Wash Solar Panels For Better Off Grid Power Production

I saw some dirt on my solar panels and decided to give them a wash. Dust and dirt is blown by the wind and can stick to your solar panels, reducing their power output considerably with time. Keeping your solar panels clean improves performance and power output.

I had already washed one of the solar panels when I realized this would make a good video. I have not yet made a video about washing my solar panels up to this day.

So I grabbed the camera and decided to share my experiences with solar panels.

Washing your solar panels on a sunny day is just like washing the car. The water will dry fast so you have to work quickly in order to prevent water spots. Water spots on your solar panels will reduce their power output.

During the spring time pollen season the solar panels will require even more washing, just about every day. The pollen coats everything.

Solar panels are made so that if one section of a solar panel gets covered by dirt, clouds or leaves, it is cut out of the system and the rest of the solar panel performs as rated. This prevents any solar cells from burning out due to all the current passing through it from the other solar cells.

The problem with this is that if you have dirt or debris on your solar panels, parts of it may be cut out and not conduct power. This will reduce your total power output.

Follow my daily progress on the path to self sufficiency on my off grid solar homestead.
https://www.youtube.com/user/techman2015/playlists?view=50&shelf_id=10&sort=dd

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