Cleaning solar panels

**MGE** · 08-20-2023, 01:34 AM

Finally got around to clean all my panels so no more side by side comparisons to do until they start to get dirty again.

Just in time for TS Hilary to roll through tomorrow and supposed to get a bit of rain from that if you listen to the "weather experts".

Kinda like washing my truck it rains right after doing it.

**scrambler** · 08-20-2023, 12:00 PM

I actually like to wash my car in the rain, saves water and rinses automatically

**J.P.M.** · 08-20-2023, 10:48 PM

Originally posted by scrambler

I actually like to wash my car in the rain, saves water and rinses automatically

Rain wash for panels gets things about as clean as a rain wash for a car.
Also, and as a no brainer 1st approx., the glazing on a PV array will be about as fouled as the windshield on an unwashed and undriven vehicle over the same time period.

**littleharbor2** · 08-21-2023, 06:31 AM

The rain from Hurricane Hillary sure cleaned my solar panels well, great rinse too!

**scrambler** · 08-21-2023, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by J.P.M.

Rain wash for panels gets things about as clean as a rain wash for a car.
Also, and as a no brainer 1st approx., the glazing on a PV array will be about as fouled as the windshield on an unwashed and undriven vehicle over the same time period.

I actually meant I like to wash my car while raining, using a simple towel and the water from the rain

**J.P.M.** · 08-21-2023, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by scrambler

I actually meant I like to wash my car while raining, using a simple towel and the water from the rain

Back in the early days of my array while experimenting with the efficacy of various cleaning methods and trying to keep my opinions about array fouling based on something like observation/experiment based reality, I did the same with my array and a soft brush.
Being on the roof in rain storm and washing an array with soap and a long-handled aluminum handled brush gave away some of my eccentricity to the neighbors, but they would have figured it out anyway at some point I suppose.

**azdave** · 08-21-2023, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by J.P.M.

Being on the roof in rain storm and washing an array with soap and a long-handled aluminum handled brush gave away some of my eccentricity to the neighbors, but they would have figured it out anyway at some point I suppose.

On a roof in a rain storm with a long metal pole. What could go wrong?

I still say that all it takes is one slip with a visit to the ER and you'll never, ever make up what you would spend on medical costs and lost time. I don't go up on the roof and clean mine unless I've have to go up there to work on something else. My dad fell from only 5' up when he was 64 and broke his hip badly. It took him almost 5 years to fully recover from that. I'm 63 now and think about my moves very carefully if I go up a ladder.

**Mike 134** · 08-22-2023, 07:55 AM

Originally posted by azdave

On a roof in a rain storm with a long metal pole. What could go wrong?

I still say that all it takes is one slip with a visit to the ER and you'll never, ever make up what you would spend on medical costs and lost time. I don't go up on the roof and clean mine unless I've have to go up there to work on something else. My dad fell from only 5' up when he was 64 and broke his hip badly. It took him almost 5 years to fully recover from that. I'm 63 now and think about my moves very carefully if I go up a ladder.

I can appricate your caution I'm 66 and when I jump off the gate of my pickup truck I've started thinking how many more years before I'm too old to do this? Hopefully I'll remain as old as I feel.

**J.P.M.** · 08-22-2023, 10:24 AM

Originally posted by azdave

On a roof in a rain storm with a long metal pole. What could go wrong?

I still say that all it takes is one slip with a visit to the ER and you'll never, ever make up what you would spend on medical costs and lost time. I don't go up on the roof and clean mine unless I've have to go up there to work on something else. My dad fell from only 5' up when he was 64 and broke his hip badly. It took him almost 5 years to fully recover from that. I'm 63 now and think about my moves very carefully if I go up a ladder.

I appreciate your advice. I'm actually pretty conservative when it come to safety and thinking about it in a heads' up and proactive way by training.
I designed my array with safe access in mind as one of the priorities.

However, I've also always been of the opinion that fortune favors the bold (but slaughters the foolish).
Either way, no guts no glory. No balls, no babies.

**Neexgent** · 10-14-2023, 04:15 AM

I use NEEXGENT's solar panel double-headed electric cleaning brush. It doesn't take too much time to clean once. Before, I bought a manual one, but it was too tiring to clean, so the electric one is better.

MOD Note: please don't include links to other sights without first getting permission from the Admin

**scrambler** · 10-14-2023, 04:36 AM

"I use "

Cleaning solar panels

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