What is the best choice for reflective surface paint under Bi-facial panel(s)?

[Tony S]

Anyone here know which would be the best choice to use to reflect the sun under a Bi-facial panel; Gloss White or Chrome "Mirror" like paint?
FTI - The ONE 200W Bi-facial panel will be roof mounted on the sleeper box of my G3500 Project, aka Toy Hauler.
It will be higher in the back for two reasons.
1. To help with the wind/air going over it and
2. To allow a little more sun to be able to reflect under the panel, when the sun is behind me.

Thanks,
Tony

 

[Tony S]

BTW - Here is the specs on the panels I just purchased.
One panel will be roof mounted on the sleeper box and the other panel will be used as a portable one.
If they perform well - I'll buy more for use at home too. (I current will be using them with an AC200MAX.)

 

[42OhmsPA]

I don't think you would see much of a difference between the two. It would be negligible.

I'd go with whatever would look best on the rig.

Ps that's a nice looking toy hauler.

 

[OffGridForGood]

Anyone here know which would be the best choice to use to reflect the sun under a Bi-facial panel

Snow works best. LOL.
My galvalume roofing does a good job too,
for your ONE panel, I can't imagine noticing any difference honestly.

 

[1201]

Snow works best. LOL.
My galvalume roofing does a good job too,
for your ONE panel, I can't imagine noticing any difference honestly.

You get reflection with roof mounted bifacials?

 

[OffGridForGood]

You get reflection with roof mounted bifacials?

My panels are not directly mounted on the roof, they are tilting on a roof mounted frame, 30 degrees summer 65 degrees winter. lowest edge of PV panels are elevated above the roof. Roof itself is low pitch, metal building.

 

[1201]

My panels are not directly mounted on the roof, they are tilting on a roof mounted frame, 30 degrees summer 65 degrees winter. lowest edge of PV panels are elevated above the roof. Roof itself is low pitch, metal building.

Copy that. Thanks

 

[Tony S]

I don't think you would see much of a difference between the two. It would be negligible.

I'd go with whatever would look best on the rig.

Ps that's a nice looking toy hauler.

Thank you. It saved me over $4,000USD, in hotel fees, last fall when I took it out west and back. I stayed in it for 41 days.

 

[Tony S]

Snow works best. LOL.
My galvalume roofing does a good job too,
for your ONE panel, I can't imagine noticing any difference honestly.

Having one panel is why I would like to do as much as one can under the circumstances.

 

[Tony S]

You get reflection with roof mounted bifacials?

YES - If one plans for it and you mount the panel at an angle, like a wind deflector. GRIN (That way I would get something from it vs nothing; when the sun is behind me and reflecting off the roof.) Every little bit helps.

 

[Alloy]

Aluminum paint

 

[Bluedog225]

Henry’s white elastomeric cool roof. Home Depot.

 

[Tony S]

Henry’s white elastomeric cool roof. Home Depot.

Thanks. That could take care of two issues with one application; by keeping the inside of the box cooler and help reflect the sun under the panel.

 

[Bluedog225]

You bet. I’d avoid the silicone. Just the regular.

 

[Tony S]

You bet. I’d avoid the silicone. Just the regular.

I sent a question to the tech department to see what they would recommend. Hopefully they will respond tomorrow.

 

[Tony S]

Henry’s white elastomeric cool roof. Home Depot.

If I go with this kind of paint I would use it to cover the entire roof, seen in black, on this box that will be using.
The rest of the box will be painted white with stripes to match the cab.
(The box currently on the truck is for the R&D work to be done, allowing for mistakes to be made and work out any bugs with my layout and design.)

 

[robby]

I was doing a project that needed to stay cool in the summer and went down to a paint store where they showed me a bunch of white paint variants.
He told me that ”Highly Reflective White” was the whitest paint they sold. I took it home and dabbed a bit next to something painted in ultra white and the HRW paint made the ultra white look like cream. HRW actually dazzles your eyes when the sun reflects off it.

 

[shadowmaker]

You get reflection with roof mounted bifacials?

Yes.

I bet with some 10cm (4") more elevation from the roof and "loose" installation (10cm spacing between panels every direction) would boost production to ~25% compared to one sided panel.

 

[Tony S]

Yes.

I bet with some 10cm (4") more elevation from the roof and "loose" installation (10cm spacing between panels every direction) would boost production to ~25% compared to one sided panel.

I've watched that video before.

 

[1201]

Yes.

I bet with some 10cm (4") more elevation from the roof and "loose" installation (10cm spacing between panels every direction) would boost production to ~25% compared to one sided panel.

Thanks for that. I have a bright white roof so now I'm thinking maybe roof mount may not be a bad idea