Seen on the news tonight about the huge hail stones Melbourne received today and we were wondering what people do about protecting the solar panels on their mobile homes and vans while on the road and in a hail storm.
Ours are portable and they are in the back of the tug tonight. Solar panels are pretty strong but dont think they's survive big hail stones, and this is one reason we bought the portable ones instead of fixed.
This weather is a bit of a worry! Hope everybody is safe and dry.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Wednesday 28th of September 2011 07:45:09 PM
After reading your post SuenTerry, will be getting portable fold up ones when I can afford it. The weather has been shocking here today, had a bit of everything.
Solar panels are often the victims of hail stones, depending on the size of the hail, of course. They're very exposed up on the roof of anything - house or van. Unless you're quick at predicting such a storm and can get a cover over the roof, there's little you can do at the time. Usually with these storms there are gale-force winds, and you take a risk getting up on a ladder to perform this task. Apparently there is a padded van cover on the market for just such an occasion, but who's going to get up there when there's a storm howling around you? I've been buffeted around by the squalls tonight. We had thunderstorms this morning, and squalls with heavy rain this evening. The wind comes in bursts, but by the look of the weather map on the internet the eastern states should anchor down or they could end up over in NZ, and that would never do.
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You must have got it a lot worse than us CG. Melbourne seems to have been battered too. We had a severe thunderstorm late afternoon with a lot of rain but not much wind.
At home, when hail is forecast, we cover the panels on the poptop with the rubber awning floor matting then a tarp. So far, so good. Have managed not to get into a major hail event whilst on the road.
Hi All, You dont need hail to break a sola panel. Had one shatted while passing a truck .And it was 10 feet up on top of our bus .. They do state that there is a drop with a steel ball test? at some hight to say how hail proof they are . Not to sure what it is. If hail smashes a car windscreen, I dont like the chances of getting of scott free.. By the way a panel will still work when its glass is shatted, but only when it is facing directly at the sun.. Bob....
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Land Rover Discovery Chipped TD5 Manual ,Air Springs, Anti Sway. T.C. Auto level. Van, Roadstar 21.6 Voyager 4000 all sola powered.
Seen on the news tonight about the huge hail stones Melbourne received today and we were wondering what people do about protecting the solar panels on their mobile homes and vans while on the road and in a hail storm.
Best way is to make sure they are listed on your insurance policy.
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