Cleaning Solar Cells

Peter1059 · Senior Member

Cleaning Solar Cells

Fuzzball · Veteran Member

My husband usually borrows a ladder when he can to clean the solar panels. There just doesn't seem to be anywhere to store a ladder on/in the caravan. :P

Reed · Senior Member

We have a 12' telescoping ladder that we have installed on rear bumper of 5th wheel. It has worked quite well. We also leave it standing against the "escape" bedroom window when we "camp" for more than one night.
Reed and Elaine

vanman · Senior Member

I have a 3lt. telescopic ladder that will get me to the roof to clean my solar panels and skylights. When collapsed the ladder easily fits into the front boot.

I hope this helps

Regards Chris

Reed · Senior Member

The telescoping ladders come in 10' to 12.5' and longer lengths. We have the 12.5'

Reed and Elaine

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Sometime at home, check the charge rate from the panels and then clean them and check again.
You will probably decide not to bother cleaning them while you are away.
They need to be VERY dirty to have any significant effect on performance.

Cheers,
Peter

Reed · Senior Member

Oceanside salt spray can build up in a few weeks. We get "mud rains" in US and that can cause degradation

Reed and Elaine

Peter1059 · Senior Member

Peter1059 wrote:
Hi Guys
How do you clean your solar cells clean when you are on the road, at home I use a ladder etc and it's not a problem. Next year we are planning a 6 week trip and would like your wisdom.
Many thanks
Peter

Thanks guys

Reed · Senior Member

As for cleaning the panels: just use a low pressure hose or a bucket of warm water. Wipe off with a towel if desired. Rain is what we usually use. Googled subject and a number of sites were very much against using detergent.

Snow is another problem in USA. Photo taken at older son's place in mountains of northern New Mexico at about 2300m. Just used one of his ladders and a broom. I had climbed the rear ladder to roof but it was so slick that i would slide just sitting down, a bad idea at age 75.

Those are son's panels to right of 5th wheel. He is off grid with around 5 kW of panels.

Reed and elaine

-- Edited by Reed on Monday 28th of September 2015 09:47:43 AM

Baz421 · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Sometime at home, check the charge rate from the panels and then clean them and check again.
You will probably decide not to bother cleaning them while you are away.
They need to be VERY dirty to have any significant effect on performance.

Cheers,
Peter

Agree with Peter. We hardly ever have needed to wash panels in 8 years now, with plenty of dusty bush work like Peter.

IF they are a problem you can wash with normal water and detergent and then apply and rinse off a kitchen dishwater glass cleaner, as this leave a clean surface that stays clean longer IMHO.

PeterD · Guru

Solar panels are largely self cleaning. If you don't park under sappy type trees they don't need cleaning.

Reed · Senior Member

Googled this and a number of sites noted that studies had been done and that normal dust etc had only a 1% or so difference. Sappy trees would be another case entirely. As noted in earlier posting, salt spray buildup by the sea can cause some definite problems. We had to wash off the panels when we were camped on beach in Yucatan. We just used water and a wet towel.
Reed and Elaine

Peter1059 · Senior Member

Reed wrote:
Googled this and a number of sites noted that studies had been done and that normal dust etc had only a 1% or so difference. Sappy trees would be another case entirely. As noted in earlier posting, salt spray buildup by the sea can cause some definite problems. We had to wash off the panels when we were camped on beach in Yucatan. We just used water and a wet towel.
Reed and Elaine

1% reduction.... hardly seems like a problem at all now. I think I'll wait until I get home.

Thanks all especially Fuzzball... borrowing a ladder should have been my first idea, sometimes I just hate the simple solutions that someone else comes up with.

Peter

Peter1059 · Senior Member

Hi Guys

Someone mentioned polishing them with Rain X, well I did this and they came up a treat. So now I have to wait and see how they go on our trip.

Peter