Solar Panel cleaning

[Welcome]

Anyone know the manual cleaning frequency of residential Panels? Any pointers to data re: loss of energy through dirt & debris accumulation? I am new to this forum stuff and welcome all input. Many thanks!

[Sunking]

Just hose them down when they get dusty or dirty. Not much to it as any kid with a garden hose can do it.

[Welcome]

Thanks Dereck. We are a building Maintenance Co & figured we have the infrastructure why not offer cleaning? There are companies with cleaning solutions, cleaning kits etc why not offfer the service?

[Mike90250]

PV cleaning should only be done at dawn, or dusk. Sloshing water on panels that have been toasting in the sun, induces un-needed thermal stress. The dark blue cells, heat the panels hotter than a car windshield, and those crack all too often from thermal shock.(Rain is often preceded by clouds, allowing the panel to cool).
I wash mine about 4 months after the last appreciable rain. Never see much gain afterwards. Water is the only recommended thing to use on them, I do mine in the AM, when the dew has softened the grunge overnight.
A DI water rinse would be a good thing, to keep mineral spots off.

[damage]

google did a study on washing panels as they have an extensive installation http://bit.ly/EZNz9

[waytogosolar]

Hi Mike, interesting posts, thanks. How long have you had solar panels. In Australia some companies only offer 10 year warranty. Any comments?
cheers

[lile001]

PV cleaning should only be done at dawn, or dusk. Sloshing water on panels that have been toasting in the sun, induces un-needed thermal stress. The dark blue cells, heat the panels hotter than a car windshield, and those crack all too often from thermal shock.(Rain is often preceded by clouds, allowing the panel to cool).
I wash mine about 4 months after the last appreciable rain. Never see much gain afterwards. Water is the only recommended thing to use on them, I do mine in the AM, when the dew has softened the grunge overnight.
A DI water rinse would be a good thing, to keep mineral spots off.

4 Months after that last rain! Fortunately I live where that isn't even a possibility. However, my metal roof, only two years old, has a visible layer of grunge on it, thin layer of dirt. I'm sure that any array will need a cleaning, rain or no. I'm thinking of getting one of those soapy washer things that hook up to the hose. I'll definitely be on a safety rope when I'm standing on the slick metal roof slinging soap.

My roof is 4:12 (19 degrees) and I plan to mount the array flat to the roof. Steeper arrays will need less cleaning. I have a friend who'
se had an array since 1986, at 38 degrees, and has never cleaned it. Don't know how much capacity he's lost, but it still works OK.


--Lawrence

[Mike90250]

I'd go easy on the soap, as residues often attract and cement more grunge each cycle. A carwash kit (Mr Clean) that has a DI rinse cartrige would be a better investment instead of soap, I think.