Solar Power In Snow - Is it worth the Trouble? 4 Things To Know For Solar In The Snow

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4 things to consider before installing solar in a place that gets snow. If you live in a climate that gets snow, you are probably wondering if it makes sense to install a solar panel system for your home. I have been through two winters with my DIY ground based 9kW home solar panel system, and it can produce solar power in snow. I'll show you what happens when it snows and what to look out for.
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Thanks to FrugalRepair for allowing me to show a clip from his channel of snow coming of his solar panels: • What Happens to Solar ...
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Links to related videos:
Avoid The $4,000 Mistake I made: • DIY Solar Panel System...
South VS West Array Performance: • West vs. South Solar P...
Super Cheap Used Solar Panels: • Super Cheap Solar Pane...
Full Solar System Install: • DIY 9kW Grid Tie Groun...
One Year Performance Review: • Solar Panels For Home ...
Cost of my System VS Quote: • My DIY Solar Panel Sys...
Planning Your Solar Array Episode 1: • How to Size Your Solar...
4 Things to Know About Solar in the Snow: • Solar Power In Snow - ...
Ground Vs Roof Mount Solar: • Ground vs Roof Mount S...
How to Get A Permit For Your Solar System: • HOW TO GET A PERMIT FO...
How to Crimp MC4 Connectors: • How To Make MC4 Connec...
Remaking my J-Box to reduce fire risk: • Solar Panel Junction B...
3 Solar Panel Wiring Issues Answered: • 3 Solar Panel System W...
Net Metering Explained With Actual Data: • Solar Panel System Net...
$599 Starter OFF Grid solution: • 200W Solar Panel & BLU...
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:35 Power With Snow
02:37 Removing Snow
03:26 Power comparison with & without snow
07:06 Is it worth removing the snow?
09:32 Snow falling off solar roof
10:18 Building a snowman
10:44 Four things to consider when installing solar in a snowy area
FAIR USE ATTRIBUTION (Title 17 USC Section 107) I used the following clips in this video, as criticism, comment, news reporting, and teaching and compliant with RU-vid’s copyright guidelines and United States Law:
Snow Vs Solar (FrugalRepair): • What Happens to Solar ...
Solar Panel Snow Removal: Is it Worth It? (BenjaminNelson) • Solar Panel Snow Remov...
Disclaimers:
This video is for information purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice. Solar systems can and do involve dangerous electrical connections. If you do not have experience with electrical wiring, please seek professional support.
Affiliate information and disclaimers:
Links in description may be affiliate links, we may get paid if you purchase something through one of these links. This helps out our channel at no extra cost to you. Thank You!
(As a SanTan Solar Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases)
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Projects with Everyday Dave is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
FTC Disclosure Statement:
Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these.

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23 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 152

@markkovelan436 2 года назад

Number 5, maybe number 1, use bifacial panels for ground mounts. They shed snow faster and even generate some power from the backside when completely covered on the front.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

I didn't think about the fact that they would shed snow faster since they can collect power from the back side.

@Venom2U Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave I realize this is 11months old and you're probably already testing this, but yeah snow reflects +- 90% of light. And that's quite a bit of power to raise the internal temp of the panel (setting aside the electrical output) VS an opaque backing. I'm quite a bit north of you and we use bifacials. In my experience 1-2 hrs of direct light, (even at low angles) is all that is needed to melt the base layer of the accumulated snowpack on the array. Important note: my array is significantly higher off the ground than yours. The lower edge is a bit over 4 foot off of the ground. This provides 2x benefits. #1 it drastically reduces the shadow the array makes at low sun angles (IE ALOT more light UNDER the array in the early AM) And #2 provides enough space (vertically) for the slumped off snow to accumulate without having to clear the snow. IMO Bifacials are the cats meow! At least in a northern climate with very heavy snow falls yearly.

@philippserrin8268 3 года назад

Great video. After seeing your other videos, as soon as I saw the title of this one I knew that you would be presenting the actual numbers in a well organized informative manner. Very useful video. THANKS.

@ProjectsWithDave 3 года назад

Glad it was helpful!

@treysuniverserv1576 2 года назад

Great videos THANK YOU. We are just beginning to design our DYI solar system for our 1500 square foot off grid home in Southern Idaho. So much of your information is useful for our system.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

That is awesome! Glad it was helpful.

@MrThejackal99 Год назад

Thanks for sharing the data

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

No problem 👍

@johannesk1855 Год назад

I hava a similar setup but i can also adjust the angle wich i do once a month from spring to fall, in the winter i just leave them at a high angle. I also put a black mesh around the setup in winter wich actually brings up the temperature under the panels so the snow melts faster.

@CarputingYT 2 года назад

Great video very informative thank you so much for going deep into the info

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Glad it was helpful!

@AlpineDividends 3 года назад

"it's a sickness" 😂 Great videos Dave, extremely informative, clear, and actionable info 👍

@ProjectsWithDave 3 года назад

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

@dbf1dware 5 месяцев назад

I know this comment is super late, but I wanted to praise your remarks with regard to spending time with your son (who is quite handsome) versus cleaning solar panels. No contest at all, and I am glad you acknowledged that. Very informative and very inspiring video. Thank you for what you do.

@EdwardFielding Год назад

Mine in NH are are a shallow-pitched roof. I use an Avalance snow rake for big storms and a foam squeege for dustings.

@lorenzodelacruz1887 Год назад

Thanks for the show. Dog having fun watching you.

@mosfet500 2 года назад

Thanks Dave. I live in the Catskills of NY. I have 28 modules on my roof with SE optimizers. It's an intertie system but if it isn't cleared it sits for days because my roof has a 6/12 pitch. Even my from modules on the ground don't shed snow very fast. Those are my intertie/off grid system so I have to clean them off.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

For the ground array you might try a steeper angle to reduce your workload. : )

@jamesengland7461 2 года назад

I have a snow- shedding suggestion, specifically for stand-alone panels like yours. Place a length of sheet metal a foot wide along the top of the array, sort of at a right angle to the array. Optimize that angle so the lowest sun angle in the winter will reflect off that sheet metal and downward onto the array. Being effectively tilted forward from vertical several degrees, it will be clear of snow on the surface facing the array. This will increase the heating on the array, clearing it more quickly, and automatically. It will also slightly magnify the sunshine on the array; more in winter, less in summer. Finally, it will reduce any aerodynamic lift on the array, reducing strain under certain conditions.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Interesting idea, it could help in some situations. However, there are some snow conditions that would be significantly worse. If the wind is coming from the north the sheet metal will cause an eddy flow and fill the space behind it with snow.

@LeslieIsgrigg Год назад

Request for the next time you clear snow off your panels, do a time lapse of the report to show dynamically the effects of clearing them of snow.

@bobcole3852 2 года назад

Glad the optimizers are working out for you. I'm trying to decide between a hybrid string inverter, optimizers or micro inverters and heard the Solar Edge had some issues. You've had your system for a while, please update us. Thanks for this video, I'm gonna do ground mount too, and was gonna keep it as low as possible. The mounting poles worked great for you but we seem to be growing rocks around here and I am thinking jackhammer time...

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

The SolarEdge system has worked fine for me so far. However, if you are doing a ground mount without shade and don't need module level tracking I would go with a simple string inverter or if the distance isn't too far away you could use micro inverters like the one I mentioned in the video. Both would be cheaper solutions that would pay off faster, you can see a cost comparison between SolarEdge and a string inverter here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nC7i_GSrGlk.html You can get the micro inverters here: shop.signaturesolar.us/products/2-panel-micro-inverter-with-2-meter-drop-cables?ref=SALE

@johnstempko2746 2 года назад

Excellent review Dave just like all your other stuff. I'm curious if you considered bifacial panels when you were designing your system to take advantage of the high reflectivity of snow? I be installing a ground mount system in a similar climate as yours (I'm at the 43 parallel) and am considering bifacial.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

At the time they were too expensive, but SanTan solar occasionally has them on sale. I was considering purchasing some to test on my rack and compare the performance. You can see what the have available at there store here: store.santansolar.com/?ref=EverydayDave

@johnmknox 2 года назад

Those Starlink satellite dishes for the internet have a heating element built in to melt snow off. You could hook up small heat pads or a heat cable underneath the lower portion of each panel and put them on a timer or remote control so that you can apply heat for a short period of time each morning when you need to melt off any snow quicker and get the panels up to their full potential quickly.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Heating elements would work if there was a convenient way to power them.

@Daabai 2 года назад

Great video, I live in a colder climate so this is helpful for my own reasoning. However, if I could make a suggestion; please lower the background music while you talk and explain your reasoning. It is sometimes difficult to make out what you saying, especially if there is any other noise in my own background (such as playing kids).

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Thanks for the feedback.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Additional Helpful Solar Videos: Super Cheap Solar Panel Review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qu4iGxBhqzs.html Full Solar System Install: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_xA6qOwnYbM.html One Year Performance Review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BatTeSq05rU.html How Much Did This System Cost?: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PNTO83FvaL4.html Planning Your Solar Array Episode 1: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rbFnZqA0GCI.html Ground Vs Roof Mount Solar: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-w-iS_8e7n60.html How to Get A Permit For Your Solar System: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-imiEYDHLG4A.html 3 Solar System Wiring Issues Resolved: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-i7vHEHB3a-M.html Net Metering Explained With Actual Data: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IwUK1dNJ3n8.html

@vl.3552 3 года назад

Great video. I have a ground mount system about same size as yours. Your videos help me to understand my solar system better. Question…any ideas on how to prevent birds sitting on top of panels and leaving a “deposit” on the panels?

@ProjectsWithDave 3 года назад

Thanks! If they are sitting on the top edge, you could try bird spikes. They make the edge more difficult to land not.

@danielweston9188 2 года назад

Tinsel on a string - top and bottom.

@johngross688 2 года назад

Umm hi i also live off grid my grid is only 3300 watts. But i live in az and not alot of birds. But i have noticed a few nabours have spots birds set and poo. Its desert and no trees so birds look for places... But i am the smartest living thing . So fix 1. Build somthing for the birds to sit on far enough away from grid ther poo doesnt end up on it. Exsample stake 2 fence post run a wire or rope from the 2 place bird bath one end and bird feeder on the other. Fix 2 maybe against tye law check with police first place bird feeder full of rice . They will eat till full it exspand they die. You can also set that wire to zap them dead. You could also try to use a electric fence thing on panels so they get shocked . Then theres the bb gun . Lol I do feel your pain. Id be so pissed if birds did that to my array....if its easy for them to get up there like mine you could get cats. My cats kill a couple birds a month.and thats with there being almost none. There maybe also some chemcal you could spray on it to keep them away. Anther fix would be to lower the grid so its super close to ground birds want to be up. I wouldnt kill them. I would build them somthing cool . But i believe we all deside for ourselfs .just because all life is sacred to me . Doesnt mean tree huggers should getto tell others what to do. So killum or lovum. Ether way fix problem. If you designed it right the bird poo could be collected used for plants. Build a box up high with sticks across for standing then make it easy to empty box. Bird poo easy to mix with water for hydroponics.

@brettski74 Год назад

For northern latitudes, I've actually been wondering about south wall installation. In the summer, it would be sub-optimal for sure, but in the winter the solar inclination gets down into the low 20s, so having a panel sitting vertical is more direct to the sun than my roof. Also, it means no snow accumulation on those panels. Even in the summer, a vertically installed panel should produce at about 70% of capacity, so I'm really wondering whether that could be a good compromise for at least part of my array.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

There is a building in Anchorage Alaska I keep meaning to take a picture of when I'm up there. It has almost one whole side of the building covered with solar panels. In very northern climates that get a lot of snow I think this solution can be a very good one. You can use the PVWatts calculator ( pvwatts.nrel.gov/ ) to get a good idea of the production difference. At least one way you know you won't have a snow problem.

@Nytemaster 2 года назад

Good information since I'm considering a system and we get a bit of snow, roughly 4 feet a year. I'm curious about something somewhat related to this topic. Since there is more sunshine in the summer and less cloudy days, would it be better to tilt the panels to the winter solstice optimization angle rather than the fall and spring solstice angle? I would imagine tilting the panels more for winter optimization would help natural gravity shed some of the snow as well as more heat on the panels from the direct sunlight in those months. Plus it would even out more of the electric generation throughout the year. Thoughts? PS This is a prime question for a video Dave!

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Yes! You are exactly right. If you are in a northern climate with high snow fall you should typically bias towards winter production to both increase winter output and improve snow shedding. Of course, if you heat with gas or wood in the winter but use AC in the summer you will want to take that into consideration. Don't forget to have sufficient ground clearance for the shed snow. Thanks!

@johnscloud 8 месяцев назад

Hi. This is what I am doing in my rack set up. In my location, southern Oregon, I have set my rack at a 45* tilt. It will give me about 3.3 hrs of maximum power input in December, as long as there is a good day. I will have more than enough power production for the summer months to run a Mitsubishi heat pump should we need it. This will be its first winter, so I will see how the snow effect will be.😊

@LeslieIsgrigg Год назад

For those who wonder about the choice of fixed or adjustable PV Arrays. Most arrays are fixed as a matter of economics, and we all know features cost more. For most DIY users, adjustable arrays can be had or by modifying existing systems to allow AZ & EL adjustments.

@fkreis760 2 года назад

very helpful video, what degree angle are you having your panels?

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Mine are at 30deg, but the angle for you will be dictated by your latitude and the season your are targeting for greatest production. You can find calculators online to guide you.

@davebryer6133 2 дня назад

I live at 45 degrees north and I believe if I did not clean the snow off my roof-based panels it would keep accumulating and it might take a very long time to melt off. But in my late 60s, the cleaning process is a workout. I also am cheap and want to get every penny's worth of energy from the system to make the ROI as short as possible.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 дня назад

Exercise is good, but if you get injured in the process sometime, that will quickly negate the $3 you saved : )

@cpm1003 2 года назад

This is something I've wondered about, when I see all the roof mounted systems around here covered in snow. Many of these are up on 2 story houses, so manual clearing is impractical. Has anyone ever tried resistance heating to melt off the snow and ice? The obvious question would be, are the KWh used made up for by the extra production? When the sun is bright, things melt pretty quickly on their own. But if the sun is not bright, it's maybe not even worth clearing them. What happens when you get 6"+ of snow? Are the panels just buried for a week? Maybe resistance heating would pay off then? Hopefully at some point the snow would slide off, and you wouldn't have to liquify all of it.

@Tremoneck 2 года назад

Here is the neat part, if the panel is half covered, the loss due to the cover is converted at the point of covere to heat. Meaning the Solarpanels are clearing themselves, if all are in one string

@inventor121 2 года назад

Hydrophobic coatings are your friend. or if you can;t afford those I recommend using a stick and a rope to "sweep" your roof

@Brood_Master 2 года назад

I would like to see an experiment with a vertical mount orientation during the snow months. I suspect some ice may still accumulate during the coldest sunless days but at least the snow won't and the ice won't block as much sun as the snow would... I am considering considering this option because where I'm building an off grid house. The winter solstice sun is only 16 degrees off the horizon so a vertical orientation should be fairly efficient during the snow months...

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

I suggest you have some tilt, you will still get most of the advantages of completely vertical but more power output.

@cryptickcryptick2241 Год назад

I have a buddy in Montana that has done that. He mounted a few panels back to back, pointed east and west. This gives him more production first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. It also avoids the snow. Living off grid, his main goal was to have more production throughout the early and late day, not try to optimize production. Panels now are cheap enough, it is simply easier to put up more panels.

@dewholdingsllc1050 Год назад

Interesting, my planned array is for a high elevation and yes it gets snow, how long it sticks I do not know. Can you put heat tape/wire on the edges to keep snow melted for winter, turn off or on like the heat tape sources on an RV?

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

If you are concerned for snow, I suggest using bifacial panels with a steep tilt angle and plenty of clearance under the edge of the panels. With this setup they will clear themselves.

@yousvellormeus 2 года назад

By the way, the dog was amazing 🤩

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

😄 She does love the snow!

@jeremiahduncan4050 3 года назад

What is the overall length and width of the panels, without the lone add-on from the lower string?

@ProjectsWithDave 3 года назад

It's about 40'x13'.

@MetaView7 2 года назад

i am thinking of building a tiltable mount: swing the panels facing down at night, so that they won't accumulate snow on top.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Just tilt them at a steep angle for the winter, it won't be worth your time to adjust them daily.

@George196207 2 года назад

Sadly where I live just the top of the array would not be under snow come march .

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

For areas with significant snow fall, you can put your panels up on poles at significant angles to shed the snow, though that may not be cost effective.

@russbritt4100 8 месяцев назад

Pro tip from a solar powered only home owner in North Idaho. If it snows the best option is to top of pole mount. My arrays work fine all winter long with no maintenance. 1st panels are 6 feet of the ground so unless I get 6 feet of snow I don't need to shovel. 2nd panels are at a 65° angle snow can't stick to that steep of angle plus is maximizes solar power generation due to being so far north. I've lived top of pole mounts for 40 years NEVER A ISSUE. Why people put solar panels in the snow is just being cheap because top of pole mounts are expensive. But why invest all of it and then do it wrong just because you are cheap makes no sense plus those are the folks that bad talk solar since it didn't work well due to lack of planning. Snow country equals top of pole mount

@ProjectsWithDave 8 месяцев назад

Thanks for the real world experience. Good feedback for those up north!

@SuperBunnys 2 года назад

how much watts do you need to power tv and xbox and internet modem all day and night?

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

A 50" LED TV consumes about 100W, XBox can be anywhere from 25W to 220W, and a modem averages around 10W. If you take the worst case of these it would combine to 330Watts continuous power. Multiplied by 24 hours that would be 7.9kWh, however I doubt anyone is running their Xbox maxed out 24hours in a day... or maybe they are 😆

@L3X369 2 года назад

before finding out about your channel, I didn't know the term optimizers... What the **** are they exacly? Also, for my roof mounted I'm planning to install a motorized brush on rails to auto clean snowy panels. In the summer, some sprays to do the same but also wash them. What do you think about this idea?

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

I think it is unlikely you will recover the cost of your cleaning system. As you can see in this video, with sufficient angle, the snow generally clears itself. As for washing, I haven't washed mine in 2 years and they are still pretty clean.

@Obliticus Год назад

If you installed your panels on a variable angle array, and adjusted your array angle properly each season, the snow wouldn't be a problem. Properly angled for the season, the snow doesn't accumulate and there is little problem with a buildup at the base because there is very little to shed. Sometimes I am just boggled why people continue to throw more and more money at things like fancy "optimizers" yet ignore some of the basic physics involved to get the best performance out of their system.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Well said!

@LeslieIsgrigg Год назад

Your comment has merit, and should be considered. However, most arrays are fixed as a matter of economics, and we all know features cost more. For most DIY users, adjustable arrays can be had or modifying existing systems to allow AZ & EL adjustments.

@Obliticus Год назад

@@LeslieIsgrigg Sure, but my point is why throw money at what will be a new point of failure (like an optimizer), as opposed to a professional panel mount that will last for 20+ years and likely never give you a single problem, especially with all this junk being made in China now. And here is another point... it may be fine for those Urban and Suburban installations, but what about those rural folks, who are truly off grid and 100% self reliant. For those situations, it is critical to minimize failure points, because in the middle of the night, middle of winter, middle of a snow or rain storm, there is no government to come save your ass, you are truly on your own.

@_TrueDesire_ 2 года назад

i cant find a better translated word than "snow catchers" (or stoppers?), that is mandatory on every new roof in Sweden and also if we add anything new on top like a new chimney or solar panels.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Depending on how it is placed, that may prevent the snow from shedding off the panels, but it is probably a good safety measure.

@gubbernl 2 года назад

Just wondering for the last year: would it be possible to put some kind of heating system below the panels? Would the dissipated / lost power be less than the gained extra solar power?

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

There is probably a way to justifiably heat them, but for where I live it isn't worth the trouble. In places where there is more snow, it is best to just mount them at a very steep angle.

@w0ttheh3ll 5 месяцев назад

You can turn off the inverter to get more heat into the panels.

@garysmith2104 Год назад

I have a question. If it’s winter with snow on the ground and your panels are also on the ground do you gain more solar output from the reflection of the snow on the panels? Thank you.

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

If you have a ground based array with bifacial panels, you will get increased gain from the reflection off the snow.

@spuddy4063 3 года назад

What about heating the panels to allow for the snow to melt off? Would putting a thermostat on the panels to only heat them when the temperature was below a certain threshold? Wouldn't there be enough captured energy to keep the panels producing at peak power plus still generate some modicum of energy to sell back to the grid, instead of just not doing anything?

@ProjectsWithDave 3 года назад

The panels warm up pretty well on their own, and I would guess the cost of a supplemental heating system would probably never pay for itself.

@electricwhirl5175 3 года назад

@@ProjectsWithDave maybe something like this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NZO3H9kICVM.html

@MurDocInc 2 года назад

I wonder if coating the panels with ceramic sealant would prevent the snow from sticking and help the snow run off quicker. Possible video idea?

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

While there are likely coatings that would help the snow slide off, but there is always the risk that the coating will affect the light absorption of the panels. The snow slides off pretty well on it's own so I wouldn't take the risk without some analysis.

@LeslieIsgrigg Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave: what about hydrophobic coating, again analyses is required.

@jeffreynewman7808 2 года назад

I have ice all over my panels, how do you get if off without scratching the panels?

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Wait for it to melt. The panels warm up on their own when the sun hits them even when it's below freezing.

@theMekanik Год назад

Is there any way to make your panels tilt?

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

My system has a fixed tilt angle.

@Taedrin 2 года назад

An issue with snow that these videos always miss, is that the rate at which the snow will melt is highly dependent on both the orientation of your panels and the ambient temperature. My house has mostly east/west facing solar panels, and it takes a particularly long time for the snow to melt if the temperature is significantly below freezing. If the temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the snow will hardly melt at all and it could be more than a week of full sunlight before your solar panels are clear. As an example of this, last year I had 20 straight days of virtually no solar generation in the month of February - despite having almost two weeks of full sunlight while the solar panels were covered with snow. In my case, I can't even really use a roofrake to clear the snow off because the panels are on a two story roof and a roofrake flexes too much to control properly at the necessary lengths to reach the panels. So if you have the land for it, I would definitely recommend a ground mount over a roof mount installation - especially if you want to go off grid!

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Thanks for sharing your results! The nice thing about a ground mount is you have the option to easily clear them if you want/need to.

@bryansteen2219 Год назад

It may not take as long to melt if your panel's were vertical

@dmitryvasilonok2030 2 года назад

Well, it's not really a fair way to compare a sun that hits a panels at 9 in the morning, and almost at a noon :) but we get an idea. Thank's for a interesting thought about optimisers.

@leestadnyk5573 2 года назад

Will the panels clear in -30c like Manitoba has been for 3 weeks

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

If you are pretty far north and have a lot of snow fall, you should use a steep angle for the panels, then the snow will shed much more quickly and is less likely to accumulate in the first place. It will shed even in very low temperatures. You can see an application in Alaska here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aVUIvNQ28Xg.html

@philippserrin8268 3 года назад

For those of us that are contemplating off grid systems, it would be nice to see a monthly table showing electricity production for every month since you got your system up and running. You could do a nice video doing that. The Table you put up for February contains good information, just one extended 3 consecutive day period of minimal production.

@ProjectsWithDave 3 года назад

Great suggestion! You can see the one year performance here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BatTeSq05rU.html

@RickFarris Год назад

why are you comparing watts to watt-hours? could you compare them both in watts?

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Watts is a measure of instantaneous power, and indicates how much power is available at a given moment. Watt-hours is a measure of total energy produced over a period of time. Watt-hours is a better measure of the system performance over the day.

@bryansteen2219 Год назад

Why not set your panels vertical using bifacial and setting them facing east and west

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

I plan to do some testing in the future with that configuration.

@thednolet Год назад

It would be good to know what happens when the snow is not removed…will the black panels melt the snow anyway … is it worth removing it,or will be all melted the next day … how much are we willing to day for 20 kWh ( or $2.00/day)

@thednolet Год назад

You answered my question later in the video, thanks

@rjtumble 2 года назад

Solar newbie question, did you ever investigate if it is worth putting a cover on them at night? Especially when you expect a big snowfall overnight.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

It's not necessary, they are designed to withstand any kind of weather.

@rjtumble 2 года назад

@@ProjectsWithDave I was thinking more about making it easier to clean the snow off the next morning. Just slide the cover off and voila, no snow to rake.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

I suppose you could do that, but I don't think it would be worth your time.

@raymondcorreira847 2 года назад

Does your system follow the sun and if not how much energy are you loosing per day ?

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

It does not track the sun. Sorry I don't have a delta between tracking and fixed to share.

@gunlover1955 Год назад

Build canvas or plywood cover around the legs and put a few coal oil lamps under the panels and they will stay clear>>> build a fire under them,, lol.

@MarkSpohr 4 месяца назад

I'd like to hear more about your optimizers. Are they worth it?

@ProjectsWithDave 4 месяца назад

I did a video on the value of optimizers in this setup, you can watch it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nC7i_GSrGlk.html

@MarkSpohr 4 месяца назад

@@ProjectsWithDave Thank you. I appreciate your work.

@ericdunn6232 2 года назад

So the data is on a website? So disappointing that data can't be stored and used locally. Would be interesting to track panel temperatures. A cost benefit analysis of heating to melt snow to have the panels shed snow and dry quicker? Combination panels (pv and thermal) could get heat from the panels when clear and heat the panels to melt snow.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

The panels manage to heat up on their own pretty quickly.

@ShaydFrosT 3 года назад

Have you heard about Energy web foundation with their token EWT? It would be so awesome to be able to sell your power to who you choose and at a much more fair price, and whoever is buying from you knows its renewable energy

@ProjectsWithDave 3 года назад

I had not heard of them. It's an interesting concept. However, I am on a electric co-op, so the co-op would have to be willing to participate in that program.

@vmshops1 2 года назад

its me or you forgot to 109w panel?

@MitchOfCanada 2 года назад

$4 x 150 days. is $600 taken off your ROI for that yearly incmoe, worth it to spend 10 minuets to get an extra passive income for $600 or more. Considering power is exponentially more money now. I'm sure there could be some sort of machine with a thin fishing line that could cut the snow layer to induce snow to fall. Cascading avalanche snow coming down off a 2-3 story house could kill someone. I best insurance rates will go sky high.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

We don't get a lot of snow where I live, if we did I would set the panels at a steeper angle to encourage snow shedding.

@lpc5152 Год назад

will solar generate enough power to defrost the panels

@ProjectsWithDave Год назад

Yes, as long as the snow isn't too deep. It takes very little light to start warming the panels. If you are in a climate with a lot of snow it is best to use very steep angles for the panels.

@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369 2 года назад

HOWdy P-W-E-D, Snow DAZE = thanks COOP ...

@plnthrd 2 года назад

I clean the snow off everytime it snows

@EdwardFielding Год назад

As any dedicated photon farmer should.

@HL65536 5 месяцев назад

The calculation without optimizers is not correct. Every cell has a bit of wiggleroom for the voltage and current. It can be estimated by taking the short circuit current and dividing it by the nominal maximum power point current. The resulting number is how much other cells/panels can produce more than the lowest one in the string before that one cell either limits the others or gets effectively shut off by its bypass diode(s). But due to these bypass diode(s), the damage is limited. As soon as limiting the current to the max output current of the weakest panel would lower the total output by more than the contribution of that panel, it will get effectively shut off by the MPPT. The real power of optimizers is for cases where there are lots of weak and lots of strong panels.

@NeverTakeNoShortcuts 2 года назад

You call that snow?? Haha.. I call that fall.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Interesting, I grew up in Alaska and we call it snow there... a small amount maybe... but still snow. : )

@NeverTakeNoShortcuts 2 года назад

@@ProjectsWithDave I wasn’t trying to be critical! Two years ago I had 6 feet of snow on the ground, so that’s a major consideration for array angle and especially leading edible height where the snow accumulates after it sloughs off

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Yes, I know, I was joking... sorry for my dry sense of humor. You are exactly right, areas with significant snow fall benefit from much steeper angles and more ground clearance for clearing snow. Where I currently live in Ohio does not get "significant" snow fall.

@guygrotke8059 2 года назад

The idea that a lower power panel will limit the entire string to it's "maximum current" is a myth. Yes, the whole string will run at the same current, because a series string has to, But the inverter MPP will run the string at their collective MPP voltage and current. That will be nearly correct for your 9 identical panels, and off the MPP for the weaker one. But still very near it's MPP: The current will be higher and the voltage lower than it's MPP. I added a 300 watt panel to a string of 270 watt panels, and measured voltage and current before and after. So what I am saying is based on real observation. PV panels are NOT linear devices. MPP trackers operate them at their optimal power output, but they still work at other than optimum.

@guygrotke8059 2 года назад

I think there is something very fishy going on here: Some of the bottom row of panels are putting out a lot more power when the upper row has some snow on it, than when there is no snow. >340 watts versus

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

It's not fishy exactly. When there is enough snow on some of the panels on one string, the total array power drops closer to the inverter's max output, that allows other string's panels to produce higher outputs. Optimizer level clipping does happen when the inverter is maxed out and it isn't always clear why the system chooses to clip one panel over another but it does seem to favor utilizing the higher output string as a starter. You can see some East/West analysis in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-M-5qcmlMLSg.html

@chrisspy1226 2 года назад

You made me think of the phrase "missed it by that much". It was good until you calculated the benefit based on your financial gain and then extrapolated the advantages to everyone else. If you lose 40kWh/day, that's worth $17/d here. Adds up fast, especially if on low pitch. It's a personal choice to set a threshold. If the snow happens in April, I would lose $37/d. Would be great if you posted how to calculate your financial benefit & let viewer decide.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Of course it is always up to you to decide the value of your time. To calculate the cost impact simply estimate the lost production in kWh and multiply by your $/kWh.

@LeslieIsgrigg Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave: did he just say he pays $2.35 per kWh ? Here, biz rate is .135 per kWh thats $5.40, what would cause anyone to have to pay that much ?

@iss9875 2 года назад

A bird poop you say. For solar array this big you must have been talking about a flock of crows with diarrhea!!!

@basspig 2 года назад

The solution is just to have 10 times as many solar panels as you need. Mine put out maybe 5% of their rated power because of all the shade from all the trees. So instead of 40 panels I need maybe eight hundred panels but I don't have enough land to have that many panels unfortunately.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Max input voltage on your inverter will limit how many panels you can put in series even if they are shaded and don't put out much power.

@EdwardFielding Год назад

Sounds like you are out of luck.

@basspig Год назад

@@ProjectsWithDave As long as the parallel configuration doesn't exceed the VOC there's no problem. On sunny days, the controller will limit the maximum PV power and current, but that's just energy wasted, not a critical safety issue.

@basspig Год назад

@@EdwardFielding Not many options when you have a small plot in the woods.

@embededfabrication4482 2 года назад

if you live in a place where snow has to be cleared from solar panels, it's probably not worth it.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

With the proper angles, snow will usually shed on its own. Solar is even starting to make it's way into Alaska. I visited a large installation in Alaska in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aVUIvNQ28Xg.html

@EdwardFielding Год назад

Hardly. Here in NH we have only had two major snow storms this winter. The rest were dusting. Removing the snow has gained me 25% - 30% of my usage.

@timburke4136 2 года назад

LMAO, this doesn't show what the optizers are doing. You would have to do a side by side comparision.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

Yes, this doesn't provide a side by side comparison of with and without optimizers, it is just meant to show how they operate. I'm working a plan to do a side by side comparison of string inverter vs optimizer, but it will be a while before I have that complete.

@timburke4136 2 года назад

@@ProjectsWithDave Ok, sorry If I misunderstood. I'm just frustrated with the whole optimizer scam. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with on a side by side.

@michaelenglund 2 года назад

Great video but most of you guys that make theese never consider the value to produce renewable energy instead of fossile based power. Only money counts. I am disappointed about this. That even those who invest in renewables mainly care about the money. That is, clean the panels from snow to not only get some money, help relieving the grid from fossil fuels.

@ProjectsWithDave 2 года назад

If "clean energy" is going to be successful, it has to make sense monetarily. Time is limited and is usually measured in $$, I could spend 1hour cleaning snow off my panels to save $3 in electricity or I could spend 1hr installing one more solar panel to produce $60/yr for another 30 years. Obviously spending my time installing more panels has a greater impact. Money is simply a measuring tool.