russ
Solar Advocate
Posts: 63
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Post by russ on Aug 20, 2019 23:44:10 GMT
Wow, I clearly misunderstood that. Thank you for the clarification.
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terracore
Solar Advocate
Chillin at EZwineKIT.com
Posts: 50
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Post by terracore on Sept 8, 2019 2:41:11 GMT
Some research has concluded that Monocrystalline panels last longer (30 years) than Polycrystalline (25 years).
But of course with everything being made offshore in China and other Asian countries, nobody really knows how long any of these panels are really going to last. But given the price difference, I lean toward monos if for no other reason the insignificant price difference considering the smaller footprint/weight of the monos. Just looking at the monos there are so fewer connections they just look like there is less potential for something to go wrong.
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Post by mediadogg on Sept 8, 2019 17:31:54 GMT
Some research has concluded that Monocrystalline panels last longer (30 years) than Polycrystalline (25 years). But of course with everything being made offshore in China and other Asian countries, nobody really knows how long any of these panels are really going to last. But given the price difference, I lean toward monos if for no other reason the insignificant price difference considering the smaller footprint/weight of the monos. Just looking at the monos there are so fewer connections they just look like there is less potential for something to go wrong. Ah, good info!
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Nov 11, 2019 17:43:52 GMT
Today, it is snowing, and the solar panels, the four that I adjusted for the winter, are getting a coating of snow. Since I have them at ground level, it is easy enough to dust them off.
I was hoping that the snow would be sliding off the panels, but that is not the case. There is about a five inch accumulation on the ground, but the good/bad thing, the panels are only getting a dusting, just enough to make the panels non-functional.
A question for the people that have had their panels through a couple of winters, snow winters that is, is their a recommended spray or solution of some sort that would make the panel glass so slippery that the snow would not adhere. And of course it would have to be something that would not obstruct the functionality of the panels.
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Post by mediadogg on Nov 11, 2019 17:55:46 GMT
Even if someone claimed to have such a solution, I personally wouldn't risk it, if the panels are so accessible. All my panels, like yours, are located near the ground or reachable from a bedroom window. I use this snow broom to safely brush the snow off (even several inches). All that is needed is 80 - 90% or so for the panels to become useful, then the sun does the rest by heating up the exposed glass. When the snow is really heavy or I am too tired, I just brush away a swath for the sun to get to, and the melting snow provides the lubrication for a much easier final pass to slide the rest off, a few hours later.
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Nov 11, 2019 18:21:00 GMT
Thanks mediadogg. I was thinking along the line of the stuff that they were selling for the car windshield. I have never used it for my car windshield, but I wonder how that would work for the solar panel glass.
Next years project, a big wiper blade for the solar panel. Self powered, and self aware of the elements. LOL
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Post by mediadogg on Nov 11, 2019 19:26:37 GMT
Thanks mediadogg. I was thinking along the line of the stuff that they were selling for the car windshield. I have never used it for my car windshield, but I wonder how that would work for the solar panel glass. Next years project, a big wiper blade for the solar panel. Self powered, and self aware of the elements. LOL Yeah I knew what you meant. Its just that since it so easy to just wipe them off, I personally wouldn't take the risk of damaging expensive solar panels in lieu of a few ounces of sweat, assuming you have the physical capacity to do it. I'm nearing my limit, at 75.
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Nov 11, 2019 19:39:45 GMT
At 74, and 75 coming up fast, I do not mind doing an occasional "wipe off", I just do not want to do it once every hour, during the daylight hours. I often wonder what the people that have multiple panels on the roof, needing at least a 30 foot telescoping poll to get the snow off, are thinking, when they have to remove 5 or 6 inches of snow. Maybe, a generator that runs on biofuel would be an answer. I am sure you could enclose it so you would not be able to hear the darn thing run when it kicks in to charge the batteries.
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Post by mediadogg on Nov 11, 2019 19:45:48 GMT
At 74, and 75 coming up fast, I do not mind doing an occasional "wipe off", I just do not want to do it once every hour, during the daylight hours. I often wonder what the people that have multiple panels on the roof, needing at least a 30 foot telescoping poll to get the snow off, are thinking, when they have to remove 5 or 6 inches of snow. Maybe, a generator that runs on biofuel would be an answer. I am sure you could enclose it so you would not be able to hear the darn thing run when it kicks in to charge the batteries. Actually where I am and how I have located my panels, the sun is quite bright in the winter. Even after 2 days of multiple 8 inch snowfalls, if the sun comes out, I'm good to go. Just make a swath and let the sun do the work. Two days later, all clear. What is nearly impossible to recover from is those rain / sleet / snow combinations with multiple cloudy days. Nothing to do but wait it out.
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Nov 12, 2019 13:33:52 GMT
The final tally of yesterdays snowfall was 8-10 inches. This morning I cleaned off two of the smaller panels, and left two of the larger panels with some snow accumulation. The good thing was, about the snow storm, that it knocked off all the remaining leaves on the nearby tress, so now I should be getting more sun light on the panels. I will now see how long it takes for the two larger panels to be cleared of snow via the sun light.
It will be interesting to see, now that the leaves are gone, the production rate of the panels that are facing south. I guess there should be at least three maybe four hours of prime sun light conditions.
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