People who wanted to install solar power system in their homes deferred it due to the high installation charges as most of the equipment and materials were very expensive. But now over the years with the advancement of technology, the prices have come down drastically like we see in the digital watches right now.

With the recent decline in the prices of residential solar system, many home owners have shown interest in installing the system and get rid of high energy bills. There is always apprehension in the minds of people that the Photovoltaic (PV) panels installed in the system should continue to serve you for many years.

It is quite natural that you would like to count number of summers and winters for which your solar power system will last as you have invested a lot of money and time. The average warranty offered by the manufacturers is almost 25 years, but as we see there are PV panels installed which have outlived the life span and are still working and are good condition.

The main two factors which are responsible for the long product life are proper maintenance and the compatible climatic conditions. This blog post mainly deals with maintenance and possible repairs which may be required to enhance the life of the product.

Regular Solar Panel Maintenance

To keep you solar panels in good working condition, you need to ensure that the panel remains free from debris and any other things like limbs falling from trees. The panel should be clean and open to the sun and sky without any shade. The best performance from the solar panels can be expected by exposing it to direct sunlight.

Therefore it requires routine checks and other obstruction should always be removed. With wind blowing, it is natural for dust particles to accumulate on the panels which require periodic cleaning to avoid any obstruction to sunlight. Such checks will naturally enhance the life cycle and the panel should surpass its normal life span.

Since solar panel does not have many parts, so it is for sure that since the parts are less, the faults too are less. But since nothing is perfect, you may have to make repairs due to the following problems:

- Faulty wiring
- Burned out system at the battery storage terminals
- Heat fading
- Cracked glass cover

The common wiring faults are due to corrosion, oxidation and may be even the wires are loosely connected. In some situation, the heat conditions can also decrease the efficiency. Sometimes strong winds can result in flying stones or gravels which can damage the panels.

Small cracks on the glass can be repaired by using tapes, but in case of excessive damage, the entire solar panel has to be replaced.

Many solar panels can work flawlessly up to 40 years and this has been possible due to proper and regular maintenance of the solar power system. But normally after 20 years these panels start to lose its capacity.

It is up to you to look after your system very well after all you will be getting uninterrupted power for 20, 30 years or even more. This is also important since you have invested a good amount of money, your proper care will give you dividends and you will be able to recover your investment quickly.

A solar panel or Photovoltaic (PV) panel is an interconnected construction of a set of Photovoltaic cells. The main function of a PV panel is to convert sunlight into electrical energy for use in commercial establishments and residential buildings.

The electric power generated using solar panels is called the ‘Photovoltaic effect’. Each solar cell is capable of converting sunlight into electrical energy. However, each PV cell can generate only a small amount of electricity in terms of total wattage, as each cell generates electricity of only 1 to 2 watts.

In order to generate large amount of electrical energy, a solar panel should be constructed by joining several solar cells. As a single solar panel can produce only limited amount of electricity, several panels are linked together to build a solar array.

It is essential to combine several panels to generate sufficient amount of solar energy to supply power to an entire house. The natural benefit of a solar cell system is that it will enable production of large amount of electricity by assembling a number of solar cells to construct solar panels.

Another advantage with a PV energy system is that it can facilitate generation of additional units of electric power by simply combining more number of Photovoltaic panels.

There are different types of solar panels with numerous power generation properties and depend upon the type of material used to construct panels. Thin-films, mono-crystalline or polycrystalline components can be used to build solar cells. The thin-film solar cell comprises alloys (amorphous-silicon) that can be stocked in thin layers placed on a base.

It will be fairly elastic depending upon the ‘substrate’ utilized and is thus more suitable in specific conditions. In contrast, a mono-crystalline cell is developed from single silicon crystal rod and is, therefore, more sturdy.

The silicon rod is chopped into thin wafers so that a proper foundation is provided within which solar cells are developed. Polycrystalline solar cells are produced from various silicon crystals that are heated and later cooled in molds to produce ingots of silicon. The ingot is subsequently sliced into wafers and a cell is produced similar to thin-film solar cells.

The efficiency of a solar power panel installed at home is appraised by the ratio of the output to input electric power. The efficiency factor of PV panels normally varies from 10 to around 19 percent.

The cost of each solar panel will depend upon its efficiency rating. In order to obtain a higher efficiency rating in solar power generation, one has to spend more money for each panel. Those planning to install a new solar panel should compare the cost of installation with estimated savings in the long run due to higher efficiency factor so that they can make a suitable decision regarding the choice of Photovoltaic system.

In order to choose the proper set of PV panels that meet his energy requirements, one should have a good understanding of certain specific parameters that could form the basis for making a decision. The major parameters that one should take into account in order to evaluate various solar panels comprise ‘efficiency’, ‘rated power at STC’ (Standard t Test Conditions) and ‘rated power per square foot’.

Efficiency factor is expressed as the ratio of power generated from the solar panel to the input power of sunlight absorbed by it. Rated power at STC quantifies the total wattage of power generated from the solar cells under normal test conditions.

The rated power per square foot denotes the electricity generated from the solar panel at Standard Test Conditions per square foot of the panel’s surface area. The latest designs of home solar kits make the best use of sun light to generate electricity at peak efficiency levels and are now the most feasible choice to tap this type of renewable energy to meet energy requirements for residences.

Many people think that maintenance and care of solar panels is very difficult but in fact it is quite simple and easy. Since the Photovoltaic (PV) panels have no moving parts hence regular maintenance is not required.

But in any case maintenance is very important for everything we use. Solar panels need periodic cleaning and small repairs are must which will enhance the life of the solar panels. Regular maintenance not only increases the lifespan but makes it look good.

If the roof is flat then the PV panels are installed flush on the roof, you have to ensure that the solar panels are not covered with snow or leaves. Such an activity requires need based cleaning of the panels, because if you do not clean it, the performance of the solar cells gets affected.

Even partial cover will not be desirable as it will not produce sufficient power. Such incidents make the solar panels ineffective, and production capacity suffers. Those panels which are installed on angles are easier to clean as compared to those which are installed on the flat roof.

Since snow does not get accumulated on the angled panels, but the dust leaves and bird droppings can create problems. Hence regular cleaning is must which should be done on regular intervals.

Some of the manufacturers suggest that cleaning is not required more than once or twice a year, but as a precaution one must clean the solar panels on quarterly basis that is once in three months. You may clean it additionally if the area where you live is quite dusty.

There are other precautions also which one must take in protected the wires. Squirrels and rats are often problem creators by chewing the wire and birds can sometimes build nests under the Photovoltaic panels. You must occasionally check all these things on regular basis, so that the power supply is not interrupted.

It would be good for you keep watch on the trees near your house, ensure to trim the branches regularly so that sunlight does not get blocked. You must regularly inspect cracks and any other damage and also look for water seepage due to rains. Most of the maintenance can be handled by you, but occasional professional help can be a great idea.

There are many companies which are masters in the maintenance. Such companies carry periodic checks to see the working and conditions of panels and wires including the mount brackets. The change of transformer fluids should be done every two to three years.

Buying and installing the solar panels can save you lot of money, you can recover the cost within few years, since it very easy to clean and maintain, one should not hesitate in the initial investment. Getting solar power that is free can be real life time experience, if your PV panels are producing surplus power, you can sell this power to the power companies and earn substantial income.

Your proper maintenance of the panels can give you optimum results and you can enjoy free neat and clean energy for lifetime.