Snowy panels

richbee
Posts: 627
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2022 3:39 pm
Location: Northumberland

Snowy panels

#1

Post by richbee »

I've been away for a couple of days - wondering why my hoymiles panels, were reading literally 0😂

(clue - it's the hump on the roof)

Image
Solar PV since July '22:
5.6kWp east/west facing
3.6kW Sunsynk hybrid inverter
2x 5.12kWh Sunsynk batteries
1.6kWp Hoymiles East/West facing PV on the man cave
Ripple DW 2kW
Ripple WB 200W
Tinbum
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 9:55 pm

Re: Snowy panels

#2

Post by Tinbum »

Yes it a pity you can't use the panels in reverse to melt the snow.
85no 58mm solar thermal tubes, 28.5Kw PV, 3x Sunny Island 5048, 2795 Ah (135kWh) (c20) Rolls batteries 48v, 8kWh Growatt storage, 22 x US3000C Pylontech, Sofar ME3000's, Brosley wood burner and 250lt DHW
User avatar
Stinsy
Posts: 3208
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:09 pm

Re: Snowy panels

#3

Post by Stinsy »

This is a situation where the trace heater we were talking about on the other thread would clear the panels!

Hard to calculate the return on energy expended though...
12x 340W JA Solar panels (4.08kWp)
3x 380W JA Solar panels (1.14kWp)
5x 2.4kWh Pylontech batteries (12kWh)
LuxPower inverter/charger

(Artist formally known as ******, well it should be obvious enough to those for whom such things are important.)
Moxi
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:46 pm

Re: Snowy panels

#4

Post by Moxi »

If you can’t reach it any other way get a handful of table salt and lob it up there tomorrow- you only need to clear a small area to get the panel working and then it will clear itself. The melt water will wash the salt away. Or salted water in a squirty bottle as an alternative that’s got a bit more aim and reach.

Moxi
Andy
Posts: 599
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2021 12:16 pm

Re: Snowy panels

#5

Post by Andy »

Moxi wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:02 pm If you can’t reach it any other way get a handful of table salt and lob it up there tomorrow- you only need to clear a small area to get the panel working and then it will clear itself. The melt water will wash the salt away. Or salted water in a squirty bottle as an alternative that’s got a bit more aim and reach.

Moxi
No salt is getting near my panels!! haha. I used to clear the panels religiously but can't be bothered unless I'm concerned about the weight. If the forecast is melty melty in a week or so I just let it be. Too many close calls up a ladder for my liking.
Moxi
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:46 pm

Re: Snowy panels

#6

Post by Moxi »

Being so close to the sea my panels don’t seem to get much snow staying on them for more than a few hours - warmer air and maybe some vestiges of wind blown salt spray ? After the last storm had gone through all the house windows needed a real good was to get the salt rhiem off them.

Moxi
Moxi
Posts: 2472
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:46 pm

Re: Snowy panels

#7

Post by Moxi »

Ha! That will teach me - just looked at weather forecast and we’ve got two nights at minus five and minus four - that will teach me :lol:

Moxi
AGT
Posts: 1082
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2022 11:26 am

Re: Snowy panels

#8

Post by AGT »

Garden leaf blower?
NoraBatty
Posts: 251
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2024 10:40 am

Re: Snowy panels

#9

Post by NoraBatty »

Get a telescopic solar panel cleaning brush. Mine extends to 12m. Gets a little unwieldy, but clears the panels well.
3.16kw Canadian solar. roof. 3kw solis G98 mcs
12kw midea ASHP
200l hot water
3152W RE, Whitelaw Brae
Octopus agile/outgoing fixed 15p

Planned;
Hybrid system
43kwh eve batteries, 3x16 280A
6-8+kw solar, DC connected.
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 8496
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Snowy panels

#10

Post by Joeboy »

NoraBatty wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 10:02 pm Get a telescopic solar panel cleaning brush. Mine extends to 12m. Gets a little unwieldy, but clears the panels well.
We do this but it's a 3 stage telescopic probably abut 12ft at full extension. I always enjoy getting into snow clearance off the panels.
15kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
42kWh LFPO4 storage
7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Post Reply