Solar Charging Roof Not Working!

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by maiki, Oct 30, 2025.

  1. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Yep; I had to search far and wide to buy non-owner car insurance when I was a field service tech. The company mostly foot the bill for the added coverage - until management told me to decline the additional coverage. I made the company pay me a monthly stipend for the non-car owner coverage. The monthly total came out about the same, it just made some bean-counter happy.o_O:(:whistle:
     
  2. ATalkingRock

    ATalkingRock Junior Member

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    Nah no updates as of yet, havent had a chance to bring to a dealer. Ive continued to not receive any charge on the solar menu (0whz generated) when the car is off. Only when i turn on the car or plug in the car does the solar roof actually start generating some Whz. From what i'm reading on this thread it almost sounds like there's a threshold of minimal power generated in order to power the charging computers and maintain the 12v and failure to meet that threshold will result in no charge? I hope that's the case and its just winter sun.
     
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  3. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    If you install one of those Bluetooth 12V battery monitors, you should see a voltage spike when the sun is out. Cover the roof with a tarp and the voltage will drop back to battery reading. It'll send an maintenance charge to the 12V battery first, even if it can't turn-on a controller ECU. If you switch screens, one of them will tell you how many watts was generated - not necessary enough to move the car anywhere.
    My car averages 4 miles/KwH and your panel is only generating 180W/hour - assuming ideal conditions. Math is not your friend under these conditions.

    Hope this helps......
     
  4. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    You can never have too much insurance. ;)

     
  5. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    I get around 6 mi/kWh in my Gen 4 Prius Prime PHEV.

    Yes, charging at the plug is cheaper than buying the solar roof. However, that extra 6 miles you gain while parked might let you get home without the internal-combustion engine kicking in as you near your garage, preventing it from spewing fuel, water, and carbon deposits into itself and significantly reducing its lifespan.
     
  6. ATalkingRock

    ATalkingRock Junior Member

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    I actually have a 12v monitor already. I dont notice a significant jump in voltage with the battery when in the sun (when my car is off). See the two images of today and yesterday, it was in the sun from 9am until 3pm which have relatively the same voltage as in the middle of the night. The big jumps are of course me plugging it in to charge.

    When i get into my car in the middle of the day and go to the solar tab in the infotainment, it will tell me 0Wz 'generated today' obviously meaning nothing was charged however it will then start generating watts when i keep the car on or plugged in. Could this be a bad 12V maybe?
     

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  7. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Ha ha, it is snowing out there. What do you expect? It is not to mention that your solar roof is probably covered in snow, too. :)

    It actually shows some Wh generated on the 8th, on which you probably had a break in the clouds.
     
  8. ATalkingRock

    ATalkingRock Junior Member

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    hah i wish snow being on the panels was the main issue. Yeah the 8th was when i was driving unfortunately otherwise i'd expect 'some' watts on other days