage of keeping the panel at a cooler and better operating temperature.

Suanne

 

[cyndi]

I'd make sure that painting the panels, in any way, doesn't void your warrentee

 

[One Awesome Inch]

I believe that on the vast majority of solar panels the trim is white and each individual solar cell is black or more of a midnite blue.

 

[ZoNiE]

Krylon Fusion is made for plastic.