Re: Why are SWC cell housings opaque in America and transparent in Aus?
My only concern with clear plastic is this - it's not the same as PVC. PVC has been around a long time and it has an excellent track record against weathering when exposed to the elements as well as chemical stability, mechanical strength, crack & craze resistance, etc., etc. Clear plastics, on the other hand, are typically acrylics or polystyrene's. These materials do not have the same mechanical and chemical properties as PVC and must be joined to PVC using mechanical unions. They are also exceedingly difficult to machine properly and do not cut well at all (typically cracking when saw cut). I, personally, would be very worried about them developing crazing (a form of spontaneous, internal crack defects) from constant outdoor UV exposure.
In all honesty, it probably does not matter much at all and is simply just a different way to package and market a product. I feel no need to want to see the unit bubbling but others might like that as a feature. I much prefer the tried & true PVC body design as I know it's performance and limitations. Clear plastics are an "unknown" quantity to me.
