Cleaning Solar Panels

Conack said:
Neighbour's cat roams here all the time and has even on a few occasions climbed on the roof (crazy ninja).
Scares the pigeons off for a day, only for them to return again.

We've drawn some stuff around the bottom of the panels to prevent them from going underneath to nest, but they still sit on the top of the roof, or on the slanted panels where they **** and slide & scramble to get their footing - but by joe they will find a way to sit there.

Awhile ago two were courting and the male was slapping the female with his wing repeatedly - sometimes hitting the panels I think, as he then managed to slap his wings against the white facia boards - leaving neat bloodmarks from his raunchy play :mad:
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Nightmare. I'd get out the air rifle if I had pigeons fscking with my production.

Would need to plink them at such an angle so as to not hit the panels though.

Anyone tried pigeon potjiekos?
 
Flanders said:
Nightmare. I'd get out the air rifle if I had pigeons fscking with my production.

Would need to plink them at such an angle so as to not hit the panels though.

Anyone tried pigeon potjiekos?
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Have an air-rifle and even a blow-dart pipe with darts.
Rifle is too dangerous to ricochet / hit the panels - so got the darts instead.

The cheeky buggers quite often don't even move unless you hit them with something - blow-dart skill isn't quite there yet as it's about +10 meter shot.
Spraying them with the hose does chase them off, and throwing them with small dirt bits (and scoring a hit) also gets them to leave temporarily.

What their fascination is with our roof we just can't fathom. One of these days we might as well paint the roof white as their shite will show less.
 
Flanders said:
Nightmare. I'd get out the air rifle if I had pigeons fscking with my production.

Would need to plink them at such an angle so as to not hit the panels though.

Anyone tried pigeon potjiekos?
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Yip.

You moer the pigeon in the potjie with some bruin uie sop and spices, an onion or 2 etc. Normal potjie recipe basicly. Then you throw in a brick on top of the pigeon.

Cook for 4-6 hours. Take off the heat, remove the pigeon, and eat the brick.
 
I suspect I had some pigeon in the early 2000s in Adderly street, it was from a knock-off Nandos, that chicken was small.
 
@Conack At this stage, the pigeons homing instinct as designated your roof as the meetup location.

You going to have to kill* (send them to sky heaven) them one by one.

Word removed in case it triggers weak ass idiots.
 
rh1 said:
@Conack At this stage, the pigeons homing instinct as designated your roof as the meetup location.

You going to have to kill* (send them to sky heaven) them one by one.

Word removed in case it triggers weak ass idiots.
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Ja I guess - but to do that safely, humanely and legally will be the challenge.

Been thinking about building a ramp to the roof for the neighbourhood cats to climb up - as I tried to mount something but it was too rickety for the cats liking.
While she can get there already, it's not easy enough for her to do it often so she doesn't bother except for once in a blue moon. (Scared the hell out of me the first time as I thought a burglar is on the roof).

Will report back when a plan has been devised. Thanks for all the input and ideas.
 
rh1 said:
I suspect I had some pigeon in the early 2000s in Adderly street, it was from a knock-off Nandos, that chicken was small.
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Did it taste like brick?
 
  • Haha
Reactions: rh1
Had a first go at a clean. Broke a slop and 1x bucket. Realise I need a longer squeegee pole. :laugh:

Dustin' on the top,
Broke a bucket and a slop,
And an illustrated book about biiiirds...

GettyImages-2223782W.jpg
 
Flanders said:
Had a first go at a clean. Broke a slop and 1x bucket. Realise I need a longer squeegee pole. :laugh:

Dustin' on the top,
Broke a bucket and a slop,
And an illustrated book about biiiirds...

GettyImages-2223782W.jpg
Click to expand...

That’ll learn ya
 
Yea if i see **** on the panels i climb up for a cleaning

And if it starts to look too dusty

Since shade can damage panels

I doubt the dust is that bad as it is uniform (hence bypass diode will take effect if too bad), its the bird **** that bothers me, or if the dust is worse on the bottom of the panel

ie shading enough to turn portion into a heater but Not enough to trigger bypass
 
leon.davibe said:
Yea if i see **** on the panels i climb up for a cleaning

And if it starts to look too dusty

Since shade can damage panels

I doubt the dust is that bad as it is uniform (hence bypass diode will take effect if too bad), its the bird **** that bothers me, or if the dust is worse on the bottom of the panel

ie shading enough to turn portion into a heater but Not enough to trigger bypass
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How does shade damage panels?
 
wingnut771 said:
How does shade damage panels?
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When a portion of the panel is shaded and produces nothing it turns into resistance

Hence why they say shading kills output in series string and why bypass diodes /optimizers help

If this shading is uniform+ enough the bypass diode will cause the current to bypass this panel and protect it

But if the shading is just a small spot ie resistance not enough cause a bypass this portion may degrade

And thus why you have to clean panels outside peak production times ie before 10Am and after 2-3pm area array direction dependant

ie morning cleaning of west facing
And afternoon for east facing

or disable the array by disconnecting it from inverter with isolator

Shading damage isn't covered by manufacturer warrantee i believe

Or this is how i understand this
 
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wingnut771 said:
Andy's panels must be stuffed now.
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Lots of shading hopefully bypass diodes keep working as needed

But also as long as shading is uniform it is fine

ie no panel is producing peak power

one at peak another not or dead in the water is where the problem comes in i think
 
As far as i have it soaps/chemicals/high pressure cleaners may remove anti-reflective coating

So water or specially formulated only, soak shite with a wet cloth lying on it a bit
 
wingnut771 said:
Andy's panels must be stuffed now.
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The first panels he had was 2nd hands had cracks/separation

At some point he had a whole new array installed and some of these old panels gets rolled out as pool fence temporary winter production
 
leon.davibe said:
The first panels he had was 2nd hands had cracks/separation

At some point he had a whole new array installed and some of these old panels gets rolled out as pool fence temporary winter production
Click to expand...
Obviously I’m talking about the new panels.
 
wingnut771 said:
Obviously I’m talking about the new panels.
Click to expand...
yea no idea how long it would take for panels to degrade bad enough
obviously the bypass diodes will help protect panels

but no idea
what the perfect storms that is needed

if manufacturers chooses to cover their butts by having it in the small print it is somethinmg to consider

hence why i thought to mention it

have also heard that the spraying cold water on hot panels not a good idea as the sudden changes can cause damage (naturally after i did it to see if startup voltage was my problem early on)

but yea there is so much myth, what is important what not who knows
 
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