Anybody heard of this?

[MSHappyCampers]

I found this tip on another site and thought it might be worth sharing. Has anyone ever heard of this happening?

Wxxxx Mxxxx wrote to us about our recent Quick Tip to use windshield "shades" for an RV skylight that allows in too much heat or light. He reports, "I did exactly this a few years ago. The heat buildup softened the shower bubble so much that it inverted and drooped down into the shower instead of going up. I had to get a new inner dome and replace it. I now spray the outside of the shower dome with Rust-oleum white plastic paint and it cuts the heat completely and 90% of the sunlight."

[Mentor]

So now it's a skydark?

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Mentor

So now it's a skydark?

Don't want it to be dark, but it's a tremendous source of heat in the summer!

[hal1phx]

Interesting .... have never heard of a melt down issue .... ours is not clear ... still lets lite in but heat is minimal ..... and .... if its that hot out .... its time to move !!! #justsayin

[stik]

Originally Posted by Mentor

So now it's a skydark?

Good one!!!!!

[Melmoses]

Haven't seen a meltdown but I have seen the white painted skylight in a friend's. It still let's in light but cuts down on heat he says. Also helps deterioration of the plastic dome. I have had one crack and leak so I use 303 protectant on mine. I am just not sure about painting it.

[TeJay]

Paint it with clear!!! HUH??

TeJay

[Skip426]

Creating an un-vented space under the dome could very easily cause plastic to distort, as in the report. For most owners painting the dome would be over-kill; I like the light too. If I was RVing in an area where that kind of heat was an issue, I'd get a snap-on sunshade made for the top of the dome, rather than paint it.

[nothermark]

I think the domes are thermo formed in a heated vacuum press. That would lend plausibility to them sagging if hot enough. Using the reflective bubble wrap would send more heat back out of the dome while creating a small oven under it. Given the sun in some places I am a bit surprised but not shocked.

I would be more inclined to add some foil tape to selectively reduce the light admitted rather than paint. Then I could remove it later. YMMV.

[CLIFFTALL]

I attached a light colored " blackout " material with Velcro. It was easy to put up and remove , kept the light and heat out and didn't melt the skylight .

[IdahoSRT10]

Originally Posted by Melmoses

Haven't seen a meltdown but I have seen the white painted skylight in a friend's. It still let's in light but cuts down on heat he says. Also helps deterioration of the plastic dome. I have had one crack and leak so I use 303 protectant on mine. I am just not sure about painting it.

Instead of foil bubble wrap I use a few layers of clear packing bubble wrap.

I'm also use AS 303 on the dome. CW send me $10, and $20 off coupons a few times a year which make the 303 real cheap.

[LVJ58]

We have a tinted skylight on our coach and live in the desert area (Vegas) with coach parked in our driveway where it's daily exposed to the hot sun.

I had a solar screen fabricated with snaps that I can attach inside under the skylignt.

So far over the years no issues, however I periodically spray the external surface of the skylight with 303 Aerospace UV Protectant.

[Mr_D]

Our Dutch Stars had a horizontal shade that you could pull across to cut out the light. After 13 years with the last one the dome was still just fine but I did spray it with 303 yearly or sometimes more often.
The present rig doesn't have any shade and I may make one.

[530ktm]

Mine is tinted and still way too hot in the sun, ridiculous heat coming from that entire roof area. I painted the outside of mine with white plastic spray and also put some insulation inside. I really don't care about the light coming in, that is why I have a light in there. I think the main reason for these things is head room in the shower. I believe it has cut down on the heat by at least 80% and will probably do the same for the cold. And if you decide you don't like it, the plastic paint peels right off. If you only paint the outside, it still lets plenty of light through as well as cut back on a lot of heat.