Golf Ball Damage: Protection?

[Mike90250]

.... What I think I will do, if I decide to install something, is purchase nylon fishing nets with an appropriate mesh and install them horizontally just above the panels. They are very thin nylon strands which should minimize the shadowing. They are strong, uv resistant and, ........

Nylon is very sensitive to UV. I think you will be replacing more netting than panels. Black UV rated zip ties last me two years, When that first golf ball tears through the 1 year old net, it's gonna hurt.

[Sunking]

I don't know about that. My ball always finds the water hazard even if I don't aim for it.

Well I have played a lot of golf in your state. If I hit one in the water, I will not get close to the water in Florida. You got those big ass ugly dogs that hide under the water. I will gladly take stroke and distance penalty. Those dogs can have my golf balls, but I prefer to keep mine right where they are at.

FWIW we have their salt water cousins and caimans down here in Panama.

[bcroe]

The picture appears to place the panels fairly close to the south wall. How about, move one row as far north as possible, then
move the other north, perhaps closer together than they are? Then a fence at the south wall can have some height without
blocking the sun much. Bruce Roe

[Logan005]

I am sure the solar panel was hit by someone as part of a bet, they have been working on it, and somebody won that bet.

[SunEagle]

That means you have never played golf. If you had you would know damn well 95% of people that play golf could not hit what they are aiming at or shape a shot if their life depended on it. Those that are good enough, play with their friends for money and would not waste a stroke and risk loosing a hole. Trust me I know, I am a 3 handicap and live on a golf course.

Seriously any golf course in residential areas are not responsible for errant shots, the golfer is if you can catch them. Most homeowners on golf courses are fairly well off, and the ones in flight paths know to use nets. In higher end courses the homes are part of an HOA who installs and maintain nets. When was the last time you seen a nice golf course in a project housing development.

I don't know about that. My ball always finds the water hazard even if I don't aim for it.

[Sunking]

I suspect this ball was intentionally set. Some Donkey volleyed it high and allowed it to gain force. see it gives them something to aim at. and the goal is to see what it takes. I would sue the course.

That means you have never played golf. If you had you would know damn well 95% of people that play golf could not hit what they are aiming at or shape a shot if their life depended on it. Those that are good enough, play with their friends for money and would not waste a stroke and risk loosing a hole. Trust me I know, I am a 3 handicap and live on a golf course.

Seriously any golf course in residential areas are not responsible for errant shots, the golfer is if you can catch them. Most homeowners on golf courses are fairly well off, and the ones in flight paths know to use nets. In higher end courses the homes are part of an HOA who installs and maintain nets. When was the last time you seen a nice golf course in a project housing development.

[bcroe]

I did learn one thing when replacing the panel. Mine are BenQ panels with microinverters. I originally thought most panels are interchangeable, but they are not. As the industry changes and improves we may face a real problem finding replacement panels that will work with our arrays. I would be interested in any comments on this as a potential problem and possible solutions (adapters??).

Your new panel doesn't plug into your old micro inverter? If your new generic panel has MC4s, I would cut the leads
off the broken panel and splice on MC4s to make adapter jumpers. There are even ways to do wire splices, not
as simple outdoors. Bruce Roe

[sunnyguy]

Doppler radar plus water cannon or net gun.

[Logan005]

I suspect this ball was intentionally set. Some Donkey volleyed it high and allowed it to gain force. see it gives them something to aim at. and the goal is to see what it takes. I would sue the course.

[DanS26]

Maybe a different strategy is needed......instead of trying to protect the panels just buy replacement panels to keep your array whole if the damage rate is not too high. It seems one damaged panel in say three years for your array is not too high or maybe it is? You can buy panels now ~$.75 per watt. Build an inventory of spare parts. Learn how to replace the panels yourself to keep costs down.

Move older panels around in the strings to replace the damaged ones and then start new panel strings as you go.......that would be my approach. Just treat it as a cost of living where you live.

Another idea is too place a box with signage on the property line. Most golfers I know have a very good code of ethics. Ask them to leave their name and phone # if they suspect they damaged your panels.

[frogestyle]

Thanks for the update marant. It would be great to hear from somebody that actually implemented a winnable solution to protect against golf ball impacts.

[sensij]

BTW, I did learn one thing when replacing the panel. Mine are BenQ panels with microinverters. I originally thought most panels are interchangeable, but they are not. As the industry changes and improves we may face a real problem finding replacement panels that will work with our arrays. I would be interested in any comments on this as a potential problem and possible solutions (adapters??).

With microinverters, it *should* be easier replace the failed panel with any other panel+microinverter. "Proprietary" cables and connectors defeat what could be a nice future-proof selling point for micros. With SolarEdge, you can replace the panel with anything that looks good, and should be OK, or at worst swap out the optimizer as well. With string inverters, mismatch can be a problem, but most 60 cell panels installed today should be interchangeable for some time.

[marant]

Frogestyle

Here is a little update, woefully late. I had the panel replaced, at my expense, since the cost of $440 was less than my deductible. Have not taken any additional measures for protection, no damage in the last year. (And yes, Sunking, I did know when I purchased the property, did accept the risk because it was worth it to live where I do. I, and no-one else here, is laying blame anywhere, just looking for ideas.)

I did do quite a bit a research after the damage on different ways to protect the panels. Due to layout of my home and lot a vertical barrier is not a solution. My array is essentially flat, on a flat roof with a parapet about 2' high around it. I did not want to use nets from driving ranges due to loss of insolation. What I think I will do, if I decide to install something, is purchase nylon fishing nets with an appropriate mesh and install them horizontally just above the panels. They are very thin nylon strands which should minimize the shadowing. They are strong, uv resistant and, in a horizontal orientation, should tend to just bounce the balls away. Just my idea.

BTW, I did learn one thing when replacing the panel. Mine are BenQ panels with microinverters. I originally thought most panels are interchangeable, but they are not. As the industry changes and improves we may face a real problem finding replacement panels that will work with our arrays. I would be interested in any comments on this as a potential problem and possible solutions (adapters??).

[Sunking]

Use Nets. You knew the risk when you bought the property.

[frogestyle]

Hello. I am in the same situation. I live on a golf course just 150 yards left side of the tee box whereby I receive errant golf balls daily (2 broken windows so far). I am looking to install solar. Have you implemented any solution? Thanks!