[Yipsan]

Any suggestions? We had our system installed early October and this is our first winter with it. Seeing how long it takes for snow to clear naturally got me all uneasy. Especially day after snow is below freezing, even with sunlight it takes quite some days.

Just had about 8" yesterday and I can't wait for losing too much production but my existing tools of a long broom and a not quite tall enough ladder is proving a not so good method.

So, if you have any tips, I am all ears.

Thanks.

 

[RFE]

What system are you referring to?

 

[Neromanceres]

What system are you referring to?

I think he is talking about roof top solar.

 

[fotomoto1]

So, if you have any tips, I am all ears.

Remove and ship them to me down south where they can do some REAL good!

PM for my address. Thx

 

[mikenky]

paint extension pole with brush or squeege.

 

[Jdl30]

We have rooftop solar on our house, but the roof is too tall to sweep them off. Relax and let the sun do its job. We've not noticed a huge loss for the short amount of time the snow covers the panels. Once the sun hits them the snow slides off and you're back in business. It's a better alternative than falling off a ladder and paying a hospital bill too.

 

[ghostgs1]

I've tried several things with some success and a lot of frustration. Electric leaf blower worked pretty well until it died, probably too much moisture from snow. Squeegee works well but with three tiers of panels in portrait, the top tier is difficult to reach if not impossible. For the cost involved to be really effective, I think waiting for old sol may be the best option.

 

[kns]

Something like this might help but it might also damage the panels.
https://smile.amazon.com/Snow-Joe-RJ204M-Twist-n-Lock-Telescoping/dp/B00ZNUCGQI

KNS

 

[Raymondjram]

Any suggestions? We had our system installed early October and this is our first winter with it. Seeing how long it takes for snow to clear naturally got me all uneasy. Especially day after snow is below freezing, even with sunlight it takes quite some days.

Just had about 8" yesterday and I can't wait for losing too much production but my existing tools of a long broom and a not quite tall enough ladder is proving a not so good method.

So, if you have any tips, I am all ears.

Thanks.

If you are "all ears", how can you drive your car?

Seriously, do what I did: move south and avoid snow for the rest of your life! I was born in NYC and suffered the snow in winter, but in 1962 I moved to Puerto Rico and I am living in an American tropical paradise for over 54 years! Today we hit 86 degrees because we are still in summer (we have no "fall" or "winter").

 

[vawlk]

Some of us like the winter. While we don't want it on our solar panels, we may still want it on the ground.

 

[JD4JC]

Something like this might help but it might also damage the panels.
https://smile.amazon.com/Snow-Joe-RJ204M-Twist-n-Lock-Telescoping/dp/B00ZNUCGQI

KNS

I've used something like this (36" aluminum pond moss rake with long extension pole) to good advantage. Our rooftop PV arrays are on two elevations, and the highest is impossible to reach safely, and what usually happens is that the snow builds up on the lower elevation, and the snow on the higher array, which is at a greater angle, falls down there, building up to a level that would take many days to melt. So the rake is needed if kWhs are desired!

 

[Yipsan]

In my rush to ask you all for suggestions, I forgot to mention it is about roof top pv system. My roof, being a single story home, is not highly pitched, the last couple of lighter snow seems to take quite a while to clear. In Dec, there was about 6 days of 0 to minimal production, hence my attempt to do something.

 

[Henry_FL]

My roof, being a single story home, is not highly pitched, the last couple of lighter snow seems to take quite a while to clear. In Dec, there was about 6 days of 0 to minimal production, hence my attempt to do something.

Ladder and a large floor brush, maybe 15 minutes total time. Oh and I lived in the North East for half my years, so stuff the responses on what does someone in FL know about snow

 

[KenC]

Snowrake with the sheet attached, might work well.

 

[Hughes]

I've been using a foam squeegee on a telescopic pole. Works ok. I'm thinking a snow rake with the foam squeegee on the bottom would be ideal.

 

[FranandPat]

Well, as far as I can tell all of those suggestions will scratch the glass. I installed my system in 2013 and found this to be the only one actually designed for the panels: http://www.roofrake.com/Productpages/snowpro2.asp

In fact, I just came in from clearing mine! We had a bit of lake snow overnight (only a few inches unlike south of Buffalo). Went from zero to full on in just a few minutes.

 

[FranandPat]

My rig for snow days. Just noticed after posting that the white Sentra has now morphed into a Red Volt!

 

[firehawk72]

Here is what I use. Works extremely well, and made in the USA!

http://www.roofrake.com/Productpages/snowpro2.asp

 

[Yipsan]

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Random]

28 panels in four rows of seven landscape, I use the SNO PRO with Mr. LongArm

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V5802E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WIVXPE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

First year, there is a wide variety of effort. Heavy wet snow, I work from the bottom, and sometimes big sections can be urged to slide off intact. Powder is easy, but does not slide in chunks.

One morning, I pulled off the bottom, then pulled the top down to the bottom (the pole balance is awkward from the step ladder (10' fiberglass Lowes) when nearly fully extended, so the far reach is great, but when pulling close, the balance is off and it wants to raise up). Then when I went to dump the lower sections after collapsing the pole shorter, it was a frozen mess that sort of stuck to the panels.

Also, there are sites that show that what energy is gained is relatively little during these short winter days north. But, it still can be fun and satisfying when the sun comes out and the Enphase curves take off (monitoring program).