Cleaning Solar Panels.

[inetdog]

Yes.

[bcroe]

If these were your panels after being on the roof for less than a month, would you get on a ladder and spray them off?

If mine were that bad, I'd find a way to ground mount them. Bruce Roe

[solar_newbie]

If these were your panels after being on the roof for less than a month, would you get on a ladder and spray them off?
Problem is, the panels are so dirty because of the rain.

No I will make my bed up there and clean every night before sleep.

[sensij]

If these were your panels after being on the roof for less than a month, would you get on a ladder and spray them off?
Problem is, the panels are so dirty because of the rain.

You have Enphase, right? I would clean just half of them, and check the panel data the next day to see if you can notice the difference.

[azdave]

If these were your panels after being on the roof for less than a month, would you get on a ladder and spray them off?
Problem is, the panels are so dirty because of the rain.

No. I know not everyone agrees.

We have significant dust storms here in Phoenix (often with only a spattering of rain to glue down the dirt). My panels have been up for over a year now. If I cleaned them each time they had some dust buildup or heavy water spots on them I'd be a slave to my system and I'd rather not have that constant hassle. I'll go up this winter to do a general roof inspection and see how the panels look. I'm not saying I would never clean them but I'm certainly not losing sleep (or significant output) from not cleaning them vigilantly.

This is my choice/situation and your mileage may vary.

[J.P.M.]

A couple more comments: I spend time in Death Valley each summer. I stop by the megaWatt size array at the Furnace Creek Ranch and check status. The Director advised me several years ago that they contract panel cleaning about every 2 years to clean the guano off, but otherwise don't clean much of anything. They monitor output and claim to not be able to see a deterioration in performance.

Also, there is a similar size array about a mile or so from my house. Its been there about 5+ years or so and I can see it as I'm typing this. I've never seen anyone performing maint. on that array, cleaning or otherwise.

On the photos, I'd probably hit the array with a hose in the early A.M.

[azdave]

Follow up...

I was up on my patio roof last weekend retrieving a wayward toy and took a few photos of my panels while I was there. These panels have been up just over one year in Phoenix Arizona USA. They face south and are at 22 degrees tilt. They have never been washed other than by mother nature. I see no need to do anything further.