Improved Snow Removal Tool

[DanS26]

No problem, you are justifying your obsession. Standard rule for home projects is they are always a good excuse to buy something. I happen to have a roof rake and about 10 extension sections that I inherited so I use what I have.

Well, your right, my little project will not help you or your neighbor, but maybe help a few who come along later.

[bcroe]

I have a #4 cable running down to 8' copper ground rod tied into my ground field
that is tied into panel frames. Not that worried about an aluminum pole.

You could tie that aluminum pole to the frame ground for protection. Otherwise if you slip and the pole pokes a hole
in a panel, it could pick up 400VDC here. Bruce Roe

[azdave]

When you have a prototype together, send it here for a season long test where there is snow. Run it alongside my vibrating panels
and gaps for drop through. Bruce Roe

As soon as Phoenix has a problem with snow accumulating on solar panels I'll begin working on the prototype. It was low 70's last week while I was out pouring concrete in a T-shirt so it might be awhile.

Right now, my compressed air idea is used to help clean pools.

[bcroe]

As soon as Phoenix has a problem with snow accumulating on solar panels
I'll begin working on the prototype. It was low 70's last week while I was out pouring concrete in a T-shirt so
it might be awhile. Right now, my compressed air idea is used to help clean pools.

I'm having trouble visualizing it; you have a sketch? Seems like nozzles & valves would be needed
for each panel. My panels are hundreds of feet from any building, but I did drop a 20A AC line in
the trench for some outlets. Bruce Roe

[azdave]

I'm having trouble visualizing it; you have a sketch? Seems like nozzles & valves would be needed
for each panel. My panels are hundreds of feet from any building, but I did drop a 20A AC line in
the trench for some outlets. Bruce Roe

I'm just thinking of a more typical home install where you could manually open valves to blast air under the snow accumulation on the top panels and hopefully trigger an avalanche. I'm sure there are snow conditions where it would not always work as planned. Your arrays are quite extensive and remote so not as easy for you I'm sure. It's been 26 years since I lived in the snow and back then I had an air-to-air solar setup for heat. I could clear the panels by manually turning on the circulation fan.