New IR windshield

[johan900]

I am about to replace my original windshield, and really consider to buy the new IR type. My question is whether the new windshield is more tinted then the original one. My other windows are tinted and a little darker so it would be nice if the IR windshield was a little darker to.

[dmc6960]

It has no extra "darkness" to it than a standard windshield. In broad daylight it appears identical to a standard windshield. On an overcast day it has a slightly blue tint to the color.

[Roman Legion]

The original windshield doesn't block UV and causes cracking on the dash, right? Whereas the IR one would prevent UV from entering the car and weathering the dash? I'm probably entirely wrong here, if so, can you explain what the difference is, please?

[Mark D]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet

[Roman Legion]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet

Ah, ok, so it would create a source for a heat seeking missile to track. Better salvage some countermeasures from a Hind or C-130.

[Mark D]

Exactly. You may want to put the money you get from the sale of your mustang towards said countermeasures first, otherwise the heat seeking missiles may find your dash and binnacle before you can afford to upgrade to an IR blocking windshield on your DeLorean.

[Roman Legion]

Exactly. You may want to put the money you get from the sale of your mustang towards said countermeasures first, otherwise the heat seeking missiles may find your dash and binnacle before you can afford to upgrade to an IR blocking windshield on your DeLorean.

I'm an expert in evasive manoeuvrings, so I shouldn't have any issues. I'm a professional, so don't try those manoeuvres unless properly trained by a qualified instructor. Get the countermeasures before the training, I implore you!

[cybercusp]

Another consideration with the IR windshield is that if you're using any IR devices, like a garage door opener, it won't work through the windshield. An alternative, which is what I'm planning on doing, is going with the non-IR windshield and having the lightest shade of 3M's Crystalline installed on the windshield to afford UV protection.

[Rich]

The original windshield doesn't block UV and causes cracking on the dash, right? Whereas the IR one would prevent UV from entering the car .....

The original windshield blocks >99% of the UV, same as all laminated windshields. The UV blocking is done by the interlayer between the inner and outer glass layers in the windshield. The IR windshield blocks no more UV than that.

[dmc6960]

Another consideration with the IR windshield is that if you're using any IR devices, like a garage door opener, it won't work through the windshield. An alternative, which is what I'm planning on doing, is going with the non-IR windshield and having the lightest shade of 3M's Crystalline installed on the windshield to afford UV protection.

Well, I dont think your going to find any IR based garage door openers these days. The method used to block IR is an extremely fine metallic dust impregnated into the lamination layer. This is effective at blocking IR, but it also behaves as a solid wall for RF signals. It will effectively block the RF signal from a toll transponder and radar detector, but I find that my garage door opener still works fine.

James has said that the new "standard" windshields block UV, and the IR windshields block both UV and IR. I do not believe that the original windshields blocked any UV though.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I have a UV-B light meter. When I get home I will check the OEM windshield for UV blocking.

[DMC5180]

+1 with Jim.

My garage door opener works fine clipped to the back edge of the front headliner section. My toll transponder had to be moved. I relocated it behind the front grill and it Works fine up there. The only other issue I have is getting initialization of satellites on my portable GPS unit. I usually hold it close to the side glass for initialization. After that it's fine resting on the dash.

[Rich]

James has said that the new "standard" windshields block UV, and the IR windshields block both UV and IR. I do not believe that the original windshields blocked any UV though.

James is correct on both counts re the replacement windshields.

And the original windshield blocks (absorbs) UV, same as any laminated windshield that meets safety regs has for the last 50+ years. See end of second paragraph here in this link. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminated_glass)

About the dashboards....even with almost all of the UV blocked by laminated windshields cars suffer cracked and faded dashboards because ultraviolet light is just one of many factors that can cause interior materials to degrade. Without laminated glass they would degrade faster.

[johan900]

I will probably go for the new windshield. Thank you all for your input.

[cybercusp]

I have a UV-B light meter. When I get home I will check the OEM windshield for UV blocking.

Dave,

Did you get a chance to test the UV blocking?

[Bitsyncmaster]

Dave,

Did you get a chance to test the UV blocking?

I'm still at the beach this week. Reminde me on Sunday. I will also compair my daily drivers.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Reading outside the windshield = 345 uW/cm^2
Reading inside the windshield = 001 uW/cm^2

Spectral Response of the meter is 280-320 nm (UVB). Accuracy +/- 10%

So it looks like all the laminated glass eliminates UVB light.

[NightFlyer]

Reading outside the windshield = 345 uW/cm^2
Reading inside the windshield = 001 uW/cm^2

Spectral Response of the meter is 280-320 nm (UVB). Accuracy +/- 10%

So it looks like all the laminated glass eliminates UVB light.

Thanks Dave - that's good reference info!

[cybercusp]

Thanks Dave - that's good reference info!

+1

[Rich]

So it looks like all the laminated glass eliminates UVB light.

Yes, thanks for the UV-B transmission readings on the OEM windshield.

Laminated glass also blocks nearly all UV-A light (longer wavelengths than UV-B). It cuts out >99% of all solar UV.

[mike123]

Is there any data on the solar energy rejection of the IR windshields? (Or, for that matter, any data on the original factory windshields?)

I found some info on 3M Crystalline 90 (spec sheet (https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1919596O/3m-automotive-window-film-crystalline-series-tech-data-sheet.pdf)) which seems to meet federal transmittance standards, even though most every state seems to have stricter regs.

But I don't have any sense of how much energy my factory windshield is blocking, nor how much more the DMC IR windshield would block. Thanks for any data, or anecdotes or reviews, that any of you can share!

[Timeless]

I have no specific data ion the glass but regardless I tint ALL my vehicles with ceramic window film incl. the windshield. It's helps tremendously especially in S. Florida.

https://autobahnwindowfilms.com/ceramic-i3-2/
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