Snow problem with panel

[breeblebrax]

My friend brought this problem to my attention, I will try to be brief.

- Off grid cabin in Northern Michigan
- Uses it a couple of times a year
- Has a panel on the roof collecting power for a battery for lights and such

Problem:

In the winter the panel gets covered in snow and doesn't charge the battery
so when he gets up their, he has no lights...

Any ideas what to do about the snow?

Charles King

http://www.8thsisterenergy.com

[BuzzBuds]

My friend brought this problem to my attention, I will try to be brief.

- Off grid cabin in Northern Michigan
- Uses it a couple of times a year
- Has a panel on the roof collecting power for a battery for lights and such

Problem:

In the winter the panel gets covered in snow and doesn't charge the battery
so when he gets up their, he has no lights...

Any ideas what to do about the snow?

Charles King
http://www.8thsisterenergy.com

Umm Clear it off the pannel would be a great starting point lol
But if you mean to prevent the snow from collecting up on the solar panels I am not sure as I am a newbie here but I will take a guess at this and say set up a very low wattage defroster on the pannels this is something I dont hear much about and there may be a reason for that so do some more research.
Let us know if you find something out please thanks

[breeblebrax]

Defroster

We were considering sending some power back through the panels, but were concerned that the cells themselves had diodes on them and would only allow current to flow one way.

Charles King

http://www.8thsisterenergy.com

[BuzzBuds]

We were considering sending some power back through the panels, but were concerned that the cells themselves had diodes on them and would only allow current to flow one way.

Charles King
http://www.8thsisterenergy.com

Yes that would
I would say you could use a heat tape with a very thin wire sealed in the front pain by folowing the space between cells and no wider you could acomplish this from just a 12v battery do you think that would be possible even?

[breeblebrax]

Good thought

That is a good idea. Now I need to have a way to automatically know
when there is snow on it.

The idea of this thing is to collect energy while I am away so I can use it when
I get there, so I cant just see the snow and click a switch.

[BuzzBuds]

That is a good idea. Now I need to have a way to automatically know
when there is snow on it.

The idea of this thing is to collect energy while I am away so I can use it when
I get there, so I cant just see the snow and click a switch.

Well actualy this could be done quite easly if you are running the heater line on its own circuit then put a thermostat in line near or on the solar panels and have it set to turn the heater wire on when the tempature drops to a certain level.

[breeblebrax]

Switch

That or maybe a light beam that would be blocked by the snow.

[BuzzBuds]

That or maybe a light beam that would be blocked by the snow.

The light beam I'd imagin would probably cause you some trouble getting it configured if thats at all possible if not there maybe a timer option with that set up to where you could turn it off during night time hours and then turns it on at dwn time if dawn time provides enough light to activate the sensor in time to where you dont loose any sun light at all being your main source of power and all

[russ]

Using the stored power to heat the panel during a storm seems like a bit of a loser.

One poster, (mountain) has his panels vertical to prevent buildup.

[BuzzBuds]

Yeah I can see what you are saying there but even a virticaly mounted panel will still alow the snow to build up on it after some time the seporate line used to heat the panel wont be used continuosly and it will only be running when it needs to not in any storm but just when snow is sitting on the panel and as he said only a couple of times a year is the solar panels needed any way.
I can not see the harm of using a very small amount of sun produced power to defrost a panel

[breeblebrax]

Good plan

I think it is shaping up into a good plan!

[BuzzBuds]

I think it is shaping up into a good plan!

I think it will work also

[eye144]

heating snow

Anyone get success? I was thinking of running ice dam cables or infrared bulbs with a manual on off for storms. But hoping someone has success.