Cleaning Solar Panels

I think the main thing is get more panels than you need. Batteries are expensive but panels are cheap and have the best ROI. Things like dust are easily mitigated by having more generation than you need. Its better under cloudy conditions also. I will choose convenience every time.
 
Magnum said:
No, dust clings....You need to rub them good...
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Dust do cling. Ever noticed an aircraft's wing have some dust on it when you get into year seat. Land 2 hours later and it is still there.
 
Ernabr said:
Dust do cling. Ever noticed an aircraft's wing have some dust on it when you get into year seat. Land 2 hours later and it is still there.
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That is only because the pilot was mellow.....
 
Anyone who has tried to clean a car after muddy bundu bashing will know that one can't clean the mud with a hosepipe.
You can't even clean it with high pressure cleaner, it takes only the coarse stuff off.
 
denmendez65 said:
I think the main thing is get more panels than you need. Batteries are expensive but panels are cheap and have the best ROI. Things like dust are easily mitigated by having more generation than you need. Its better under cloudy conditions also. I will choose convenience every time.
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Panels are cheap, getting them up isn't.
 
Lupus said:
Panels are cheap, getting them up isn't.
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Agreed, but its all the more reason to get it right the first time. Mine sit on top of my 3 garages and can't be seen at all from any angle unless you have a drone or something. Also made it easier to install new ones if I need to. Despite the ease of access, I still don't clean them 😂 .
 
rh1 said:
Only time I clean the panels are when the bombs are too big. Otherwise I let nature takes its course.
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I try and clean it as soon as i see it

I believe the loss has to be 20% before bypass diode kicks in so small spots in shade of **** can become hotspots degrading the panel

May be mistaken just how i understand it
 
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Not one report states the angle the PV panels are mounted?
Has anyone seen a report of production loss by dust/whatever plotted against the angle of the panels?
I install panels at 45 degrees to maximize winter production and reduce risk of hail damage. (Gauteng)
Reckon cleaner washing when it rains as well, although I see dust has less than expected effect on production?
 
Can't go back further than 2023 on Solarman for daily stats.

As close to the same date with clear skies in Somerset West.

Panels are almost flat mounted at 5° inclination.

No cleaning done in the last 4 years.

20 July 2023
Peak power 5.15kW
Total production 27.7kWh

22 July 2024
Peak power 4.76kW
Total production 24.3kWh

12 July 2024
Peak power 4.96kW
Total production 26.5kWh with still a few more watts trickling in till sunset
Screenshot_20250712_164857_solarmanPro.jpgScreenshot_20250712_164750_solarmanPro.jpgScreenshot_20250712_164605_solarmanPro.jpg
 
Abe53 said:
Not one report states the angle the PV panels are mounted?
Has anyone seen a report of production loss by dust/whatever plotted against the angle of the panels?
I install panels at 45 degrees to maximize winter production and reduce risk of hail damage. (Gauteng)
Reckon cleaner washing when it rains as well, although I see dust has less than expected effect on production?
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There is a site that indicates "losses" for angles and directions from the optimum. My husband found it when he installed our panels - our roof is quite flat but it was not worth the cost to build a frame to improve the angle - it worked out cheaper to install two extra panels that more than compensated for the loss.
 
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Yea the angle sacrifices summer production for more winter production
 
Flanders said:
How much dust do you get in that part of the world?
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Friends in Franskraal clean their panels very regularly. The most air creates the prefect "glue" for any sand and dust to stick on the panels. Even the steeper angle at which the panels are mounted don't assist en the panels being cleanted when it rains.
 
Ernabr said:
Friends in Franskraal clean their panels very regularly. The most air creates the prefect "glue" for any sand and dust to stick on the panels. Even the steeper angle at which the panels are mounted don't assist en the panels being cleanted when it rains.
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What about post 131?
 
I hosed and wiped my panels down yesterday. Production at 12:30 yesterday was 14.4kWh, today its 14.9kWh. Make of that what you will.
 
Speedster said:
I hosed and wiped my panels down yesterday. Production at 12:30 yesterday was 14.4kWh, today its 14.9kWh. Make of that what you will.
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3.5% doesn't sound like a lot, but increase the fuel or electricity price by that percentage and hear people complain...
 
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