[rb4no]

Two customers of mine are right across the road from a demolition site and their solar panels are completely coverd by dust, recent rain has only shifted some of it. They've asked me to quote to clean them which will be paid by the contractor. I'm reluctant just to use water and brush in case it scratches. Any thoughts on the matter, some frown on using soaps and TFR on solar panels, what do you think? Richard

[Smudger]

You'll be hard pressed to scratch them, but thats an old argument,

I would pressure wash them - lower pressure than you would a patio etc.. this will wash off the main residue without the worry of grinding in the dust - then go over with soap and wfp to get a good shiny finish

Darran

[rb4no]

thanks Darran, what kind of soap would you use, been told soap not a good idea on  these?

[Smudger]

Solar panels are glass - personally I use TFR - same rules apply in that you don't let it dry out

Darran

[Splash & dash]

I agree soap shouldn’t hurt glass panels but the manufacturers state that nothing but pure water should be used , just be careful if the panels are under warranty as if there is a problem  and you  have used chemicals they will not sort out the problem with out the customer paying  for it , a pressure washer should not be used on panels again this is a huge no no from the manufacturers , I know some will recite you  can drive over them with a pickup and they will be fine , but it can cause problems forcing water in around the edges of the panels I have seen this first hand we used to have a huge contract with green gen  one of the largest solar installers in the country and one of there previous contractors used a pressure washer on some panels they got sued and it cost the contractors thousands of pounds , sk be careful what you do.

[Bungle]

Anyone clean the silver edge of solars or just the panel? I don’t do many but I clean the edge that you can see. It gives a better impression to the custy imo.

[Smudger]

Always

Darran

[Smudger]

for those worried about spraying a bit of water on the panels

The front glass sheet protects the PV cells from the weather and impact from hail or airborne debris. The glass is typically high strength tempered glass which is 3.0 to 4.0mm thick and is designed resist mechanical loads and extreme temperature changes. The IEC minimum standard impact test requires solar panels to withstand an impact of hail stones of 1 inch (25 mm) diameter traveling up to 60 mph (27 m/s).


HTH

Darran

[zesty]

Cleaned another load of panels the other day with a serious amount of white lichen on them. You could hardly see the black panel cells.

Used a turbo nozzle. Then ubik 2000 and water to finish off.

Customer was over the moon. Panels were fine, it’s all working correctly, and most importantly to the customer, and immediate huge increase in energy.


People are far too scared of damaging panels, they are extremely tough and durable.

[Splash & dash]

Cleaned another load of panels the other day with a serious amount of white lichen on them. You could hardly see the black panel cells.

Used a turbo nozzle. Then ubik 2000 and water to finish off.

Customer was over the moon. Panels were fine, it’s all working correctly, and most importantly to the customer, and immediate huge increase in energy.


People are far too scared of damaging panels, they are extremely tough and durable.

Yes you might get away with when doing a few domestic panels ,but when doing tens of thousands of panels for the company you certainly won’t , they would escort you off sight 😂😂😂😬 I have seen a lot of theses so called professionals and the damage they have done to solar panels , this picture is of a fire that was caused by a cleaning company shorting out the panels by using a combination of pressure washers and chemicals , it bankrupted the company .

[zesty]

I really don’t care splash.

I’m more than confident in my own ability and being sensible with how you use the equipment.

We also clean a solar farm on the roof of a huge commercial building, we use ubik at times. No issues. Nor will there be.

I’ve now done several domestic panels which other window cleaners have been unable to clean satisfactorily. The only way to remove stubborn lichen is with high pressure.

You need to be a special kind of stupid to cause damage with high pressure. If you know what you’re doing, you’ll be fine.

It doesn’t take many brain cells to realise you can’t run the washer on full wack and blast the seals.

As with all cleaning, some caution and know-how is needed.

 

[Splash & dash]

I really don’t care splash.

I’m more than confident in my own ability and being sensible with how you use the equipment.

We also clean a solar farm on the roof of a huge commercial building, we use ubik at times. No issues. Nor will there be.

I’ve now done several domestic panels which other window cleaners have been unable to clean satisfactorily. The only way to remove stubborn lichen is with high pressure.

You need to be a special kind of stupid to cause damage with high pressure. If you know what you’re doing, you’ll be fine.

It doesn’t take many brain cells to realise you can’t run the washer on full wack and blast the seals.

As with all cleaning, some caution and know-how is needed.

That’s your choice and I hope you don’t get caught out if doing it that way , but your insurance will not cover you for using a pressure washer on panels  fact , we used to clean tens of thousands of panels a year for several companies so I do have a vast knowledge of how they should and shouldn’t be cleaned , licken can easily be removed from panels  without a pressure washer if you know what you are doing , I accept it takes a bit longer but that’s part of the  tendering process and you price accordingly.

[zesty]

I can’t see any other way to remove the lichen. Not that’s doable in a reasonable amount of time.

It is unbelievabley stubborn, and when covering 16 panels or so, you’d be hard pushed to clean them any other way, without spending a long old time there.

When the panels are coated in lichen, you need high pressure. You just can’t shift it any other way.

I’m not concerned about the insurance, because I’m so sure we won’t ever have a problem. In nearly 10 years, I’ve never encountered an issue.

Cowboys encounter issues, not people who use common sense, the right equipment and the know how, experience and finesse needed to clean them safely.

We will have to agree to disagree. This subject has been argued on a previous thread a while back.

You do it your way, I’ll do it mine.

It’s interesting that Darren also uses high pressure in the same situations. It seems you’re either overly cautious, or more willing to try different things. I fall into the latter, within reason. You fall into the former.

[Splash & dash]

I can’t see any other way to remove the lichen. Not that’s doable in a reasonable amount of time.

It is unbelievabley stubborn, and when covering 16 panels or so, you’d be hard pushed to clean them any other way, without spending a long old time there.

When the panels are coated in lichen, you need high pressure. You just can’t shift it any other way.

I’m not concerned about the insurance, because I’m so sure we won’t ever have a problem. In nearly 10 years, I’ve never encountered an issue.

Cowboys encounter issues, not people who use common sense, the right equipment and the know how, experience and finesse needed to clean them safely.

We will have to agree to disagree. This subject has been argued on a previous thread a while back.

You do it your way, I’ll do it mine.

It’s interesting that Darren also uses high pressure in the same situations. It seems you’re either overly cautious, or more willing to try different things. I fall into the latter, within reason. You fall into the former.

I think this is a case of not knowing what equipment is out there to do the job quickly and efficiently, we don’t clean 16 panel houses we do 20-100 acres ground arrays , or I should say used to as we all hated doing them so much after 10 years or so I didn’t bother renewing the contracts , also the money isn’t good we earn far more doing windows and soft washing , but I hope you enjoy doing what you do , if you would like a few very large commercial  arrays  let me know as I still have contacts that could get you 6 months work at a time for around 10 guys  , but you would have to leave the pressure washer at home 😂😂😂

[Smudger]

Its not about not knowing what equipment is out there - its more about adhering to what certain customers want

I've done dozens of large commercial sites - and have one coming up in 2 weeks time - thankfully mine usually range from 1000 to 5000 panels and are not run by over indulgent jobsworths so I get free range to clean as best suited - sometimes its wfp sometimes pressure washing

ive never been reliant on serving large customers or solar Steve working for pennies a panel - solar panels need to make 2x minimus p/h of reg window cleaning  - yes they are boring as hell

A lot of these "you can't clean" rules are in place to make it almost impossible for any1 to clim against premature failure other than its unsafe to clean using a certain method - but also if you want that work you have no choice but to clean the way the customer demands

Darran

[Ched]

Its not about not knowing what equipment is out there - its more about adhering to what certain customers want

 clean the way the customer demands

Darran

I guess you get the customer to sign a disclaimer saying how they want them cleaned and you are not responsible for any damage that causes?
I'm not having a go just wondering how you would stand if you cleaned to customer requirements and it caused some damage?

[Smudger]

without going around in circles -  I spent time with various installers -  ive cleaned for installers  pressure washing has always been fine for them

they regularly drop them off the roof without damage, hit them with hammers when installing, walked on them and more.. - they are tested to withstand hot, cold, snow, hail stones etc..  and believe me a 25mm diameter hailstone will dent a car roof.. but the toughened glass used on a SP can withstand all the above

Darran

[Splash & dash]

Its not about not knowing what equipment is out there - its more about adhering to what certain customers want

I've done dozens of large commercial sites - and have one coming up in 2 weeks time - thankfully mine usually range from 1000 to 5000 panels and are not run by over indulgent jobsworths so I get free range to clean as best suited - sometimes its wfp sometimes pressure washing

ive never been reliant on serving large customers or solar Steve working for pennies a panel - solar panels need to make 2x minimus p/h of reg window cleaning  - yes they are boring as hell

A lot of these "you can't clean" rules are in place to make it almost impossible for any1 to clim against premature failure other than its unsafe to clean using a certain method - but also if you want that work you have no choice but to clean the way the customer demands

Darran

I quite agree clean how the customer demands all the firms we dealt with insisted that it was wfp or the rotating brush system  this removes licken very quickly ,I have never Hurd of any company asking to have panels cleaned using a pressure washer , with our insurance company  they state what methods they will cover and pressure washing isn’t an option so am very surprised if you are covered using one , we no longer do large commercial arrays as there is no money in it and people like solar Steve have reduced the potential to earn decent money from it . I live in an area that has the highest density of solar panel arrays in the country , we did one site with 10 guys working 8 hours a day 5 days a week and it took 3 months to do , by the end of it we were all going stir crazy never again !,,,,, we cannot get the rates that you seam to get , but maybe our hourly rate for  windows is higher than yours ? I decided that we would push the commercial window cleaning and that is ware we make far more money we can easily earn 2-3 times a day more doing that than panels , down hear a lot of the solar farms cannot be cleaned with the tractor systems as the rows are to close together or the fields are to steeply angled again not enough room between the rows a major design fault or just plain greed when they built them squeezing in extra panels .

[Slacky]

I did a nice size commercial solar array earlier this year.  SS had also priced it and he most certainly wasnt doing it for pennies. I was shown his quote and was able to make a significant amount more than my usual window cleaning day rate.

I suspect SS may pay his guys pennies per panel but he certainly doesnt price it at that. This is the second job Ive done where he’s either priced or used to do the work. The other job where he has had his finger in the pie Ive done yearly for the last 4 or 5 years. When that customer phones for a re-visit I know Im in for a good days money and an early finish.

[Ooooooog]

We’ve cleaned over a million panels. If you mentioned you were pressure washing them to the O an M client,  you’d be laughed at and refused work.
You may get away with it on the odd little job, but seriously, it’s not the approved method by anyone. As these panels get older, more issues are showing up generally. I wouldn’t want to be in a position where we’ve invalidated warranties. It’d be game over.
Even the brush they use on tractors has had rigorous testing to ensure there’s no damage over time. Can’t just pitch up and blast them, although I’m sure it’d be the quickest way sometimes.