[RE-wrenches] Cleaning PV mods

Sat Oct 21 06:07:40 PDT 2023

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 at 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
>
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>
>
>
>
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>
> On Oct 20, 2023, at 4:32 PM, August Goers via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at 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 at 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 at 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 at 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 – dana at solarwork.com
>>>>
>>>> W - www. greatsolarworks.com     www.solarwork.com
>>>>
>>>> *“Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988!”*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
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