Protection of solar panels

I strapped coreplast on mine for the first 2 years. Nothing this year. I pull the snow off the whole roof occasionally. Can't use the panels here in northern Alberta - the sun is low in the sky.

For snow load on solar panels I would only be concerned about the roof taking weight not the panels. If there is too much snow then carefully remove it.

My solar panels are rated for 1 inch hail at terminal velocity.....if we ever get hail that big then the last thing on my mind will be whats gonna happen to my solar panels!!!!!

Daryll

2milesup wrote:
I've been wondering about hail damage to my solar panel since I moved down here to Texas last winter. What, besides insurance, do I need to protect it?

Nothing. If it's big enough hail to damage your solar panel, it's likely big enough hail to damage plenty of other things on the RV anyhow (like roof vents and skylights and fiberglass trim).

I guess one could park in a garage or under a carport if one knew hail was coming...obviously not one of the portable shelters made of fabric or thin plastic and tubing, but rather one with an actual sturdy roof structure.

I've been wondering about hail damage to my solar panel since I moved down here to Texas last winter. What, besides insurance, do I need to protect it?

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
On the same idea as snow load, I've often wondered with all the RV's that go to Sturgis for the Motorcycle Rally, some of those RV's having Solar and then hearing about the terrible hail storms that could occur......OK OK...I guess I haven't often wondered but I do hear about hail storms in South Dakota that do major damage.

What would happen to your roof if there wasn't a solar panel on it and it hailed?

On the same idea as snow load, I've often wondered with all the RV's that go to Sturgis for the Motorcycle Rally, some of those RV's having Solar and then hearing about the terrible hail storms that could occur......OK OK...I guess I haven't often wondered but I do hear about hail storms in South Dakota that do major damage.

Mine keep the batteries topped up. So occasionally i'll remove the snow if necessary.

Most panels are rated for a 5400 pa snow load. That's over 100 lbs/sq ft. The bigger concern would normally be the mounting, which concentrates the force onto small areas of the roof.

I brush my panels off with a broom....to keep them charging well.

Tilt works for me.