Future maintenance and cleaning of modules

[JD6400]

Following on from another thread , how do others plan to carry out routine maintenance and cleaning on systems that you have installed and is anyone else thinking of offering the service on a commercial basis to cover other companies installs ?
And when originally installing the systems did you design the system in a maintenance friendly layout where it was possible to ?

 

[moggy1968]

I did think about offering an maintainance contract to customers, but I don't think that offeres the customer a good deal so decided against it.
They just need a clean every now and then. A hose may be sufficient or any window cleaning firm that has a long pole system.

 

[FB.]

I thought that I'd seen something about some companies researching panel-self-generated electromagnetic fields which repel dust.

 

[JulianC]

Don't think there's any merit in a package for domestic customers. To make it worth my while it would probably push the customer's payback period out a couple of years. It certainly wouldn't give them good value to have me turn up once a year with a bucket and sponge. I know of at least a couple of installations where the window cleaner gives the array the once over every few months, as moggy pointed out.

Larger scale commercial on the other hand.....I shall be contacting the farms where I installed some 50kW systems last summer, now that my former employer is ceasing trading.

 

[Gary K]

My installer offered a annual check up of my system during which he would I believe check the individual panel outputs for about £95.
TBH, I thought it was a bit steep. As I have had the system for a few months, I would like to think I would pick up a sudden drop off in output

 

[FB.]

My installer offered a annual check up of my system during which he would I believe check the individual panel outputs for about £95.
TBH, I thought it was a bit steep. As I have had the system for a few months, I would like to think I would pick up a sudden drop off in output

With my inverter located in a downstairs utility room, it is no trouble for me to push a few buttons to see how it's doing on a sunny day, to see, in real-time data and in charts, each string's voltage, amps etc.
Having the panels split over two arrays (8+7) with the same orientation means that one array should be at 7/8ths the output of the other. One array acts as a benchmark for the other and as a potential early-warning sign of a problem if the readings from one array are not proportionate to the other.

Some readings taken a few days ago, in mid-morning sunshine, for example:
Array one (8x250W panels) = 240V, 5.2A
Array two (7x250W panels) = 210V, 5.2A
7/8 of 240V = 210V, so the two arrays are working proportionate to each other, given the one-panel difference in size. Amps, of course, would remain about the same for both arrays.
The panels have a Vmp of 30V each, so 8x30=240V and 7x30=210V, which is exactly the same as the readings on the inverter display. The 5.2 Amps current being lower than their maximum potential of 8.3A due to the duller/lower-in-the-sky sunshine at this time of year.


After a while, you get a *feel* for what your system should be outputting in certain conditions - and there are a variety of online calculators which tell you roughly what you should expect from your system, given its location, its facing, its pitch and its size - and an allowance for partial shading.
From Friday's weather forecast I could see that Saturday would be sunny, so I suspected that I'd have a 10-11kW day on Saturday (actually managed 12kW; probably because it was supercooled!). With today being cloudy I knew that it'd be only a 2-3kW day (which it was).

 

[Jaycee]

I used to be a window cleaner and have researched the cleaning of solar panels, and after making contact with a lot of companies, I was told that solar panels are made of self cleaning glass.

This may or not be true, but the rain will not clean of bird muck will it, and how are you or your customers going to reach the panels in the first place, in a safe manner?

 

[Gary K]

With my inverter located in a downstairs utility room, it is no trouble for me to push a few buttons to see how it's doing on a sunny day, to see, in real-time data and in charts, each string's voltage, amps etc.
Having the panels split over two arrays (8+7) with the same orientation means that one array should be at 7/8ths the output of the other. One array acts as a benchmark for the other and as a potential early-warning sign of a problem if the readings from one array are not proportionate to the other.

Some readings taken a few days ago, in mid-morning sunshine, for example:
Array one (8x250W panels) = 240V, 5.2A
Array two (7x250W panels) = 210V, 5.2A
7/8 of 240V = 210V, so the two arrays are working proportionate to each other, given the one-panel difference in size. Amps, of course, would remain about the same for both arrays.
The panels have a Vmp of 30V each, so 8x30=240V and 7x30=210V, which is exactly the same as the readings on the inverter display. The 5.2 Amps current being lower than their maximum potential of 8.3A due to the duller/lower-in-the-sky sunshine at this time of year.


After a while, you get a *feel* for what your system should be outputting in certain conditions - and there are a variety of online calculators which tell you roughly what you should expect from your system, given its location, its facing, its pitch and its size - and an allowance for partial shading.
From Friday's weather forecast I could see that Saturday would be sunny, so I suspected that I'd have a 10-11kW day on Saturday (actually managed 12kW; probably because it was supercooled!). With today being cloudy I knew that it'd be only a 2-3kW day (which it was).

Agreed. My inverter is in loft but I have 2 equal strings of 8 so if there is a large differance between the 2 I will be on the phone quick.

 

[JD6400]

I used to be a window cleaner and have researched the cleaning of solar panels, and after making contact with a lot of companies, I was told that solar panels are made of self cleaning glass.

This may or not be true, but the rain will not clean of bird muck will it, and how are you or your customers going to reach the panels in the first place, in a safe manner?

The only way i can see it being done safely is if you have a cherry picker ?

And as for self cleaning , i am not so sure of this anymore . ( also see the thread - Applying a water repellent to your panels )
We installed a 86 kW system in the early part of last year , due to a few unforeseen circumstances with the existing roofing sheets the job ended up being strung out over nigh on 3 -4 months .
Over this time the modules went on in stages and there was a very noticeable film of dust that almost glinted in the light and was still there after several very heavy rain storms , i could only put it down to maybe the volcanic ash cloud that had been about around the same time we had first started the job ?

 

[cjapeterborough]

I dont think force fields or any sort of coatings will repel the biggest problem which imho is bird poo.

Having said that the snow did a really good self cleaning job on Friday -the melting and sliding certainly got rid
of most of the bird poo build up on my set of panels.

This will need to be removed so there is a need to provide a proper cleaning service and system performance
check once a year I should think.
This would also be added value for any prospective purchaser and establish confidence in the installer.

Just like a service record on a car.....this would also help in case anyone ever tries to claim on the so called
panel output warranties(which from a practical point of view are more or less worthless imho)

 

[moggy1968]

maybe this is my next revenue stream, buy a cherry picker and.................. :hurray:

 

[Earthstore]

Pick cherries?

 

[JD6400]

Got admit , it has crossed my mind !
Hard to say what the right price would be to make it work though ?

 

[Jaycee]

No need for a cherry picker, a reach and wash pure water window cleaning system will do the job, with the right poles 55ft can be reached from the safety of the ground if the angles are right to allow access to the roof!

I think there is a need for the service, it is being touted about that panels can run up to 40 per cent more efficient when clean.

Window cleaners with the right equipment are charging £5 per panel, justifying the price with how much extra the panels can generate for the end user.

 

[JD6400]

I like that £5 a panel bit , we got some jobs with near 5-600 panels on them !:christmastree1:

 

[Jaycee]

So do I and I'm an ex window cleaner who could easily get myself set up again and go clean solar panels day in day out........the problem is convincing the customer they need cleaning, as installers have told them the panels are self cleaning!

 

[finchy]

We've got an annual maintainance plan (we dont push this on customers but customers want the reassurance), basically every April clean panels and hover inverters for dust. Ensure customers havent put all their xmas decorations infront of the inverter (which I found only last week !). Take Solar irrdiance reading compare this to what the system is pulling, download the system log data (sma only) analyse it. Eg compare to estimate, check no new shadding has occured (upgrade any firm ware...perhaps enable MPP Opti trac if yeilds aren't as expected if shadding it an issue) produce a nice report with graph summerising the output and savings.

If you guys are missing this please send your customers details to me, I cover the whole southeast ! Its no con, its protecting the customers investment !! Cleaning the panels is only a minor part....

 

[moggy1968]

sounds very comprehensive, I would imagine people going for this over a wipe over with a squeegee.
cherry picker would give the advantage of being able to do a physical check of the panels and mounting system, assuming they are accessable of course.

 

[finchy]

binoculers for visual check - unless you have 250 plus installs can't see the viability to buy a chery picker, plus majority of installs are in the rear for us it was bad enough to get the scaffolding let alone a cherry picker ........I recon a jetpack might be a better idea !

 

[cjapeterborough]

........I recon a jetpack might be a better idea !

I think one of these would do -just get in touch with Q

 

[JD6400]

Or a " Oil and steel , octopussy 1465 " tracked machine ( you will have to goggle it as a have no idea of how to attach a link ).
Got one before Christmas for this years up coming grain stores and it is the nutz !

 

[moggy1968]

I think one of these would do -just get in touch with Q
View attachment 10648

could just eat more beanz.
Johnny fartpants to the rescue!!