@@johntisbury I have never seen the overspray attachment in action. If the panels are really dirty I often use a special scrub pad that had an over the top rinse bar and also a solar panel cleaning solution that contains a biocide to stop regrowth of algae.
Another great video John You are correct when you mention the nay sayers on various forums. I have mine cleaned in May every year and I can see an immediate improvement. We are on the edge of a forest and there is a lot of pine and oak pollen coming down these last couple of weeks. I am only achieving a peak of 5.1kW when I should be seeing 6.2kW so an effective 20% loss due to dust and pollen.
We clean those only when we know that rain is coming soon afterwards cause then tab water will not hurt or we do it before a shower comes down. Helps a lot cause we had compared the results of a cleaned string with an uncleaned and it was an 8% difference that disappeared after having cleaned the 2 nd string the next day. We have 13 strings and about 25 kWp now and 30 kWp soon with the 13 strings fully connected.
That's a great approach. I had a friend who would always wash his car in the rain for the same reason. Good to know about the 8% difference in performance between washed and unwashed.
My panels were installed in December 2015 and have never been cleaned, yes they get dirty, but only during dry spells. There is a very small amount of growth at the bottom edges of the panels, otherwise they are OK. Given the seagulls around here I'd need to wash them weekly to keep them clean in dry spells. We are in a hard water area, so it's interesting about the filters, only this morning my daughter was complaining about the white blotches after she washed her car and I had to explain what it was. PS 50 kWh generated today from 8.74 kWp.
Thanks for watching. I can recommend the resin filters for reducing total dissolved solids. Keep and eye on that growth, you don't want it spreading, it's like creeping death doe solar panels.
Good video John. Our window cleaner charges a reasonable £25 for all the ground & first floor house windows including our rear conservatory windows. However, he wanted a separate £100 for cleaning the glass conservatory roof & didn't even give me a price for the solar panels because his pole isn't long enough! Expensive I thought so I got a water fed pole to do it myself which, as you said, has paid for itself withing 18 months. My pole is a 30ft fibre glass type so a bit heavier than the more expensive lightweight carbon fibre ones when all sections are in it. I remove a few pole sections when I'm doing the conservatory roof & add them for the solar panels which I can just about get to from ground level with the conservatory in the way at the back of the house. I too have a resin filter which is great for pure water window, solar panel & washing our cars which I leave to drip dry without any spots. Not sure how long I'm going to be capable of hanging on to a 30ft pole waving about in the air but at least I don't have to run the risk of climbing any ladders.
Our panels were installed in 2018,2019 and 2021 never cleaned them until this year . Until this year they've self cleaned after rain but this year there's been an odd green dust layer that hasn't shifted so I've tried the same pole you have and will be buying one myself . Our roof needs 45ft reach to clean the very top edge so it so lucky with access. We're in a very hard water area but my intention will be to clean after or during rain for a free rinse Very interested in the 4 jet option you have with 2 in brush and 2 above that seems perfect
Thanks for watching Nigel. A rain clean is a very good idea, a few people have mentioned that in the comments as their approach too - makes sense. I seem to recall you also capture rain water for car / garden use which is also another option. The 4 jet option seems to work well, 2 standard pencil jets and the 2 fan jets that come with the over spray bar. Gives the best of both worlds. It was the first time I'd seen the brush head at work on the panels with the camera attached to the gooseneck. The brush head needed to be swivelled a bit more as only the rear part of the brush was cleaning the panels. The front bristles didn't touch the panel! One to remember for next time. I also noted that a good cleaning technique was important. All too easy to miss bits if you are not methodical with your approach. I think camera work overtook the need to clean the panels properly!
@@johntisbury all looks so easy watching the video doesn't it . What did you need to order for the bar and extra 2 jets I find their site a bit confusing tbh not giving confidence whether things will fit
@@EVPuzzle the website does have a certain level of assumed knowledge, but I guess it caters for the industry rather than individuals like us. You want the Large Overspray kit £12.95 (from the drop down menu. Then if you want 4 nozzles the 4 way push-fit T-connector with jet hose £5.75.
@@johntisbury many thanks John , now tu decide whether I need the stiffer thicker version . Rowleys 8 section slx reached , just with a step but had lots of flex catching on bottom panel 🤔🤔 Think I've answered it for myself . Go for it
Just an observation at 3:35 your ladder is standing the wrong way around. The top of the treddle should be parallel to the ground roughly speaking. As yours is the opposite way you are stepping only on the rear corner of it, as a result your effective grip on it is reduced and with wet soles on your shoes this may increase the chance of a slip / fall. Please be careful
So useful and informative John. Many thanks. I have been horrified by the quotes I have been receiving from companies to clean my 22 panels so I think a water fed pole is the way to go. I have carefully studied the video and what you purchased (Gardiner SL-X22 pole) but the Gardiner website isn’t the most user-friendly site for a non-technical person like me. So would it be possible to ask you to list exactly what you purchased from Gardiners for your solar panel cleaning - pole I know is the SL-X22, but what brush, hose, spray kit, accessories etc. Then I can adjust if necessary to allow for my access and roof height etc.
Hi Peter, the website is not that user friendly for non-industry people. Here's the list, if you like drop me an email if it's easier for you. 1 x Large Overspray Kit OVERSPRAY-BR, 1 x Upgrade to a Quick-LoQ Angle Adapter Long 1 x Ultimate 26cm Brush - Flocked 1 x QuicK-LoQ Brush Socket 1 x 2x 2mm Standard Pencil Jet Capsules 1 x ULTRAFLEX Hose - 10m Length for 18-27ft 1 x Anti-Snag 'Hozelock Type' Male Plug 1 x Push-Fit 4 Way T-Connector for 4 Jet Brushes - no red clip 1 x Red Locking Clip for Push-Fit T-Connector Jet Hose (6mm OD) - per metre x1M I have purchased extra brush heads to do uPVC windows and soffits etc.
Hi Jerry, yes I will be! I have 2 videos in the pipeline. One on the second Tesla Powerwall 2 and Gateway 2 upgrade and the second will be on the A2A a/c we have fitted this year. Just seems no time to do anything at present! Thanks for making contact. Cheers John
@@johntisbury Thanks John, looking forward to the new videos. I have just completed my first year with my Daikin A2A multi-split and have been well impressed with both heating and cooling/dehumidifying capabilities .
Excellent as always John I do clean mine at least twice per year or when needed. I see you have had the second powerwall fitted is the an install video coming ? I do follow your heat pump stats and think your electric consumption is very good for heating and hot water . All the best Glyn
Thanks Glyn. Great to hear you clean your panels too as needed. Yes the second Powerwall was fitted at the beginning of May. I will be doing a video on the update to the system. I'm very pleased with our ASHP and its efficiency based on the constraints around our installation; microbore throughout, long primary runs. The second battery was to combat the winter period usage and offset more of the peak rate usage with more cheap overnight storage.
Sorry to bother you here but it seems you're no longer on patreon, where we had contact some years ago. Is your photography still ongoing? It's hard to tell from your website.
Hi Marco, Good to hear from you. Patreon got more and more picky on what they consider adult content and removed more and more of my work so I deleted my account a few years ago. Photography is still going but less so now as there’s limit opportunities to sell / display and exhibit. I do more video work now.
