How do I keep ice from building up on the surface, and snow from accumulating on them?
2007-09-14 08:59:11 · 5 answers · asked by smittybo20 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Do not put salt on your solar panels. I would not worry with the clear ice because the panels will heat up and melt it same with snow as long as some part of the panel can get sun light. Mine have been covered many times with snow and I just lightly sweep them off just enough to get some of the black cells to show and in a couple of hours they will be clear on their own.
The colder the solar panels are the better they work. And if you live in a snowy area you might want to do a ground mount so you can go sweep without getting on a roof.
2007-09-15 10:19:28 · answer #1 · answered by Don K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your solar panels are better off with ice and snow than with salt. The ideal angle for solar collectors is about the same as the latitude, so if you latitude is high enough to get ice and snow, the angle is probably enough to keep it from sticking much. Nearly all solar panels are dark, and will absorb heat from sunlight, melting any accumulation in a day or two.
2007-09-14 18:15:01 · answer #2 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as far as i know solar panels are not affected by snow. firstly because during operation they get warm and melt away the snow, secondly because they are usually mounted tilted which makes the snow fall down
in a worst case scenario, you can include heat resistors on your panels but that's tricky stuff..
2007-09-14 10:33:24 · answer #3 · answered by adi_radulescu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-02-01 07:02:10 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
salt i guess, thats the only thing i can really think of.
2007-09-14 09:07:35 · answer #5 · answered by ♥ TOKIO HOTEL ♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋