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Should you wash your solar panels?

incoherency.co.uk

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Re: Should you wash your solar panels?

#121

Post by CapitalistCartr »

scarecrowbob wrote: post #119

Horses for courses. My system is off grid, so any extra power is just not used, and its designed in a way that a 2-5% change doesn't do anything. That might be a more meaningful change if I were selling power to other folks. Kind of off topic, but I see a lot of folks proximate to me have built systems to turn panels so they face the sun more closely. I can see the use in that if you don't have much space or if you h…

It does no longer pay to be clever with solar panels; they're too cheap. Angle not quite right? Add a couple extra. Summer vs. Winter? Add a couple extra.

Re: Should you wash your solar panels?

#122

Post by scarecrowbob »

tombert wrote: post #54

I haven't noticed too much of a power increase in my backyard solar farm after cleaning, but I do notice a very significant increase by weeding the surrounding stuff. Even a pretty small amount of shade will very significantly reduce your yield, like seriously 20-30%. Oh, also, I've noticed that at least with my panels, bird poop seems to be particularly bad. The dust that accrues doesn't seem to do much, but even a…

Yeah, the one tree branch that hits my array until 10a prevents it from charging at all even though it only obscures 1/4 of one panel in the 10-panel set.

But I like the branch and have plenty of full sun, so I haven't cut it.

Re: Should you wash your solar panels?

#123

Post by cyberpunk »

CapitalistCartr wrote: post #121
scarecrowbob wrote: post #119

Horses for courses. My system is off grid, so any extra power is just not used, and its designed in a way that a 2-5% change doesn't do anything. That might be a more meaningful change if I were selling power to other folks. Kind of off topic, but I see a lot of folks proximate to me have built systems to turn panels so they face the sun more closely. I can see the use in that if you don't have much space or if you h…

It does no longer pay to be clever with solar panels; they're too cheap. Angle not quite right? Add a couple extra. Summer vs. Winter? Add a couple extra.

Except in germany where if you install too many you get classed as an energy company and have to pay extra tax. yay.

Re: Should you wash your solar panels?

#124

Post by majso »

cyberpunk wrote: post #123
CapitalistCartr wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does no longer pay to be clever with solar panels; they're too cheap. Angle not quite right? Add a couple extra. Summer vs. Winter? Add a couple extra.

Except in germany where if you install too many you get classed as an energy company and have to pay extra tax. yay.

even for the off grid system not connected to the grid?

Re: Should you wash your solar panels?

#125

Post by tpoindex »

I have a 19 year-old, roof mounted, 6.3 kW nominal system in two arrays (east/west facing), 40 deg. north. I've never washed the panels outside of rain and occasional hail storm "scrubbing". Replaced a failed inverter two years ago.

My peak summer output is basically the same as when installed, making 36-38 kWh on a cloudless day. I'm actually impressed my panels haven't really degraded in performance over those 19 years.

Re: Should you wash your solar panels?

#126

Post by HPsquared »

WalterBright wrote: post #114
delichon wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We had a contractor doing repairs before we sold our house. Without being asked he took an orbital sander to the wooden hand railings along the stairs to the front door and said "people really notice this". A family came for the tour and before walking in the father put his hand on the rail, looked up at the house, and said "this place seems well maintained". Then they bought the house after a small pleasant (for us)…

A real estate agent told me that a customer decides to buy/not buy a house as soon as they put their hand on the front door knob. If he decides to buy, he'll look at the rest of the house looking for a reason not to. I.e. putting in an expensive door knob is a good plan!

Also make sure the door operates smoothly and is well-aligned.

Re: Should you wash your solar panels?

#128

Post by JamesSwift »

Aurornis wrote: post #78

Washing solar panels is one of the current popular business ideas on social media. It’s an easy pivot for anyone who already has some experience with much harder home repair handiwork involving a ladder. The reason it’s popular is because most people don’t understand the economics at all. Someone can go door-to-door in a neighborhood offering to clean solar panels and making huge claims about improving efficiency so…

Its an easy value add for a pressure-wash / soft-wash business

Re: Should you wash your solar panels?

#129

Post by 1123581321 »

libria wrote: post #118
1123581321 wrote: post #3

Appreciate the attempts to quantify it. I haven't tried to quantify washing, but I do look at mine regularly. I doubt anything accumulates that rain doesn't handle well enough. Messing around with ground panels is lower risk and safer than roof panels where tool extenders and ladders start to become involved. If you have roof panels, you are the biggest danger to your panels (and yourself.) Don't try to clean them, s…

Now I want solar panels merely so I have a reason to not have to clean my roof

Still the same leaves in the gutter, sadly, once they blow past the panels.

Re: Should you wash your solar panels?

#130

Post by deepsun »

tpoindex wrote: post #125

I have a 19 year-old, roof mounted, 6.3 kW nominal system in two arrays (east/west facing), 40 deg. north. I've never washed the panels outside of rain and occasional hail storm "scrubbing". Replaced a failed inverter two years ago. My peak summer output is basically the same as when installed, making 36-38 kWh on a cloudless day. I'm actually impressed my panels haven't really degraded in performance over those 19 y…

What the panels' technology / manufacturer?
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