The Battery Thread (Solar / Inverter)

[Neuk_]

The pressure washer is so I can reach and less about blasting the dirt off. The north facing panels are easier to reach while the eastern panels have an overhang in front of it making it difficult to reach.

Also.... there is no way IN HELL i'm climbing on the roof. I'm petrified of heights.

Grow a pair I am on or in our roof just about every week, so much that I installed LED lighting in the roof with a Sonoff Basic switch and an automation in HA that switches the lights on when I open the trap door.

 

[TheChamp]

It's not critical to wash them to be honest. My panels have been up over a year now and they get cleaned when it rains.

The really don't look nice when dirty, it's just like a dirty car, it's not critical to wash it but it just doesn't make sense not to wash something when it's dirty.

 

[maxxis]

Grow a pair I am on or in our roof just about every week, so much that I installed LED lighting in the roof with a Sonoff Basic switch and an automation in HA that switches the lights on when I open the trap door.

I have to grow some this weekend. I need to get up on the roof to see where the damn leaks are.

 

[Lupus]

The really don't look nice when dirty, it's just like a dirty car, it's not critical to wash it but it just doesn't make sense not to wash something when it's dirty.

Argh that just reminds me I need to wash my car, which then reminds me I scratched my wife's bonnet on hers when I carried a step ladder over it sigh.

 

[semaphore]

Thanks. I have a pressure washer that will help me reach the panels when standing on a latter. This is going to be some sketchy ****.

How often? Two week intervals?

Not sure, my panels were dirty but the rains last night cleaned them

 

[maxxis]

I don't think a pressure washer does much from a distance, probably just a fine mist by then, probably better just to use a garden hose fitting that you can adjust the flow like:
View attachment 1201660

Adjustable nozzle gets me plenty distance without the mist.

 

[Neuk_]

The really don't look nice when dirty, it's just like a dirty car, it's not critical to wash it but it just doesn't make sense not to wash something when it's dirty.

Rubbish! Everyone knows a clean car is faster than a dirty car!

 

[TheChamp]

Argh that just reminds me I need to wash my car, which then reminds me I scratched my wife's bonnet on hers when I carried a step ladder over it sigh.

Eish...

 

[Lupus]

Eish...

See why I'm not washing the car mentally I'm just not ready.

 

[Lupus]

Rubbish! Everyone knows a clean car is faster than a dirty car!

Uses less fuel too as there is less drag, but you lose the cornering man.

 

[gbyleveldt]

The really don't look nice when dirty, it's just like a dirty car, it's not critical to wash it but it just doesn't make sense not to wash something when it's dirty.

Yeah they not really visible from most angles so hardly an eyesore in my case

 

[RonSwanson]

@Lupus

This is what I would do.

Phase1
Sunsynk inverter + 1 string of panels +- 3Kw and genset changeover switch

Phase2
Add 1 battery

Following phases add another 3Kw string of panels and more battery

The sunsynk is hybrid so you can mix from solar/grid/battery and can start saving on your bill from day one and have loadshedding protection.

The problem with phase 1 is that in the absence of a battery, it will act like a grid-tied inverter. For it to act like a super-hybrid, it needs a battery, even a small one (or some old clapped out LAs).

 

[wingnut771]

Grow a pair I am on or in our roof just about every week, so much that I installed LED lighting in the roof with a Sonoff Basic switch and an automation in HA that switches the lights on when I open the trap door.

Can you come check my gutter out? I had to use panoramic mode to fit it in one frame:

 

[RonSwanson]

Thanks. I have a pressure washer that will help me reach the panels when standing on a latter. This is going to be some sketchy ****.

How often? Two week intervals?

With a 26 degree roof, a hosepipe with a squirter is good enough, every 3 months or so in dry winters, less in summer. Flat mounted panels may need it more often. You just want to get the Hadeda poop and dust build-up off them.

 

[RonSwanson]

Gonna raid the savings, will still leave a bit in it :-(

Better call Saul Steve.

 

[RonSwanson]

I don't think a pressure washer does much from a distance, probably just a fine mist by then, probably better just to use a garden hose fitting that you can adjust the flow like:
View attachment 1201660

This one mo better, mo pew pew

 

[RonSwanson]

Can you come check my gutter out? I had to use panoramic mode to fit it in one frame:
View attachment 1201678

Yo! These Durban okes with their 3-storey mansions...

 

[Priapus]

I did this once with just soapy water, a cloth and then clean water to rinse and @Priapus then convinced me to never do it again

Yes, you have better things to spend your time on, dude. And your back thanks you.

 

[Priapus]

My wife who used to be petrified of heights now is our roof walker, gutter not working she's on the roof. She said she'll take the mop up to clean the panels.

Doing God's work. She's a keeper, mate.

 

[Lupus]

Doing God's work. She's a keeper, mate.

Yup a lot of people say that , she does the handiwork, mainly cause I can work on PCs and such but I am not really the diy person .

Frak and now there are panel shortages, a few places are now telling me they can't get ahold of a certain size. Sigh.