Electrochromic Glass / MagicGlass / SmartGlass etc

[mwjburton]

Does anyone have any direct experience with electrochromic glass, where a small electrical current is used to change a frosted pane of glass to a clear pane of glass and back, on command?

I don't have actual figures, but I do understand thats it a high cost item and obviously very specialist.

I'm interested whether anyone has any idea of the costs (perhaps per sqm) for the full glass version and whether anyone has come across the retrofit film solutions which are also being offered?

Many thanks
Mark

 

[God]

Its just short of
£1000 per sq mtr

 

[Mw Roofline]

Bear in mind (unless technology has moved on) that when it's in clear mode it isn't crystal clear.

 

[crank39]

There's some film on eBay for £69 but doesn't say for what size, and like you say when it's in clear mode it's not actually crystal clear, don't know if glass would be any different?

It could be that this is the same sort of film they put in the glass, much like the p v b layer in laminated glass?

 

[nextgenheating]

You mentioned Electrochromic glass. The main type of this glass goes from relatively clear (typically 60% transmission compared to 80% for a normal double glazed window) to around 2%. Sage glass is the main supplier of this and it is indeed currently about 1000UKP per square meter at the moment for a double glazed panel. It does not actually require a current, it needs a voltage of a few volts. It does act like a big capacitor though and requires some current to change the voltage on the plates. This glass most often shows up on rear view mirrors of upmarket cars but was also recently featured on Grand Designs.

A second type of Electrochromic glass is glass that transitions between clear and a mirror surface. Demonstrations of this can be found readily on Youtube but to my knowledge its not been commercialized yet.

There is also LCD shutter class. This is a completely different technology and goes opaque. This is cheaper than true Electrochromic glass but does not block out light as much.

I've not come across aftermarket films but would be interested to see them.

 

[SimonH2]

Some years ago now I went on a course, and the conference centre where it was held had panes of this in the doors. Everyone had a play with it as I don't think any of us had come across it before.

Seemed to go quite clear when "open", and really "frosted" when "closed".

 

[mwjburton]

Thanks all, at £1000/sqm its out of my reach for now, but definitely something to keep en eye on!