Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Crystal-clear on February 24, 2013, 07:56:02 pm
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Easy access to clean can I just use my standard Gardiners brush , no need to worrie about damage anything I need to know the customer was just asking about damage I of course said no but I thought I'd double check with you lot
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Anything I need to know ??
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just use the softest brush you have, they don't take long, I bought the solar panel cleaning brush from window cleaning warehouse but if I'm totally honest I can't tell the difference between it and some of my vikan brushes
graham
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Cheers mate thought so pretty standard stuff then as I thought !
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Easy access to clean can I just use my standard Gardiners brush , no need to worrie about damage anything I need to know the customer was just asking about damage I of course said no but I thought I'd double check with you lot
anyway,do you care? ;D
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Cheers mate thought so pretty standard stuff then as I thought !
Not quite. You need to get the inverters turned off too. Do you have the correct insurance?
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Cheers mate thought so pretty standard stuff then as I thought !
Not quite. You need to get the inverters turned off too. Do you have the correct insurance?
turning the inverters off isnt needed. the inverters only turn the dc current that the solar panels produce into ac current that powers stuff in the house,
turning a inverter off is just like turning the a light off, it stops the power to the house, but dont stop the power from the solar panels to the inverter!
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Thanks Richard , Steve its just a £45 one off I have my standard public liability but not special solar insurance as this is the first time I have done one in 6 years and will most defo not be doing any in the near future so special insurance won't be needed , so Steve is Richard right or are you saying I must do it your way ? Pls advise
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the dc power is made under the glass on a solar panel right up there on the roof,
there is no way of stopping this, unless you either cover the panel or wait till night.
QUOTE from solar panel supplier and fitter
Most solar arrays have two kill switches on either side of the inverter. That makes for places that need to be turned off before the thing is really … OFF. Even after this array is OFF, the panels are still ON. They are always ON during the day. You can’t cover them and turn them OFF. Snow won’t turn them OFF. Nothing except nighttime will turn them OFF. The only way to turn the OFF is to remove the J-Box and wires, which will destroy them … so rule of thumb … solar panels are always ON during the day … no matter what you do
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Thanks Richard , Steve its just a £45 one off I have my standard public liability but not special solar insurance as this is the first time I have done one in 6 years and will most defo not be doing any in the near future so special insurance won't be needed , so Steve is Richard right or are you saying I must do it your way ? Pls advise
According to our broker were covered for panels anyway, maybe you are regardless.
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As always very informative rich would like to get some feedback from solar too
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As always very informative rich would like to get some feedback from solar too
thats ok no problem,
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As always very informative rich would like to get some feedback from solar too
thats ok no problem,
So have you done any domestic jobs , just turn up and pole simple stuff ?
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As always very informative rich would like to get some feedback from solar too
thats ok no problem,
So have you done any domestic jobs , just turn up and pole simple stuff ?
yer loads, i do all the domestic systems cleaning for a local firm that supplies and fits them.
basicly yer turn up, get poles out clean and pack up.
some are simple to get to, others are a lot harder to get to.
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Thanks Richard , Steve its just a £45 one off I have my standard public liability but not special solar insurance as this is the first time I have done one in 6 years and will most defo not be doing any in the near future so special insurance won't be needed , so Steve is Richard right or are you saying I must do it your way ? Pls advise
According to our broker were covered for panels anyway, maybe you are regardless.
Yeah, but Solar Steve is the Solar Dude and he doesn't want a Solar Crystalclear. Apart from anything else, it isn't an alliteration. Anyway, I'm not talking to you as Oakley Under 11s beat AFC Newbury Under 11s yesterday.
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;D
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ive cleaned a few with no problems.i use a flocked brush or a medium mixed brush.just turn up and clean then pack up and move onto my next job.
easy to clean and easy money for time taken.
i have one next month.£20 for the windows,£30 for the solar panels.the whole job will take me roughly 45 mins to clean for £50.im happy with that.
regards
dazmond
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Thanks Richard , Steve its just a £45 one off I have my standard public liability but not special solar insurance as this is the first time I have done one in 6 years and will most defo not be doing any in the near future so special insurance won't be needed , so Steve is Richard right or are you saying I must do it your way ? Pls advise
Turning off the inverters only does away with the AC. The DC still produces in the panel as RC says it does. However, the DC needs the AC to shock you. By turning off the inverters, the DC cannot shock you. With the inverters left on, it is conceivable that you can be on the receiving end of a potentially fatal shock.
Forget people saying they are sealed units, so are upvc windows and we all know they can go after 3 weeks or 8 years. Panels are the same. I'm sure you will be fine taking a chance on a one off job of this size, but there is no way on earth I would let myself or my lads do a commercial installation with the inverters left on. You won't know anything about a shock until you are lying on your back with your hair smoking! :o :o :o
Regarding insurance, I would still get it added to your policy. If you let your car insurance expire and thought you could get away with doing one journey, you could virtually guarantee the cops would pull you over that day! Please don't take offence, but because this is your first job too, there is a higher chance of something going wrong. Depending on who you are insured with, you can get the cover at no extra cost. For the sake of a phone call it is worth the peace of mind.
Hope this answers your questions. :)
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What happens when it rains then?!
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What happens when it rains then?!
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If its not trying to earth through someone then its not a problem ;D
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Can you explain why it needs ac to shock you ?
Dc current is actually more dangerous than ac when it comes to getting a shock .
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What happens when it rains then?!
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If its not trying to earth through someone then its not a problem ;D
+1
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Can you explain why it needs ac to shock you ?
Dc current is actually more dangerous than ac when it comes to getting a shock .
This was explained to me in detail by an installer we do cleaning for, but only over the phone, so I didn't absorb it fully. I know that it is to do with needing a positive and a negative to get a shock. By removing the AC, you are removing one of those two elements. That's why you won't get a shock. There was more to it than that, but that is it in a nutshell. He is the electrician, solar panel installer and a designer and patent holder of solar panel add-ons, not me. Therefore, I don't lean upon my own understanding. ;D
I know there are many who do not agree on this forum, but solar panel cleaning is a different kettle of fish to window cleaning. You MUST know what the risks are so that you can minimise them. If you do not know the risks, you should not be cleaning solar panels. An electrician or gas fitter must know their risks in order to minimise them. The risks associated with solar panel cleaning are just as real and are just as high. It pays to be informed and insured.
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how many of you are insured..? I got my cover note updated by gleaming to cover these, Steve would the customers know how to turn off their domestic installations..?
Graham
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Just a quick fact about the inverters that are fitted to every system.
DC power runs down from the solar panels into the inverter on one side, through the inverter then out the otherwise in ac.
Ac can't run back through the inverter back upto the panels, it is fitted with hightec safety features and fuses to stop this happening!
So there will only be dc current at the solar panels. So what is the point of turning the inventor off apart from it to stop making ac power going into the house.
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how many of you are insured..? I got my cover note updated by gleaming to cover these, Steve would the customers know how to turn off their domestic installations..?
Graham
I am.
Customers should know,but might not remember as its something that never needs doing by them, only by the trained sparkles,
Which brings it onto the next good point, some systems can only be touched by trained people and not general public!!!
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Can you explain why it needs ac to shock you ?
Dc current is actually more dangerous than ac when it comes to getting a shock .
This was explained to me in detail by an installer we do cleaning for, but only over the phone, so I didn't absorb it fully. I know that it is to do with needing a positive and a negative to get a shock. By removing the AC, you are removing one of those two elements. That's why you won't get a shock. There was more to it than that, but that is it in a nutshell. He is the electrician, solar panel installer and a designer and patent holder of solar panel add-ons, not me. Therefore, I don't lean upon my own understanding. ;D
I know there are many who do not agree on this forum, but solar panel cleaning is a different kettle of fish to window cleaning. You MUST know what the risks are so that you can minimise them. If you do not know the risks, you should not be cleaning solar panels. An electrician or gas fitter must know their risks in order to minimise them. The risks associated with solar panel cleaning are just as real and are just as high. It pays to be informed and insured.
So let me get this straight, you have only talked to one guy, over the phone, and didn't listen to what he said, so not really knowing what he he was on about, and yet you want to do a training course and teach others? And what you say about the positive and negative and removing ac you think that is one of those 2 things?
You have no idea about ac/dc currents and that they are 2 totally different things.
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Right you lot! I thought I would just make you all aware of the hidden dangers of cleaning windows,did you know that if you lose control of your pole and it bangs into the window,the pole could break the glass which can then shatter,if one of these shards of glass falls on you it could have catastrophic consequenses,you won't know anything about it until your sidekick comes from the back of the house singing.."I love the sound of breaking glass".............Better just leaving the window cleaning to me ;)
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so to sum it all up am I ok to go to a domestic installation and just clean it..?
Graham
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so to sum it all up am I ok to go to a domestic installation and just clean it..?
Graham
to sum it up, yes you are fine to, as long as you are careful and dont drop the brush onto the panels,
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Right you lot! I thought I would just make you all aware of the hidden dangers of cleaning windows,did you know that if you lose control of your pole and it bangs into the window,the pole could break the glass which can then shatter,if one of these shards of glass falls on you it could have catastrophic consequenses,you won't know anything about it until your sidekick comes from the back of the house singing.."I love the sound of breaking glass".............Better just leaving the window cleaning to me ;)
lol
,
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so to sum it all up am I ok to go to a domestic installation and just clean it..?
Graham
look another person is now a little bit worryed about cleaning solars!
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how many of you are insured..? I got my cover note updated by gleaming to cover these, Steve would the customers know how to turn off their domestic installations..?
Graham
Every customer will know where the inverter is. Not sure if everyone would know how to turn it off.
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Can you explain why it needs ac to shock you ?
Dc current is actually more dangerous than ac when it comes to getting a shock .
This was explained to me in detail by an installer we do cleaning for, but only over the phone, so I didn't absorb it fully. I know that it is to do with needing a positive and a negative to get a shock. By removing the AC, you are removing one of those two elements. That's why you won't get a shock. There was more to it than that, but that is it in a nutshell. He is the electrician, solar panel installer and a designer and patent holder of solar panel add-ons, not me. Therefore, I don't lean upon my own understanding. ;D
I know there are many who do not agree on this forum, but solar panel cleaning is a different kettle of fish to window cleaning. You MUST know what the risks are so that you can minimise them. If you do not know the risks, you should not be cleaning solar panels. An electrician or gas fitter must know their risks in order to minimise them. The risks associated with solar panel cleaning are just as real and are just as high. It pays to be informed and insured.
So let me get this straight, you have only talked to one guy, over the phone, and didn't listen to what he said, so not really knowing what he he was on about, and yet you want to do a training course and teach others? And what you say about the positive and negative and removing ac you think that is one of those 2 things?
You have no idea about ac/dc currents and that they are 2 totally different things.
Whenever the solar training has been mentioned, you have been all over it like a rash. Therefore, you will know that I have said definitively that it will not just me there, but also an installer and electrician to give the answers to these types of technical questions. The training course is indeed still in its infancy and not ready to go out. The discussions like the one above are exactly the issues that we would hope to focus on.
I have never made the claim to be an electrician, solar installer or an expert in the field of the science of electricity. My job is cleaning, which I do very well. I need to know how to clean panels safely. This does not mean that I am not looking into the other things, because I definitely am. But there are only so many hours in a day. :)
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Can you explain why it needs ac to shock you ?
Dc current is actually more dangerous than ac when it comes to getting a shock .
This was explained to me in detail by an installer we do cleaning for, but only over the phone, so I didn't absorb it fully. I know that it is to do with needing a positive and a negative to get a shock. By removing the AC, you are removing one of those two elements. That's why you won't get a shock. There was more to it than that, but that is it in a nutshell. He is the electrician, solar panel installer and a designer and patent holder of solar panel add-ons, not me. Therefore, I don't lean upon my own understanding. ;D
I know there are many who do not agree on this forum, but solar panel cleaning is a different kettle of fish to window cleaning. You MUST know what the risks are so that you can minimise them. If you do not know the risks, you should not be cleaning solar panels. An electrician or gas fitter must know their risks in order to minimise them. The risks associated with solar panel cleaning are just as real and are just as high. It pays to be informed and insured.
So let me get this straight, you have only talked to one guy, over the phone, and didn't listen to what he said, so not really knowing what he he was on about, and yet you want to do a training course and teach others? And what you say about the positive and negative and removing ac you think that is one of those 2 things?
You have no idea about ac/dc currents and that they are 2 totally different things.
Whenever the solar training has been mentioned, you have been all over it like a rash. Therefore, you will know that I have said definitively that it will not just me there, but also an installer and electrician to give the answers to these types of technical questions. The training course is indeed still in its infancy and not ready to go out. The discussions like the one above are exactly the issues that we would hope to focus on.
I have never made the claim to be an electrician, solar installer or an expert in the field of the science of electricity. My job is cleaning, which I do very well. I need to know how to clean panels safely. This does not mean that I am not looking into the other things, because I definitely am. But there are only so many hours in a day. :)
im all up for training etc, thats why i have been on the impact43 training. i think its great idea and training is needed for cleaning things like this and other things.
the only thing that you personally dont know all the bits that is involved and you have to go and ask others, this to me should of been the first thing that is sorted out in any business and a while ago else where you even said you dont know who you have your insurance with!
im lucky i come from the background of knowing electrics etc, but even then i still looked into it alot before i even went to companies offering the service, just to make sure i know all there is to know.
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I reckon you should change your name o Solar Clear. ;D ;)
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Can you explain why it needs ac to shock you ?
Dc current is actually more dangerous than ac when it comes to getting a shock .
This was explained to me in detail by an installer we do cleaning for, but only over the phone, so I didn't absorb it fully. I know that it is to do with needing a positive and a negative to get a shock. By removing the AC, you are removing one of those two elements. That's why you won't get a shock. There was more to it than that, but that is it in a nutshell. He is the electrician, solar panel installer and a designer and patent holder of solar panel add-ons, not me. Therefore, I don't lean upon my own understanding. ;D
I know there are many who do not agree on this forum, but solar panel cleaning is a different kettle of fish to window cleaning. You MUST know what the risks are so that you can minimise them. If you do not know the risks, you should not be cleaning solar panels. An electrician or gas fitter must know their risks in order to minimise them. The risks associated with solar panel cleaning are just as real and are just as high. It pays to be informed and insured.
So let me get this straight, you have only talked to one guy, over the phone, and didn't listen to what he said, so not really knowing what he he was on about, and yet you want to do a training course and teach others? And what you say about the positive and negative and removing ac you think that is one of those 2 things?
You have no idea about ac/dc currents and that they are 2 totally different things.
Whenever the solar training has been mentioned, you have been all over it like a rash. Therefore, you will know that I have said definitively that it will not just me there, but also an installer and electrician to give the answers to these types of technical questions. The training course is indeed still in its infancy and not ready to go out. The discussions like the one above are exactly the issues that we would hope to focus on.
I have never made the claim to be an electrician, solar installer or an expert in the field of the science of electricity. My job is cleaning, which I do very well. I need to know how to clean panels safely. This does not mean that I am not looking into the other things, because I definitely am. But there are only so many hours in a day. :)
im all up for training etc, thats why i have been on the impact43 training. i think its great idea and training is needed for cleaning things like this and other things.
the only thing that you personally dont know all the bits that is involved and you have to go and ask others, this to me should of been the first thing that is sorted out in any business and a while ago else where you even said you dont know who you have your insurance with!
im lucky i come from the background of knowing electrics etc, but even then i still looked into it alot before i even went to companies offering the service, just to make sure i know all there is to know.
All of that is fine. But it is impossible for any person or business to know all there is to know. Everything is a constant evolution. Henry Ford did not know all there was to know, but he knew enough for it to be an option for him. His industry, personal knowledge and experience grew the longer he did it.
I do not 'know all there is to know', and am confident you do not either. But I have turned what I do know into a viable option for me. My knowledge of this field will grow, as will everyone else's. I have just called 2 separate installers and asked the DC question to guys on their technical dept. none of them knew the answer! They will research it and come back to me they said. Even the experts are still learning. It is part of business and indeed life.
But for now, things are going extremely well in this field for us.
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Ok. Here we go again. I have a definitive answer as to why the DC current that flows through the solar array is not a risk. This has been confirmed by 2 solar installers in the UK and a contact I have who are solar installers and cleaners in the US. That company is US-wide and have shed loads of experience. I have spoken to them a number of times in the past and trust their answer 100%.
The DC current is not a risk when cleaning panels because it does not react in the same way as AC current. AC current jumps around and always seeks to earth. It only needs a connection at one end to provide a shock. DC current does not jump around or seek to earth. Plus it needs a complete electrical circuit to provide a shock. Water and a man is not a complete electrical circuit and therefore there is no risk of electrocution.
Shutting off the AC inverters is highly recommended because it is that which could do damage to an individual or a persons house.
I will post this is another thread as there were 2 threads trying to answer the same thing.
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That's very interesting info and practical to know about, thanks. I have a few customers who have panels they want me to clean.
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That's very interesting info and practical to know about, thanks. I have a few customers who have panels they want me to clean.
No worries mate. I hope lots more can use the info too.