It is amazing to use a solar panel for electricity production. But you may be wondering how the panels will survive wet weather. Solar panels are made from silicon cells that react to photons. This energy is then used to generate electrical energy.
You can make solar panels water-resistant but you must take extra precautions in order to keep them in good condition. Your panels should be cleaned at minimum three to four time per year. It is important to clean your panels regularly, especially if they are located in an area with a lot of dust and dirt.
You could see oil stains on your panels from chemical substances or spilled oil. If you live near an industrial area or in a home that is close to a garage, you may experience oil stains on your solar panels. In these situations, a strong detergent may damage the glass and thereby the panel.
You can also protect your solar panels against the elements by investing in a waterproof design. The back of waterproof solar panels will have a layer of polymer to protect the wiring from weather stress. The panels also come with a front-facing waterproof glass sheet to prevent rain or snow from affecting your solar panels' power output.
A water-resistant design is an option if you're going to be using a portable solar panels. Fixed solar panels can be more cumbersome to carry around than portable panels. However, they are easier to set up and use for many outdoor activities. Some manufacturers don’t make portable solar panel with waterproof design. You might want to bring your portable solar panel inside in the event of rain or snow.
If you are going to clean your solar panels in wet weather, it is important to use a soft cloth and a squeegee. This will ensure that you get better results and reduce the chance of damaging your panels. It is also a good idea to use a nozzle to rinse your solar panels with plenty of water. Your solar panels may be damaged if you use a hard sponge and broom to clean them.
Use environmentally friendly soaps to clean your solar panels. Because chemicals can cause a corrosive reaction to solar panels,
You can also clean the panels with a small amount dishwasher detergent. A strong detergent can be used if you don’t have a dishwasher. But you should be careful. Use too much detergent and you could leave streaks on glass and sudsy water in your panels.
Using a water-resistant design also saves you from the cost of replacing your solar panels. While portable solar panels are cheaper, they will be more susceptible to damage in the event of wet weather.
A solar hot water storage unit might also be worth considering. This would enable you to use excess sun energy to run your immersion heater in summer. This is not a fully-fledged DHW solution but it will be a nice addition to your home's heating.