diy solar

diy solar

Should you remove snow off panels?

ken morgan said:
what happens when you have 1°c and it rains vice snowing?
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The rain is ‘close’ to the air/ambient/surface temperature I’d imagine.
Regional practicality probably…
It was 33F for a high yesterday, 8F overnight with 12* forecasted high today and -19/-20F expected tonight with a high of 4F tomorrow. Run some 52*F water on the panels and I’d think they’d crack.

I’d be interested to know your results.
 
12VoltInstalls said:
The rain is ‘close’ to the air/ambient/surface temperature I’d imagine.
Regional practicality probably…
It was 33F for a high yesterday, 8F overnight with 12* forecasted high today and -19/-20F expected tonight with a high of 4F tomorrow. Run some 52*F water on the panels and I’d think they’d crack.

I’d be interested to know your results.
Click to expand...
I like the fact that you are willing to listen and are not instantly go on about how "your an idiot". thats a rarity on this forum. I honestly plan on trying it as soon as we get a good snow fall that will stick for a bit. the two panels are propped up at a 35° angle which is less than the panels on my roof so it should not be that long. I think that as the panels themselves are designed to be used in cold climates as well as hot that thermo-expansion should have been calculated for. what about the opposite? when the panels are smoking hot and a cold front moves in and rains on them?
 
ken morgan said:
I like the fact that you are willing to listen and are not instantly go on about how "your an idiot". thats a rarity on this forum. I honestly plan on trying it as soon as we get a good snow fall that will stick for a bit. the two panels are propped up at a 35° angle which is less than the panels on my roof so it should not be that long. I think that as the panels themselves are designed to be used in cold climates as well as hot that thermo-expansion should have been calculated for. what about the opposite? when the panels are smoking hot and a cold front moves in and rains on them?
Click to expand...
Hey Ken,
You're in the HUMOR forum, there are no idiots. ?

I am sure your idea will work to a degree.
What I have noticed is the water undermining the snow and simply creating little channels to make its escape.

Where I live, 44 degrees North Latitude, I have learned not to intentionally pour water on the ground in winter. The ice sticks around until March.
Been there, done that - ONE TIME. My neighbors sometimes watch to see how goofy my next idea will be.
 
Last edited:
I’m thinking you will get a ice slick .
I know when it’s around 0 water will freeze on contact.
It could help if you do it late in the day when it warms up.
But the snow seams to turn to solid ice here ☹️
 
Wellbuilt said:
know when it’s around 0 water will freeze on contact.
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Maybe. Maybe not.

My shower drain works at -20F.
The trap gets ‘slushy’ with pink antifreeze at zero or below. A few tablespoons of salt with the pink stuff is insurance that works. And the constant flow of a few gallons of hot water from a shower drains right out fine without an icicle.
The next week will be a sustainability test?210363D0-0216-4D61-B1B9-9BB9E25921C6.jpeg
 
A shower drain is different it has heat coming up from the ground .
allso the panels are spaced apart 1/2 , so I think the water won’t run all the way down and clear
a tall bank of multiple panels .
Then ice build up on a shingled roof is not good, the water can back up and flood the house .
I think it mite work on a warm day or maybe @ 25o
it sounds like a good idea . Maybe warm water ?‍♂️ Even hot water from a hose is not hot when it travels a few feet from the hose .
 
Wellbuilt said:
shower drain is different it has heat coming up from the ground
Click to expand...
:) not in a camper.
I didn’t “skirt” it- once below the floor it’s cold! The ground is frozen solid and I need to re-level due to frost.

I’m curious if the glass will tolerate it.
 
I work a lot with water in low temps and when you shoot water at snow it just freezes and dosent melt much
I think you would have to run the water for a hour and it would be sticking on the gutters of the house .
The water will run down under the snow and freeze ? solid when I got to the gutter .
If it’s warm it could help .
On a cold day you pee into the snow and it freezes right up
 
I would hook up a subwoofer on the roof. Blast some music that hits the deep bass and that snow will run right off.
drums3.gif
 
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