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 Viggo's `caravans are naff' thread prompted me to start this one...

if the manafacturer's were to actually start giving us a bit more choice as regards the exterior colour of caravans, how would we react  - would we buy them or not ?

So, imagine you're off to buy a new caravan .... 

 if there was a choice of colour available in a caravan which met all your criteria in every other way, would you choose the white one or - another colour ?

and if you want a coloured caravan - which colour would you like ? !  

Good idea !

I want a green one btw.

Quote: Originally posted by Zorro on 10/10/2010

I want a green one btw.

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Quote:

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Heat Absorption vs. Color

Question: Why does the color Black absorb heat and White reflect heat? What
are the physical properties behind this fact? I have seen some Arabs where
Black robes in the desert -- this seems to defeat the purpose. Do they wear
them because black protects more against harmful UV rays?
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First of all I have no idea why some Arabs wear black robes in
the desert. It seems counter-productive...but oh well, different strokes for
different folks. Anyway, the color that we observe (i.e. the color of a
particular object) is really only the light that is reflected from that
object. For example, a red ball appears red because when white light strikes
it, all of the light is absorbed except for the red frequencies/wavelengths
which are reflected into our eyes. A white light is made up of all visible
(and invisible) wavelengths all mixed together. So an object that appears
white, is reflecting all of the incident wavelengths and absorbing nothing (or
very little). A black object, on the other hand is absorbing all of the
incident wavelengths (along with all of their energies) which causes it to
heat up. That is why snow does not melt in cold weather even when the sun is
falling directly on it. All of the incident light energy is reflected away
and none (or very little) is absorbed.
=========================================================
Up-date July 2001

The explanation I heard for this is that the clothes themselves are
very loose (rather like Roman togas). The extra heat caused by the
black colour causes increased upward convection of the air between
the cloth and their body. This additional air circulation actually aids in
evaporation of persiration [sic] and thus results in better cooling.

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Quote: Originally posted by Viggo on 11/10/2010

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Are you sure?

Some great old vans at the above link, by the way.

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Hi Viggo.  I'm getting 'page not found' for the link.  Perhaps it's too early in the morning for me!!

Edit: Sorry.  It looks like my post just crossed with Rune's.

Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 11/10/2010

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It matters not what a caravan looks like, all that matters is that it does its' job.

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That's fair enough to say it doesn't matter to you, but it might matter to some other people - in fact, it does !

I think the appearance of things does matter to some degree at least to most people. It may not always be the most important factor when choosing something, but usually comes into it somewhere.

I have noticed though that generally `Blokey' blokes often like to pretend they don't care  .....  

Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 11/10/2010

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I take it you want white then Tenz

Vigo your link doesn't work

and I found this:

Quote:

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Heat Absorption vs. Color

Question: Why does the color Black absorb heat and White reflect heat? What
are the physical properties behind this fact? I have seen some Arabs where
Black robes in the desert -- this seems to defeat the purpose. Do they wear
them because black protects more against harmful UV rays?
---------------------------------------
First of all I have no idea why some Arabs wear black robes in
the desert. It seems counter-productive...but oh well, different strokes for
different folks. Anyway, the color that we observe (i.e. the color of a
particular object) is really only the light that is reflected from that
object. For example, a red ball appears red because when white light strikes
it, all of the light is absorbed except for the red frequencies/wavelengths
which are reflected into our eyes. A white light is made up of all visible
(and invisible) wavelengths all mixed together. So an object that appears
white, is reflecting all of the incident wavelengths and absorbing nothing (or
very little). A black object, on the other hand is absorbing all of the
incident wavelengths (along with all of their energies) which causes it to
heat up. That is why snow does not melt in cold weather even when the sun is
falling directly on it. All of the incident light energy is reflected away
and none (or very little) is absorbed.
=========================================================
Up-date July 2001

The explanation I heard for this is that the clothes themselves are
very loose (rather like Roman togas). The extra heat caused by the
black colour causes increased upward convection of the air between
the cloth and their body. This additional air circulation actually aids in
evaporation of persiration [sic] and thus results in better cooling.

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so your white caravan is not really white - it just appears to be

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Exactly so.

How much a caravan heats up on the inside though will not neccessarily be greatly affected by it's being painted a dark colour - even as dark as black ! This will depend on many things such as... external skin material, cavity width, cavity insulation material, inner skin material, ventilation etc etc etc.

Experiments have shown that black absobs light (etc etc)  but they have also shown that whilst it heats up more quickly, final temperature differences are minimal. In a climate such as we have here in the UK especially it's unlikely to make any noticeable difference to the temperature inside any well designed caravan.

Of course caravans, like cars, could be made available in other colours, just as cars are. They don't have to be either black or white, & if people indicated a desire for other colours than white I rather suspect black woiuldn't be the one most in demand.

And anyway, if the weather is that hot, why the hell would anyone want to sit inside their caravan ?..... ? !!!

ps Anyone ever seen a white awning ? Certainly there aren't many to be seen.

Post last edited on 11/10/2010 10:19:39

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Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov

Great link Viggo  Must say I love this van...