DIY - How to Clean Your Solar Panels the Easy Way (if you dare climb on your roof safely)

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  • Опубликовано: 19 окт 2024
  • DISCLAIMER - Climbing on your roof is dangerous. DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK! Wear safety harness and use protection if in doubt. I VERY STRONGLY SUGGEST DOING THIS ON A COOL DAY OR IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE PANELS HEAT UP. DAMAGE CAN OCCUR IF YOU PUT COLD WATER ON HOT PANELS.
    Solar panel cleaning will help you restore efficiency to your solar system.
    Solar Panels are awesome! Go Green, Help save the earth with clean energy!
    If you are still reading this, I am betting you already agree and want to clean your solar panels. Solar panels get dusty, dirty, covered with pollen and the rain doesn't always clean it off. I use Liquid Dish Soap and a window cleaner's squeegee. It's a mild soap, cleans glass great, and rinses off easily.
    Again it's very important to do this when it's cool out and panels are cool to the touch. If the panels are hot, the soap dries quickly and the job becomes more difficult. These glass panels are built to get hot and cold slowly, but I wouldn't suggest testing the thermal variance with cold water. I use a simple pole and soft mop that you may already have at home in the video, but there are professional level options available below. Again, BE SAFE - KNOW YOUR LIMITS - IF IN DOUBT CONTACT A PROFESSIONAL!
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Комментарии • 76

  • @mikemcgee5296
    @mikemcgee5296 4 года назад +10

    I use a Windex outdoor cleaner , you get your panels wet, then switchover to the Windex solution after you let it soak for about 30 sec's then switch back over to water only , they will be clean and no streaks . very simple and you don't have to get on your roof .

  • @jimvanhoy
    @jimvanhoy 4 года назад +4

    I agree with those that discourage the use of soap for the reasons cited. I use a foam squeegee as it has about an inch of foam between the edge touching the panels and the metal frame of the squeegee itself, thereby greatly reducing the chance of scratching the panels. It is as effective as a normal squeegee. I bought it years ago but think it was marketed as a "floor" squeegee. Lastly not sure what time of day it was in the video but appears the sun was up, should always perform the cleaning when panels are cold!!

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  4 года назад +2

      I completely agree with the time of day - as stated in description. This was done early in the day when temps were cool - you can tell by the long shadows. I agree soft is key. Mild dish soap is not abrasive. The solar community is mixed on that concept of cleaning agents. There are many manufacturers selling solar panel specific soap for the job. Clearly there are different manufacturers of panels as well and they may or may not have coatings on the glass. Ultimately you must decide what is best in your situation. Do you have hard water? Is there tree sap falling on your panels? Dust or sand? Salt spray buildup from the ocean? This video shows one way. Do what is best for you. Do it with safety in mind. Be well!

  • @beverlywilcox4349
    @beverlywilcox4349 3 года назад +5

    If you do it in full sunlight, the soap will dry on the panels before you can rinse it off. Its h-o-t-t-t here in Central California!

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  3 года назад +1

      Correct. Do it early when it’s cool.

    • @pauleypavillion6088
      @pauleypavillion6088 4 месяца назад

      I do mine before 9am in the Arizona desert.

  • @nlo114
    @nlo114 5 лет назад +21

    1:55 - quick reminder, gravity causes water to flow downhill.

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  4 года назад

      ruclips.net/video/ZONMwu_oFpU/видео.html

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  4 года назад

      ruclips.net/video/RfJKzE6xWmE/видео.html

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  4 года назад

      ruclips.net/video/MDFVxmqf7tI/видео.html

    • @doramoreno9363
      @doramoreno9363 4 года назад +1

      My thoughts exactly!!

  • @rjones93257
    @rjones93257 4 года назад +3

    I do pretty much to same. Mine need it about once a month here in Central Valley farm area. Production goes way up.

  • @michaelmohr6003
    @michaelmohr6003 4 года назад +3

    Do not us soap. That is a NO NO. Soap will cause reflection of light and less performance. It also could make the panel sticky for dust if soap is not removed 100%. Water or purified water without minerals works best for no mineral spotting. Vinegar and water mix works very good. Vinegar has a natural PH that will break down the dirt and minerals with less water spots. No soap of any kind. And try not to walk on the wet part of the roof it can be as slippery as ice.

  • @markbullo7603
    @markbullo7603 4 года назад +2

    Me:Dumps water to the solar pannels
    Dude: scrubs

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  4 года назад

      Dude: scrubs
      Me: gently massages the surface smooth. lovingly applies caressing hydration shower.

  • @Xxxcappie23
    @Xxxcappie23 3 года назад

    Is there any risk of electricity hazards spraying off the soap?

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  3 года назад +1

      Most panels are guaranteed for 25 years in the sun and rain. A little dish soap won’t hurt.

  • @fredpacemaker6800
    @fredpacemaker6800 5 лет назад +3

    I have been informed on several occasions to always use water only....No soaps or cleaners.

    • @John-gm8ty
      @John-gm8ty 5 лет назад +1

      no reason for this, unless you have some horrifically cheap Chinese panels.
      soap will NOT harm a panel surface, nor with any window cleaner.
      abrasives will, leaving streaks is the only risk from mild detergents (liquid soap), and if you squeegee them off properly, no streaks anyway.

    • @fredpacemaker6800
      @fredpacemaker6800 5 лет назад +1

      Okie dokie.......I have a RoadTrek, don't know if they are cheap panels or not.....I only said " I have been informed." Don't use soap on panels.

    • @John-gm8ty
      @John-gm8ty 5 лет назад

      @@fredpacemaker6800 yea, it's standard advice from everywhere, but I've had a 250w panel I've been using for years on a small battery system, and cleaned it countless time with dish soap and there is not a spot of damage, marking or scuffing from using a kitchen sponge.
      scratching happens from using the wrong tools or abrasives like sugar soap.

    • @MrSummitville
      @MrSummitville 5 лет назад

      @John Doe. You have been "informed" by WHOM? And exactly WHY can't you use a mild soap?

    • @John-gm8ty
      @John-gm8ty 5 лет назад +2

      @@MrSummitville someone who clearly has zero idea.
      other than smears which will effect the panels in zero way, soap poses zero risk to panel surfaces.
      this sounds more like a scam to sell magical cleaning products.

  • @xierxu
    @xierxu 5 лет назад +3

    Power production difference?

    • @MrSummitville
      @MrSummitville 5 лет назад

      It all depends upon how dirty the panels were ...

  • @victoravila166
    @victoravila166 4 года назад +2

    always start scrobing top to bottom same as squeezing brother. good Idea anyways

  • @suntrade1420
    @suntrade1420 3 года назад

    Nice , Can go for this also @

  • @zephro666000
    @zephro666000 4 года назад +1

    How often do you clean the panels?

  • @michaelbaker7039
    @michaelbaker7039 3 года назад

    I use pure water wash to clean the panels it's very effective.
    Also no soap ending up in the water tank.

  • @איריסחזון
    @איריסחזון 4 года назад

    good work

  • @dallasmarin80
    @dallasmarin80 3 года назад

    This is actually what NOT to do. USE PURE WATER. Thats it. No squeegee. Water and brush...that is all.

    • @hectorjasso1174
      @hectorjasso1174 2 года назад

      What do you mean by pure water? Sorry I just don't know.

  • @oscarguzman936
    @oscarguzman936 4 года назад

    Do you guys shut off the system before washing panels?

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  4 года назад +3

      Do you shut off the system when it rains? I can't foresee an issue unless the rats have been chewing on your wires.

  • @f1fanatic80
    @f1fanatic80 4 года назад +4

    Who squeegees upwards....

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  4 года назад +3

      The squeegee is more powerful than gravity on the helpless soap bubbles. They didn’t have a chance. We are cleaning solar panels, not windows. I wasn’t worried about which way the wipe occurred. Would you have done it differently? If so, how? My safest spot was above the panels. Sometimes you do what works.

    • @f1fanatic80
      @f1fanatic80 4 года назад

      robdude1969 ah i didnt see that, i wash them from the top, and squeegeed from the bottom of the panels towards me to let gravity work with you. But i have the space.... But if its not safe then fair enough. Great end result...which is all that matters.

  • @romanamerlene8554
    @romanamerlene8554 4 года назад

    With Avasva plans doing something like that was easy.

  • @keithmoriyama5421
    @keithmoriyama5421 5 лет назад +1

    What's so easy about this?

  • @chriscollard7874
    @chriscollard7874 4 года назад

    Nice LG NEON2s

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  4 года назад

      Amazing what a few years can do for efficiency - these cost more than the 260watt panels that were so common at the time, but the difference in price didn't matter because I needed less panels with these. Now I see there are mach more efficient models available. Buy the best you can at the time... so many reasons why. Loving these LG's!

  • @comedysaucevideos
    @comedysaucevideos 3 года назад

    everything here is the opposite of what i've heard

  • @mididoctors
    @mididoctors 2 года назад +1

    Don't do this

    • @himecraig
      @himecraig 2 года назад

      I don’t like this way at all!

  • @luisperezamador2663
    @luisperezamador2663 3 года назад

    Becareful is very dangerous 😳

  • @viyeut04
    @viyeut04 4 года назад

    Very stupid using soap for module panels cleaning

    • @robdude1969
      @robdude1969  4 года назад +1

      Trần Phi Tứ why? Soap was recommended by manufacturer. I suppose your panels may not be glass?

  • @pierluigicolotto9570
    @pierluigicolotto9570 3 года назад

    I did it quickly and efficiently with instructions from Avasva.