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How often do You clean your solar pannels | 15 comments (15 topical, editorial)

Re: How often do You clean your solar pannels (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by ghurd on Thu Jun 9th, 2005 at 01:58:11 PM MST
(User Info)

Excellent point!

I think most of the smaller ones are cleaned for cosmetic purposes.

Also,
Sandovalach's system is nearer the equator and mounted very flat compared to most areas.
His will hold dust and grime more than most areas.

G-

[ Parent ]

Re: How often do You clean your solar pannels (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by sandovalch (sandovalch@yahoo.com) on Thu Jun 9th, 2005 at 03:08:36 PM MST
(User Info)

Well, that is true. In my location at this time of year they "should" be near parallel to the ground, but where would the water and dust go, since I have an aluminum frame around them?
In commercial panels you have another kind of material covering the cells, I used standard glass.

[ Parent ]

Re: How often do You clean your solar pannels (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by Ungrounded Lightning Rod on Thu Jun 9th, 2005 at 07:43:49 PM MST
(User Info)

Build a box that's mainly a slanted glass (or whatever) plate over them and let the rain wash the dirt off THAT.

(If you enclose the panels in a box with a transparent top be sure to vent it a bit near its high point to let the heat out, so the panels can cool. But not enough to let a bunch of dirt in and defeat the purpose.)

[ Parent ]

Re: How often do You clean your solar pannels (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by troy on Fri Jun 10th, 2005 at 11:24:07 AM MST
(User Info)

Actually, if you build a "box" around them with glass over the top to "protect" them, you just guaranteed yourself a 5-10% drop in output forever. Normal glass loses about 4% in reflection losses at each optical surface. I'd prefer a little dirt once in a while that I can hose off.

Finest regards,

troy

[ Parent ]

Re: How often do You clean your solar pannels (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by Ungrounded Lightning Rod on Fri Jun 10th, 2005 at 06:23:12 PM MST
(User Info)

True.

But if the panels are near horizontal, collecting dirt, leaves, and small growing things, they could be losing a LOT more than 5-10% without cleaning at very short intervals.

If it were me I'd buy 11 panels instad of 10, put the glass up, and relax for six months to six years at a time.

The whole POINT of things like electrical power is so YOU don't have to be doing a lot of work - like scrubbing stuff - using your own manual labor.

[ Parent ]

How often do You clean your solar pannels | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 editorial)

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