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diy solar

It's worth brushing snow off panels

M

MarkSolar

Solar Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Messages
390
Location
Chicago far metro
We had about 2" of snow last night and it's pretty cold, so I brushed the snow off my panels this morning. I was never sure how effectively snow blocked out the light, but I got my answer at 9:30 this morning.

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MarkSolar said:
We had about 2" of snow last night and it's pretty cold, so I brushed the snow off my panels this morning. I was never sure how effectively snow blocked out the light, but I got my answer at 9:30 this morning.
Click to expand...
Do your panels always take time off for lunch? :ROFLMAO:

EDIT: Sorry, couldn't resist
 
We get a fair amount of snow and not a lot of sun in the Nov-Jan months. I brush them off anyway. Those few ah's that flow in do make a difference for us. I keep a clean, dedicated push broom for the panels, cars, trucks and equipment. Oh man, just talking about is making me tired, just got dug out from a couple of weeks of heavy snow events. I did recently discover the joy of using a battery powered leaf blower with a dry snow fall. I don't blow leaves with the leaf blower, just snow, very nice addition to the tool rack.
 
AKvalleyguy said:
I did recently discover the joy of using a battery powered leaf blower with a dry snow fall. I don't blow leaves with the leaf blower, just snow, very nice addition to the tool rack.
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I can't believe this, my wife uses a battery powered blower for the stalls in our barn and I walk right past the thing every time I brush the snow off the panels. Our panels are ground mounted next to the barn. Next time I'll try out her leaf blower instead of the broom. Why didn't I think of this.
 
Yeah, I wouldn't have ever bought a leaf blower. My son noticed the car lots use them after a snow. He just happened to pick up a couple of the Kobalt 80v's on sale because it was cheaper to buy the blower/battery combo than just a battery. The blowers got tossed to the side until one day the light bulb came on. We have goats and chickens but no real barn to speak of. Guess the grandkids get to keep their chore jobs!
 
I made a scraper out of a long 2x2 for the handle then screwed a 3 ft 2x4 to the end of that. Takes the snow off pretty good but there'll be an snowey icey layer on the surface so I hose it down to turn it to clear ice which allows the sun to penetrate to the dark surface that quickly heats up to do the rest of the job.
 
Abodyofscience said:
How many A-h is your inconvenience worth?
Sitting here in a warm house with city power and sweats on, I can't say. :cautious:
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I remember those leisure days when the city plow trucks roamed the roads and my 200ft driveway was all I had to keep clear. The electricity flowed freely, except when it didn't, and all was well. Today with 2 miles of road to maintain and a few dozen solar panels, I do dream fondly of the easy times. Except today, when I step out into the elements I know I'm alive! The man can keep his dirty grid power ?. Give me a leaf blower, push broom, 15 minutes and everything is right in the world again.
 
Bossrox said:
I made a scraper out of a long 2x2 for the handle then screwed a 3 ft 2x4 to the end of that. Takes the snow off pretty good but there'll be an snowey icey layer on the surface so I hose it down to turn it to clear ice which allows the sun to penetrate to the dark surface that quickly heats up to do the rest of the job.
Click to expand...
Occasionally the panels get a little buildup of snowy ice. I have some RainX windshield fluid with deicer in it, it's the purple stuff. I've though about putting some in a pump up sprayer and seeing if that would help with making the surface slick enough for it to slide off more on its own.
 
AKvalleyguy said:
Occasionally the panels get a little buildup of snowy ice. I have some RainX windshield fluid with deicer in it, it's the purple stuff. I've though about putting some in a pump up sprayer and seeing if that would help with making the surface slick enough for it to slide off more on its own.
Click to expand...
I eagerly await the results on that test. I'm not sure I want that stuff dribbling onto the ground here though. We've been trying not to "poop where we sleep" for a bunch of years now. Maybe by the time I tip over I will be known as a tree hugger.

MarkSolar said:
I can't believe this, my wife uses a battery powered blower for the stalls in our barn and I walk right past the thing every time I brush the snow off the panels. Our panels are ground mounted next to the barn. Next time I'll try out her leaf blower instead of the broom. Why didn't I think of this.
Click to expand...
The snow will now fall wet and heavy. Your wife is gonna laugh at you. :LOL:
 
WYtreasure said:
I eagerly await the results on that test. I'm not sure I want that stuff dribbling onto the ground here though. We've been trying not to "poop where we sleep" for a bunch of years now. Maybe by the time I tip over I will be known as a tree hugger.
Click to expand...
Yeah, 100% with you there. I look at the jug of fluid and think, yes, no, maybe. The panels are about 300 ft from the water well and it's several hundred feet deep, but still, I'm thinking hmmmm. How about RV antifreeze for the drinking system? Probably overthinking it, I've been sweeping them for about 17 years, good exercise I tell myself.

Haha, tree hugger. Half of my friends already think I'm a tree hugger just because I live off grid.
 
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