The volume of water in a Florida downpour can come on virtually instantly and would be many many times more volume of water than a residential hose. The rate of temperature change in a downpour will be many multiples of what a hose could do. This happens almost daily in summer here. A few hose cleanings a year would pale in comparison to what solar panels endure naturally due to weather.
Jason Szumlanski Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP) Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956 On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 7:10 PM Jay via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > I tell my clients to wash your panels like you’d wash your car. Similar > soaps if needed to remove pollen or harder to remove things and softer > bristle brushes help. > > Doing it during the heat of the day means a larger chance of mineral > deposits vs cooler times depending on your water. > > Myself I don’t think I’ve cleaned any of my panels in many years. > > Of course you might live in a place that it’s needed because of a larger > drop off in performance. > > As to the shock part I agree it’s a thing. With rain it never starts as > much volume you can do with a hose. Even heavy showers build up which > allows the panel to cool over a longer period of time vs blasting it with a > hose. > > My 2 cents. > > Jay > > > > > > > > > > On Oct 20, 2023, at 4:32 PM, August Goers via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > > > I now live in a more rural part of California and the dust buildup and > bird droppings on my modules cuts energy production down by about 5% during > the dry months. I imagine that professional cleaning services would still > cost more than the recouped energy production, especially since the dirt > builds back up in just a couple of weeks. > > Anyway, I've had good luck spraying down my array with water and then > using a long squeegee similar to but larger than the type they have at gas > stations. The sponge side is helpful to scrub the buildup off and the > squeegee side helps avoid water spots. Typically no cleanser is necessary, > although a mild car wash mix can help if there is sooty or oily buildup. > > It is satisfying to see clean panels, even if it isn't recommended > for most homeowners :) > > August > > > > > > On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 3:13 PM Kent via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > >> Jason, >> >> This is the way thermal shock was explained to me. Thermal shock creates >> micro fractures in the glass. PV modules have tough tempered glass so one >> thermal shock event, or a few dozen events, is unlikely to cause a module >> to fracture; but eventually the glass gets to the last straw when the micro >> fractures connect to each other and the whole pane breaks up. You can't do >> much about sun showers but you can certainly avoid spraying the hose on hot >> glass. >> Kent Osterberg >> Blue Mountain Solar >> >> >> On 10/20/2023 1:47 PM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote: >> >> I don't understand the thermal shock nonsense. It routinely starts >> downpouring here when it's blazing hot out (sun showers) and the rain is >> way cooler than ground water in summer. It makes no sense. If hose water >> from the ground is going to hurt solar panels, you better not put them >> where it rains! >> >> I replied privately to Dana, but for the benefit of the group, it takes a >> heavy soiling to make any appreciable difference. I have done numerous >> tests at times of high pollen and found little to no benefit to cleaning >> solar panels. Certainly it would not be worth paying someone to do it. >> Other climates may have different results. My suggestion would be to test >> first. Module level power electronics can provide incontrovertible proof. >> >> Jason >> >> >> >> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023, 4:21 PM Dave Tedeyan via RE-wrenches < >> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >> >>> Hi Dana, >>> >>> See attached from REC. I would imagine these guidelines would apply to >>> all modules. >>> Cheers, >>> Dave >>> >>> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 3:56 PM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches < >>> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >>> >>>> Hey ally ‘all, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Ok bad solar installer! 7 years & I have never cleaned my modules & >>>> live on a dirt road. Yeah rain does a good job with the dust but there is a >>>> film mostly on the edges. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> What does everyone do for cleaning? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> My array is 16’+ tall on a hill side. I have a pressure washer & was >>>> going to pick up a large sponge type mop & mount it on a painters extension >>>> pole. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Good Biodegradable cleaning solutions? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _________________________________________________________ >>>> >>>> Dana Orzel GREAT SOLAR WORKS! >>>> >>>> C – 208.721.7003 E – d...@solarwork.com >>>> >>>> W - www. greatsolarworks.com www.solarwork.com >>>> >>>> *“Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988!”* >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > >
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
