Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Carl2009 on June 19, 2013, 03:31:01 pm
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Hi all, and Steve,
Nice website Steve.
Having previously decided against offering solar panel cleaning because of the extra equipment in the form of a longer (than my SLX 25) pole i'd need i'm reconsidering it - for domestic properties - but I have a few questions that I can't find in answers to in past threads.
1. What is the ideal length of pole needed? I've cleaned many panels on lower roofs, but offering it to just about all domestics i'm going to need a bigger pole - if just to be able to step back 20 feet to get the angle right. I don't want to go for overkill, but what pole would you guys recommend?
2. Did anyone come to a conclusion on whether a damaged panel could kill you? Anyone work with these or similar:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/static/electrical-safety-gloves-inspection-classification-262.html
3. Does anyone have a waiver against damage they could send me a copy of: carl@nice-clean-windows.co.uk
(I have a scratched glass waiver for builder's cleans if anyone needs one by the way).
4. It seems that the panels are still live even if the inverter has been turned off, but is it best practice to do so anyway?
Any other tips?
Thanks
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Hi all, and Steve,
Nice website Steve.
Having previously decided against offering solar panel cleaning because of the extra equipment in the form of a longer (than my SLX 25) pole i'd need i'm reconsidering it - for domestic properties - but I have a few questions that I can't find in answers to in past threads.
1. What is the ideal length of pole needed? I've cleaned many panels on lower roofs, but offering it to just about all domestics i'm going to need a bigger pole - if just to be able to step back 20 feet to get the angle right. I don't want to go for overkill, but what pole would you guys recommend?
2. Did anyone come to a conclusion on whether a damaged panel could kill you? Anyone work with these or similar:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/static/electrical-safety-gloves-inspection-classification-262.html
3. Does anyone have a waiver against damage they could send me a copy of: carl@nice-clean-windows.co.uk
(I have a scratched glass waiver for builder's cleans if anyone needs one by the way).
4. It seems that the panels are still live even if the inverter has been turned off, but is it best practice to do so anyway?
Any other tips?
Thanks
Hi Carl.
I can answer the first question for you, no problem. The best pole I have fond is he extreme 47'. Not cheap, but the best.
Regarding the other questions, I do know the answers, but as I have said in previous threads, some things I prefer to keep to myself because they form part of what is making this so profitable for me, my USP's.
To publish these on a public forum would be business suicide. If you have taken time to read through previous threads you'll see I have said this before, so please don't take it personally.
I'm happy to share certain info, sub out jobs so where possible, others can make a few quid from this too, but regarding the ins and outs of business models and health & safety, I will not share the info.
I know I've said this before, but it has taken me years to research privately the solar field and my research continues both privately, but also now with a number of UK solar research organisations. To share years of research on a thread on a forum does not make good business sense.
There may well be a backlash of comments about my stand on this, but I know the businessmen out there will understand my wanting to retain as much of my USP's as possible. :)
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::)roll
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Good greaf ::)roll
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Not a problem at all Steve. No offence taken.
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So Solar Steve has safety critical information an won't tell others - even though it might save a life. :-\
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i use a 40 ft supermax.
just clean them.you cant get an electric shock off a solar panel whether the inverters on or off.
as for scratching the panel.whos gonna know anyway?the customer is hardly going to get up there and inspect them when cleaned!!just make sure you clean em with a clean brush and all will be well.
regards
dazmond
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I've found the following guys helpful.
http://www.spiritsolar.co.uk/
I wouldn't divulge a bleedin' ounce if I were Steve! I don't like his secrecy but I would do exactly the same. If you're observant and have read his other posts you'll pick up little gems as you go along.
Alex Wingrove knows his stuff too IMO. Secretive too though. But helpful if you need a hand on a job.
I recently priced up a 24,000 panel array and am expecting more work of this nature to come our way, if we require help I know who I'll approach if my own resources are unavailable.
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They where hardly top secret questions just a couple of safety ones to get an idea...Nat could of said the same to Steve when he wanted advice on his website the other day but he was happy to give a couple of pointers.
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Regarding electric shocks. Yes you can get electric shocks from solar panel p.v. Units. They don't have to be damaged/cracked for this to occur and they can be isolated, switched off by the customer for this to happen anyway.
Firemen arriving on site at fires are having to be sure there is minimal danger from solar panel units as they can get shocks from them when trying to extinguish fires. I'm sure there's plenty on google about that if you look.
Check this out too. A shock from a unit caused by shoddy installation work. It only takes one dunderhead to install a unit by trying to cut corners.
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1639712
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They where hardly top secret questions just a couple of safety ones to get an idea...Nat could of said the same to Steve when he wanted advice on his website the other day but he was happy to give a couple of pointers.
Exactly. Just safety questions and he was happy enough to have people checking his website for him. As for calling on him when you are under resourced, why not cut out the middle man and post your own subby/spammy ad on here? That's all he does. People on here are easily impressed at times.
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My advice.
If a panel is broken, don't clean it!
Slightest bit of damage, I dont touch it for several reasons
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If you 40 foot from it you might not see any damage from the floor
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If you 40 foot from it you might not see any damage from the floor
You cant use that as an excuse,
Wouldn't take long to attach a little camera and check the panels integrity.
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Not a problem at all Steve. No offence taken.
Thanks Carl, I'm glad you understand.
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So Solar Steve has safety critical information an won't tell others - even though it might save a life. :-\
Give a man a fish, you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you'll feed him for a lifetime.
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i use a 40 ft supermax.
just clean them.you cant get an electric shock off a solar panel whether the inverters on or off.
as for scratching the panel.whos gonna know anyway?the customer is hardly going to get up there and inspect them when cleaned!!just make sure you clean em with a clean brush and all will be well.
regards
dazmond
Incorrect I'm afraid Dazmond. A shock from a panel will likely kill you and throw you a long way in the process. It's not a plug we are dealing with here.
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I've found the following guys helpful.
http://www.spiritsolar.co.uk/
I wouldn't divulge a bleedin' ounce if I were Steve! I don't like his secrecy but I would do exactly the same. If you're observant and have read his other posts you'll pick up little gems as you go along.
Alex Wingrove knows his stuff too IMO. Secretive too though. But helpful if you need a hand on a job.
I recently priced up a 24,000 panel array and am expecting more work of this nature to come our way, if we require help I know who I'll approach if my own resources are unavailable.
Hi Matt. I'm glad you have gleaned some info from my posts. If I was as secretive as some make out, i would post anything anywhere! Did the info help you get the 24,000 job?
I see you are digging around from the thread you posted about shoddy workmanship. It pays to do your homework eh mate? :)
Glad it's taking off for you. :)
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i use a 40 ft supermax.
just clean them.you cant get an electric shock off a solar panel whether the inverters on or off.
as for scratching the panel.whos gonna know anyway?the customer is hardly going to get up there and inspect them when cleaned!!just make sure you clean em with a clean brush and all will be well.
regards
dazmond
Incorrect I'm afraid Dazmond. A shock from a panel will likely kill you and throw you a long way in the process. It's not a plug we are dealing with here.
do you need to ask each customer to switch off the power?
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I've found the following guys helpful.
http://www.spiritsolar.co.uk/
I wouldn't divulge a bleedin' ounce if I were Steve! I don't like his secrecy but I would do exactly the same. If you're observant and have read his other posts you'll pick up little gems as you go along.
Alex Wingrove knows his stuff too IMO. Secretive too though. But helpful if you need a hand on a job.
I recently priced up a 24,000 panel array and am expecting more work of this nature to come our way, if we require help I know who I'll approach if my own resources are unavailable.
Hi Matt. I'm glad you have gleaned some info from my posts. If I was as secretive as some make out, i would post anything anywhere! Did the info help you get the 24,000 job?
I see you are digging around from the thread you posted about shoddy workmanship. It pays to do your homework eh mate? :)
Glad it's taking off for you. :)
Steve, hi, the didn't come our way in the end. The feedback we got was that they were going to get 'in-house' guys to clean them. I figured they didn't like the money and figured agency labourers could come up with the goods.
Live and learn, I hope to pursue this side of the business a little further. Work of this nature is beginning to materialise and I intend to continue to pursue it.
Nice website by the way :-)
Kind regards
Matt.
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i use a 40 ft supermax.
just clean them.you cant get an electric shock off a solar panel whether the inverters on or off.
as for scratching the panel.whos gonna know anyway?the customer is hardly going to get up there and inspect them when cleaned!!just make sure you clean em with a clean brush and all will be well.
regards
dazmond
Incorrect I'm afraid Dazmond. A shock from a panel will likely kill you and throw you a long way in the process. It's not a plug we are dealing with here.
do you need to ask each customer to switch off the power?
Ben, think about it. It depends what your question actually means. Do you mean isolate the panels from the house/domestic/electricity board ring main or isolate the units from yourself to eliminate any risk of any shock ?
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I've found the following guys helpful.
http://www.spiritsolar.co.uk/
I wouldn't divulge a bleedin' ounce if I were Steve! I don't like his secrecy but I would do exactly the same. If you're observant and have read his other posts you'll pick up little gems as you go along.
Alex Wingrove knows his stuff too IMO. Secretive too though. But helpful if you need a hand on a job.
I recently priced up a 24,000 panel array and am expecting more work of this nature to come our way, if we require help I know who I'll approach if my own resources are unavailable.
Hi Matt. I'm glad you have gleaned some info from my posts. If I was as secretive as some make out, i would post anything anywhere! Did the info help you get the 24,000 job?
I see you are digging around from the thread you posted about shoddy workmanship. It pays to do your homework eh mate? :)
Glad it's taking off for you. :)
Steve, hi, the didn't come our way in the end. The feedback we got was that they were going to get 'in-house' guys to clean them. I figured they didn't like the money and figured agency labourers could come up with the goods.
Live and learn, I hope to pursue this side of the business a little further. Work of this nature is beginning to materialise and I intend to continue to pursue it.
Nice website by the way :-)
Kind regards
Matt.
Oh mate, I thought you got it, sorry! Not sure 'in-house' will take off. It will come good for you. Glad you like the website.
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Has anyone died from cleaning solar panels.?
Never even thought about electrocution from solar panels.
Just clean them like a window.