Solar Panel cleaning August 08, 2023, 01:56:38 pm I always clean our panels before every trip but was wondering how often folks climb up and clean their panels while on the road for extended trips?
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #1 – August 08, 2023, 02:56:37 pm Hi Bill (Pdl 2 Win); 350 watts of my 450watts are within reach of my escape hatch, so I can have soft padding on my knees while I clean 4 of my 5 panels. I don't take very long trips often, and I haven't noticed much loss of solar on these trips. I was talking to a friend about this last Saturday and he said that he had used this ceramic wax on the glass of the panels which made it more 'self cleaning' with rain and such. I'm wondering if this might reduce the 'UV' passing through to the PV cells. Most of the higher energy spectrum that generates the most power, is exactly what a 'car wax' would prevent getting to your paint (car waxes). I use Windex, or similar cleaners, and 'first used' microfiber towels (that get washed for other uses). I am trying to prevent micro scratching the PV panels glass with dirt/sand. RonB 2 Likes
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #2 – August 08, 2023, 04:15:47 pm The LD's roof gets washed, along with the solar panels, several times a year and almost always before a long trip.I use a long-handled brush, a hose, and a pistol water nozzle. I usually do not notice much of a difference in the solar charge level, which surprises me.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #3 – August 08, 2023, 06:15:22 pm The LD manual advises to clean with 4 ot sand paper. So far I've just washed them along with the roof. jor
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #4 – August 08, 2023, 07:07:07 pm "I usually do not notice much of a difference in the solar charge level, which surprises me."Same here. Many times I've cleaned seriously dirty panels, yet saw little or no increase in output. I can't explain it, but I've concluded that cleaning panels is not very important. 1 Likes
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #5 – August 08, 2023, 07:40:22 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - August 08, 2023, 07:07:07 pm"I usually do not notice much of a difference in the solar charge level, which surprises me."Same here. Many times I've cleaned seriously dirty panels, yet saw little or no increase in output. I can't explain it, but I've concluded that cleaning panels is not very important.Not “apples to apples” but when we have our panels cleaned on our home system it shows quite an improvement (45 panels)….so I’ve always just “assumed” it would help with my lowly two panels on the LD….🤷🏻
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #6 – August 08, 2023, 11:01:37 pm Hi JOR; Old panels, fine steel wool maybe, but no! Modern panels, special coatings on the glass. I have noticed some, very small improvements cleaning. Big improvements if you've been 'bombed' by birds. The shadow effect perhaps. Often I pick out leaves and other debris. I also check for general condition, loose wires, cracks etc. RonB
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #7 – August 09, 2023, 12:25:43 am Usual rig cleaning procedure starts with hose (roof first) then Wash/Wax all (sides, not roof). Before longer trips, gentle roof scrub including panels.House panels seem to get dirtier (Adco doesn't make a 'house cover'). They're getting a bath before we leave for our next trip.YMMV
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #8 – August 09, 2023, 09:25:34 am QuoteOld panels, fine steel wool maybe, but no! Modern panels,Noted. Thanks, Ron.jor
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #9 – August 18, 2023, 09:28:28 am Quote from: Andy Baird - August 08, 2023, 07:07:07 pm"I usually do not notice much of a difference in the solar charge level, which surprises me."Same here. Many times I've cleaned seriously dirty panels, yet saw little or no increase in output. I can't explain it, but I've concluded that cleaning panels is not very important.<smile> If you are using your controller to see 'improvement' I'm thinking the controller is 'metering' the charge needed by the battery. A better method, I'm thinking, is a voltage check directly off the panels. glen 2 Likes
Re: Solar Panel cleaning Reply #10 – August 18, 2023, 09:50:07 pm Good point, Glen. I haven't done this kind of "before and after" experiment in a few years, andI don't remember whether I was looking at volts or amps... but if I had to guess, I'd guess amps, since that's what I really care about. And if the batteries were only calling for x number of amps at the time, then cleaning the panels might not cause any increase. Next time I do this, I'll have to pay attention to the output voltage from the panels. I can read that from my solar controller.
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Topic: Solar Panel cleaning (Read 309 times)
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