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kittysmitty
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2023 09:18 - Edited by: kittysmitty
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I have a remote cabin that's left unattended. I have solar panels on the roof and the snow seems to stay. Anyone have any thoughts' on how to keep the snow off other than training a squirrel? Thanks
Trying to attach pictures
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2023 09:41 - Edited by: Nobadays
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I've been dealing with this for 6 winters now.... yeah no good solution as they sit. I have tried Rain-x and it does help but very little.
I have 1500w on the roof that is 12/12 so 45° and the snow eventually slides but sometimes takes 3-4 days.
I have a 1000w ground mount that powers my shop and a 3 way switch to turn those panels to the cabin when we need to. I can easily clean the snow of these.. Unfortunately as it's a "round-about" trip to the cabin, my line loss is above acceptable levels. BTW, this array is what powers my AGM battery bank in the shop which is, during the winter powering our Starlink to give access to our security camera.
My solution to be accomplished this next year.... rebuild the ground mount to dedicate the current 1000w to the cabin with new 6awg wire to the combiner box. Then for winter relocate another 3/250w panels that currently help power the cabin to the ground mount but.... these 3 will be on a movable mount that can be set vertical for winter. A 3 way switch at the ground mount will allow combining the 1000w fixed with the 750w verticals to power the shop during the winter.
Vertical panels is the only real viable solution that I know of....
Edit, possibly do a vertical ground mount near the cabin for winter or if you have a south facing wall just hang them there.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2023 10:21 - Edited by: gcrank1
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Ive done a number of ground mounts for my modest 600w/6 panel array (all temporary and somewhat adjustable). The winter set up needed to off the ground far enough to not have the snow accumulation reach the bottom and still more because of the snow-slide off the array. The angle at my 44-ish degree location needed to be much steeper. Ground or roof mounted, the slide angle needs to be the same.
I still had some snow linger on the bottoms for a bit, though easy to clean off IF we were there. The system did keep the old agm bats charged even so.
The last year I hung a couple on the shed wall, that sure was the easiest but for my location not at all optimum for solar south orientation. That kept the bats charged too (no winter draw unless we were there.
I have a plan for a pressure treated frame 'on skid rails' that I can hook to the little tractor to move as needed or if I find a cheap old beater trailer that is no longer road worthy maybe make the rack on that. Even after several years I have no good place to permanently place the ugly things.....to us they are such an eyesore to the setting unless incorporated on the buildings.
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kittysmitty
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2023 11:27
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I have a 200 watt pole mount and a 405 watt pole mount (in picture) the pole is starting to lean and the trees are growing up around them. The 200 I could adjust the angle for winter, but getting to old to climb that ladder. Was going to move the 405's to the roof in spring, but perhaps an angle adjustable ground mount would be better.
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paulz
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2023 12:17
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No snow here… probably a dumb question but could a heated wire melt snow off? Powered by the solar of course which deletes the purpose of getting it off…
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2023 12:34
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Just doing an Emergency Install next week for an offgrid neighbour who had a catastrophic failure. As we are quite far north and get a lot of snow (just had 17" dumped on us) panel angles are a serious issue.
He's gone and installed 6" Steel Pipes standing 10' height above grade and is building adjustable frames that will allow full range of adjustment. The setup will allow for 4x 405W Qcell panels. We thought about 6 panels but the math (weight + handling lift/drop adjustment by hand) it was too much. It has to be manually adjustable.
My own system has panels fixed at 45 degrees for "optimal year round generation" and snow still can buildup badly, so out comes the Foam Brush... Lessons learned, the final revamp / completion of the extended system will see two arrays on adjustable ground mount racks with pins set for Spring-Fall/Summer & Winter optimal angles. It's amazing how that affects generation.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2023 15:01
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This is my temporary setup. The pannels on the roof I can get to with a normal plastic edge roof rake and the lower one has a kickstand that I remove every time I'm not there making it vertical.
My real setup will include 700w on the steepest part of the roof here..about 28/12 if I remember right. It will also include another 700w on the not so steep part that i expect to be totally covered in snow for 4 month out of the year.
I dont want a ground mount. I just think they dont look good and I'm covered in trees here.
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travellerw
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2023 19:35
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If you are far enough north to get heavy snow that lasts, then you panels are probably tilted pretty steep.
Around here panels are tiled at like 50-55 deg and snow will still build up. Heat tape/pads are commonly used to "encourage" the snow to slide off. Although, its a balancing act as heat tape uses quite a bit of power. If its sustained snow over multiple days the only real solution is manual cleaning.
I have thought about trying to build a chain or belt driven wiper, but it just seems like too much fuss when 5 min with a broom solves the problem (however, the 1.5 hour drive one way sucks).
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FishHog
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# Posted: 10 Dec 2023 08:41
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I added a ground mount that goes vertical. Since when I’m not there it’s only keeping the batteries toped up it’s lots. When I’m there I can adjust for a better angle for generation and just clean the panels after a snow
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 10 Dec 2023 18:08
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Thats the way Im thinking of going; lots of time in winter where it just needs to top up and a long time to do it. I can throw one of my old LA bats in for winter, above freezing will be the LFP's.
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redwolfguild
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# Posted: 11 Dec 2023 13:53
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Quoting: FishHog I added a ground mount that goes vertical
I have also heard that people in really snowy areas mount their panels vertically as it keeps the snow off like you say and that the reflection of the light of the snow actually increases production during overcast days. I have not tried this but want to.
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paulz
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# Posted: 11 Dec 2023 14:40
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What if you framed a rack for the roof panels with a rope and pulley system to vary angle from the ground?
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