John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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We are currently dry camping near Yuma. We did a before and after cleaning current check on our system within about 15 minutes. Before cleaning was around 26.3 amps and after about 31.5 amps. Some were pretty clean but others were fairly goopy. Anyway, thats almost the equivalent of a panel. Definetly worth keeping them clean.
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Silverado6x6
Wasilla, Alaska USA
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Joined: 01/29/2012
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Was it blowing sand or dust? I just bought a 34' pace Arrow that is currently in Yuma in storage, when it was in Alaska last year I installed a four panel 160 watt panel array on the roof, it was driven to Yuma and the owner who I work for in Alaska as a mechanic sold it to me, I'm interested as I also just installed four golf cart batteries in the coach.
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John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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Silverado6x6 wrote:Was it blowing sand or dust? I just bought a 34' pace Arrow that is currently in Yuma in storage, when it was in Alaska last year I installed a four panel 160 watt panel array on the roof, it was driven to Yuma and the owner who I work for in Alaska as a mechanic sold it to me, I'm interested as I also just installed four golf cart batteries in the coach.
Good morning silverado. Well we have been in the desert for a few months and haven't cleaned them since we arrived because
a. I don't like heights and climbing on the roof
b I am lazy 
We have been dry camping for about 2 weeks and thought the output was a little lower than normal so thought I would look. They looked ok from a quick glance but with a little closer look many had a thick goopy film of dirt, mud, duck doo doo etc etc. We have somewhere between 850 and 920 watts of solar (not exactly sure of the sizes). All flat mounted and spread over the crown of the roof so different panels get a more direct hit at different times of the day. If you follow rules and guidelines on how to match panels (pianotuna can provide you with these) I am sure I have broken every one of them. My rule was, if it is a good quality panel and I can get a deal on it, screw it down and hook it up. They are all hooked into an RV50 blue sky MPPT controller which by now is old technology but still works ok. I am guessing my MPPT controller is confused as heck though as we have a combination of polycrystaline (pretty blue) and monocrystaline (pretty black) panels all over the roof. (Piano tuna is shaking his head right about now). I have seen the output as high as 34 amps closer to the June 21st equinox at around noon. With the addition of our residential fridge this year we are planning on adding a couple more 130 watt panels to offset the additional load...as soon as the right deal comes along.
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mexbungalows
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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Joined: 06/01/2007
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I use heavy-duty aerosol silicone lubricant after I clean the panels. It helps to reduce migration of wet and dirt past the glass and into the circuitry.
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John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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mexbungalows wrote:I use heavy-duty aerosol silicone lubricant after I clean the panels. It helps to reduce migration of wet and dirt past the glass and into the circuitry.
Neat idea. Thanks
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Silverado6x6
Wasilla, Alaska USA
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At the time I mounted the solar panels on the coach it belonged to the people I drive a concrete mixer for, they were bought at a local hardware store and made in China. I need to educate myself a bit more about whats more efficient especially since this class A coach I bought last week is just a stepping stone to my sailing ship in the future. i wonder if a person could make a spray nozzle that would clean the panels with water so you would not have to climb the coach roof so often. I'm just thinking about those that find working on the roof a challenge.
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MrWizard
Van Nuys, Ca
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Joined: 06/27/2004
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I pull into the 'truck bay at the local car wash
stand on the elevated raised walk way and wash them with the rinse cycle
or
I just drag out the ladder and wipe them down with a wet cloth using only water
you should try try to avoid high pressure on framed edges
my panels are uniSolar thin film no glass no substrated weather worries
Options, always have options, and the journey goes much smoother
....
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John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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MrWizard wrote:I pull into the 'truck bay at the local car wash
stand on the elevated raised walk way and wash them with the rinse cycle
or
I just drag out the ladder and wipe them down with a wet cloth using only water
you should try try to avoid high pressure on framed edges
my panels are uniSolar thin film no glass no substrated weather worries
Agree on the nix on the high pressure thing. I use windex and a cloth...about three times a year. (see earlier comments ref being lazy)
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Johnny G1
Clearwater, British Columbia ,Canada
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Joined: 11/13/2003
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You can pressure wash all you like but you got to get up there with some soap and water to get the film off, have seen mine pick up 10 amps after a proper wash job.
1998 34' Newmar Mountain Aire,210 Cummins Puller, 542 Allison 4 speed, BD Performance Exhaust Brake, BD Torque Convertor, Hendrickson Air suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes. 4-120 Watt 2-80 Watt Kyocera panels 8-T105s Toad 2003 VW Jetta TDI.
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