[RE-wrenches] Clearing Snow From Modules

[frenergy]

Drake,

             I am no expert, BUT, about a year ago I covered an older 
not-in-service PV with a foot of snow on a 25 degree day and then hooked 
up a hose to a hot water faucet.  With a pistol grip sprayer I directed 
a solid stream of hot water at the PV.  It only took a second for that 
hot water to reach the PV's glass, no doubt cold from the snow.  I kept 
it there in one area for about 30 seconds, slowly widening the area of 
'impact', much of the snow melting of course.

             Afterwards I carefully visually inspected the PV (it was an 
older Kyo) and could not find/see anything out of the ordinary, still 
tested to label specs (slight de-rating due to age) when placed in 
direct sun.

             Another note, several times I have sprayed cool tap water 
(around 45 degrees, F) on my in-service array on my shop to eliminate 
the snow.  It's a 12:12 pitch but it still took a good 15 minutes to 
clear it off. The array is 22, 60 cell PVs.  I have not any decrease in 
performance to date.

             Conclusion?  None really, I can't imagine 'washing' snowy 
PVs off with cool water could do any harm.  Whereas the hot water test, 
intuitively probably not smart.

Bill

Feather River Solar Electric
Bill Battagin, Owner
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA 95983
530.284.7849
CA Lic 874049
www.frenergy.net

On 2/1/2017 11:13 AM, Drake wrote:
> Hi Wrenches,
>
> We have a lot of border line temperatures here that will not quit melt 
> the snow off an array. We can lose production on a semi sunny, 28 
> degree day. During such a day, I was looking at my frost free water 
> faucet and my array. Humm, I could easily hose the snow off.
>
> Is there a reason not to do that? Any ice or slush would not present a 
> problem. Is there a danger to the modules from doing that?
>
> Maybe this would even work on a sunny day when the temperatures were 
> colder? Could a module break? Anyone ever try this?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Drake
>
> Drake Chamberlin
> /Athens Electric LLC
> OH License 44810
> CO License 3773
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV
> 740-448-7328
> /http://athens-electric.com/
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Avast logo 
> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> 
> 	
>
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> www.avast.com 
> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> 
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>

-- 



---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20170201/5058e86e/attachment-0002.html>