It is very important to properly clean and maintain your solar panels to ensure that they continue to work properly. A dirty solar panel may block the sun which can reduce the energy output of your solar panel or cause it to stop working efficiently.

Cleaning and maintaining your solar panels regularly can improve their energy output by 30 percent or more! This article will help you manually clean and maintain your solar panels at home giving you the highest energy output possible.

Materials you will need to clean your solar panel are water, cleaning solution, soft sponge, cloth, or towel, squidgy or similar window cleaning tool (optional). Follow these steps to easily clean and maintain your solar panels.

First you will need to make sure that you can safely access your solar panels. Take extra care with panels located on a roof to ensure that you are properly secured to the roof and can move around safely while cleaning.

Also make sure that you have removed all sticks, leaves, and other debris from your panels. Any debris that has fallen onto or between your panel may cause a malfunction in the panel.

You will want to clean your solar panel as you would a glass window, by coating the surface with water and cleaning solution. This will help to loosen all dirt and grime making removal easier. It is important to mix your cleaning solution with water in this step to minimize solution residue.

The electrical components of your solar panels are protected underneath the surface. This makes them waterproof and safer to clean so wetting them is not a concern. Next use your sponge (squidgy, etc.) to remove all access cleaning solution and dirt using rinsing water when needed. Be careful to avoid streaking while completing this step.

Streaking can leave solution residue behind which can hinder the sunlight much like dirt. It is possible to use an environmentally safe cleaning solution, however, you will want to test it on a transparent glass window first to minimize streaking.

Dark glass surfaces tend to hide streaking, so a clear surface is best. An automatic solar panel cleaning system may be necessary if your panels are in a location that is not easily or safely accessed. These systems are used much like windshield wipers in that they have a cleaning solution hose and mechanical cleaning arm.

These systems may be installed at the same time as your solar panels. Initially it is beneficial to install your panels at a tilt or angel so that they are cleaned naturally by the rain. A solar panel that is installed in a flat position will naturally collect more dirt and debris minimizing your energy output.

Even with panels installed at an angle some debris may accumulate at the corners over time but this does not prove to cause a major disruption in energy output. Using this guide to properly clean and maintain your solar panels will help to ensure that you have the best functioning system possible.

If you are looking for a tool which will make cleaning solar panels on the roof much easier, check out the Mr. Long Arm 1009 Pro Curve Solar Panel Cleaning System Kit from Amazon.com/. Click on the button on the right for more information.

Residential Solar Panel Building Guide

One of the best ways to save money on a residential solar power system is to build your own solar panel. If you are good with hand tools, you can make a Photovoltaic (PV) array for around $150. What you’ll need is a step by step instructional guide.

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The benefits of solar power at home are many. It ranges from lowering your home monthly electricity bills to creating a better environment for our children. You don’t have to be total green environmentalist to enjoy the advantages of using solar energy at your home. All you have to do is use some simple solar powered devices.

Advantages of Solar Powered Devices

If you want to enjoy the benefits of solar power at home, the easiest way is to install a solar water heater. A solar water heater basically supplies hot water for your household.

Some home owners may use an electric or gas powered water heater but the same function can be done by a solar water heater. As an added advantage, once it is installed, it does not use up any electricity at all.

If you have a large family, the amount of electricity used to heat up water for shower and washing can be quite substantial.

Do you want to reduce your home electricity consumption by at least 20 percent? Well, by investing in a simple solar water heater can help you to achieve that.

The Benefit of Minimal Maintenance

Once you’ve installed the solar water heater at home, there is pretty much zero maintenance. If the piping is done well with proper insulation, the system will last a long time. The solar unit installed at my home has been there for more than 20 years and is still working fine.

Generate Electricity With Solar System

If you want something more than just a water heater, the next option you can consider is to setup a solar system to generate electricity for your home. If you have the budget, you can engage the service of a professional solar contractor to setup the entire system for you. But the drawback will be the cost. Be prepared to invest upward of $40,000 for a complete solar system.

Alternatively, if you want to enjoy the benefits of solar power at home, you can build the system via a Do It Yourself (DIY) approach. A DIY system is much cheaper but does require lot of hard work.

How much would it cost you? A small solar system capable of supply power for a small house will cost around $1500 – $2000.

If you want to cut your budget even further, you can actually make the Photovoltaic (PV) panel on your own. What you will need is a good design blueprint and step by step instructional guide.

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One of the key components of a home solar power system is the charge controller. All the Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof will be connected to the charge controller via copper cables.

With so many different types of charge controller available in the market, how to we choose the right one for our residential solar power system?

When you are shopping for a new charge controller, consider the following 10 features.

1) Current backflow protection – During the day, the solar panel will generate electric current. However, during night time, the PV panels will become an electric load and draws power from the battery bank.

A current backflow protection prevents current flowing from the battery into the solar panels.

2) Battery low-voltage disconnect (LVD) – When the battery bank has been discharged to a very low level, this feature will automatically stop any further power discharge.

3) Monitoring system – System readings with either digital or analog display.

4) Protection from overcurrent – For whatever reason if there is a current spike, the fuses in the charge controller should break the circuit.

5) Flexible mounting option – Make sure the unit comes with multiple mounting option. You may want to flush mount or wall mount the charge controller.

6) Total system control – The charge controller can actually control other system such as backup generator, secondary battery bank, secondary charge system etc.

7) Secondary load controller – With special timer and controller, the unit can be used to control secondary loads such as water pump, lights, switches etc.

8) Temperature compensation – The deep cycle batteries keep in different temperature will require different voltage level to fully charge the system.

The temperature compensation feature will automatically change the voltage limit to maximize battery charging.

9) Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) – This is a method used to maintain the battery maximum state of charge. It also reduces the chances for sulfate build up on the battery plates. This can be done by a charge controller by pulsing the battery voltage at a high frequency.

10) Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) – This feature charges the battery by extracting the most power possible from the Photovoltaic panels by changing its operating voltage for maximum efficiency.

Solar Components Discounted Price

Do you want to know how to buy home solar power system components at discounted prices? There is a certain strategy to get big discount on solar parts and components without having to pay full price.

Be an educated consumer and save a lot of money on your residential solar power system with the Solar Discount Secrets guide. Click on the link below for more information.

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