Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Og on March 30, 2017, 02:18:27 pm

Title: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Og on March 30, 2017, 02:18:27 pm
Would it be best practice to perform an earth continuity test, before servicing pv modules?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Bungle on March 30, 2017, 06:48:09 pm
Would it be best practice to perform an earth continuity test, before servicing pv modules?

Calling SS, or has he done one again?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Og on March 30, 2017, 10:18:11 pm
Or phrased another way.
Is it unprofessional to clean solar panels without first completing a continuity test, to confirm the array is safe?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Smurf on March 30, 2017, 10:25:48 pm
Would it be best practice to perform an earth continuity test, before servicing pv modules?

How would you go about that then?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: jonboywalton75 on March 31, 2017, 06:56:09 am
Ss will tell you
You need to pay him first though!!!!
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Tosh on March 31, 2017, 07:19:32 am
Fit an RCD circuit breaker between your pole and the panel.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: jonboywalton75 on March 31, 2017, 07:27:41 am
Much prefer your sarky posts than the useful ones, Slacky (or whatever your username is nowadays, Matt)
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Og on March 31, 2017, 07:45:38 am
Would it be best practice to perform an earth continuity test, before servicing pv modules?

How would you go about that then?

Access the inverter and plug a meter in. I'm pretty sure we should be doing this. As these arrays age, the risks are higher and I'm not sure gloves and wellies are the best way to deal with a potential hazard.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Dave Willis on March 31, 2017, 08:07:25 am
Don't think that's a window cleaners job do you? Do you measure your domestic customers output. Where do you think the shock would come from, the panel surface or the wiring? Each panel would only produce a certain amount of power, you'd probably have to rearrange the wiring to get a shock from multiple panels and then cut through it.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Og on March 31, 2017, 08:10:43 am
Perhaps not a window cleaners job but a solar panel cleaners? I like to look at the read out on the inverter before and after, to see the increase.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Dave Willis on March 31, 2017, 08:14:48 am
What's the difference between a window cleaner and a solar panel cleaner? The second one has bought a tee shirt and paid to go on a course provided by a self taught window cleaner. That's it.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Og on March 31, 2017, 08:28:39 am
The shock could come from anywhere. I've been asked not to clean certain arrays due to rats chewing through cables and other earthing issues. Also seen cracked panels and been told to stay clear by the engineer.
You can be a solar panel cleaner withour any affiliation to Steve.
Perhaps I shouldn't ask about earth tests on a window cleaning forum but as lots of guys here are regularly covering live modules and cables and connectors in water, I think it's pretty relevant. Also the newer panels have micro inverters fitted, has anyone considered that?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: martin hulstone on March 31, 2017, 02:08:29 pm
Whats the difference between our water and rain water?
I dont see sparks flying off solar panels when its raining so i dont see a problem. Am i missing something?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Tosh on March 31, 2017, 02:38:39 pm
When its raining there’s no route to earth, when you’re stood there with a brush in your hand you’re the route to earth.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Jonny 87 on March 31, 2017, 05:18:57 pm
A pair of wellies and a pair of rubber gloves is all you need.

Last time I got in trouble because that's the ONLY thing i wore.

Misread the memo. :(
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Og on March 31, 2017, 05:46:38 pm
Whats the difference between our water and rain water?
I dont see sparks flying off solar panels when its raining so i dont see a problem. Am i missing something?

Perhaps the above illustrates why some sort of safety validation, should take place before window cleaners are let loose on pv.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: dazmond on March 31, 2017, 06:23:47 pm
ive had little electric shocks down my right arm when poling solar panels once.dunno what caused it.it was raining at the time as well and i had rubber gloves and rubber soled boots on. ???

i cleaned a  customers solar panels last week in the sunshine and no problems.nothing.

could it of just been static electricity?it was an uncomfortable feeling but obviously not life threatening! ;D
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: martin hulstone on March 31, 2017, 07:00:22 pm
Whats the difference between our water and rain water?
I dont see sparks flying off solar panels when its raining so i dont see a problem. Am i missing something?

Perhaps the above illustrates why some sort of safety validation, should take place before window cleaners are let loose on pv.
meaning?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Spruce on March 31, 2017, 07:06:54 pm
Ask your customer to switch the solar panels off before you clean them.  ;D
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Dave Willis on March 31, 2017, 07:52:44 pm
I clean them at night.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: martin hulstone on March 31, 2017, 08:39:58 pm
I, like I am sure many others have done some research this evening after reading the comments and I cannot find one article about a window cleaner or any sort of cleaner being electrocuted as a result of cleaning solar panels on domestic properties although I am not saying it is not a possibility.
They only carry low voltage unless they are on a large scale and are circuit linked so I still feel confident cleaning them as an add on for existing customers as long as I am wearing rubber gloves and/or boots.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: martin hulstone on March 31, 2017, 08:50:35 pm
Ps, I did find one article written on a farm forum written by solar Steve that claims a window cleaner in the uk spent three weeks in hospital after being electrocuted by solar panels, but then on his Australian advert it claims the man spent six weeks in hospital so I am reluctant to believe this unless Solar Steve lets us know the name of this person and how long he actually spent in hospital.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Splash & dash on March 31, 2017, 09:12:00 pm
Surprising that steves the only one to know about this ??? You would have thought it would have made national news , Evan if you take all Steve's precautions Ime guessing you could still get a shock as on domestic(don't know about commercial) you cannot isolate the electrical supply from the panels only from the inverter , so the panels are always live , we have cleaned many thousands of them without a problem but you never know what could happen
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Tosh on March 31, 2017, 09:58:28 pm
Ps, I did find one article written on a farm forum written by solar Steve that claims a window cleaner in the uk spent three weeks in hospital after being electrocuted by solar panels, but then on his Australian advert it claims the man spent six weeks in hospital so I am reluctant to believe this unless Solar Steve lets us know the name of this person and how long he actually spent in hospital.

The fella you're referring to was one of his subbies.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Tosh on March 31, 2017, 09:59:26 pm
Steve offered to pay him 20p per panel instead of the usual 18p.

Everyone in earshot of the conversation was shocked.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: paul alan on March 31, 2017, 10:03:27 pm
Whats the difference between our water and rain water?
I dont see sparks flying off solar panels when its raining so i dont see a problem. Am i missing something?
by first our water then our pole we are atatched to our water. Electricity then can connect to us.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: jonboywalton75 on March 31, 2017, 11:03:39 pm
Steve offered to pay him 20p per panel instead of the usual 18p.

Everyone in earshot of the conversation was shocked.&

That's more like the usual, Slacky
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: 8weekly on April 02, 2017, 02:05:10 am
Steve offered to pay him 20p per panel instead of the usual 18p.

Everyone in earshot of the conversation was shocked.
;D
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on April 02, 2017, 03:15:43 pm
funny thing is when we work on solar farms along side the  quialfied  people that look after  them they don't wear any of this rubbish nor do there wear just rubber wellies , all sites  we have if you not in steel caps your not on site along with hi vis ect ect 

theres so much bull about solar panels and cleaning them you could write a book about it , if you scared about cleaning a ray of solar panels then fully cover any one panel on the ray and it will pull the power down so it wont kill you , its the quickest and simplest way to do it , this is straight out the mouth of the head tec guy we work for and he looks after 73 sites

there no way of stopping a panel from make energy unless its  dark , even if there not hooked up to the mians or a full string there still making energy , you just need to use your head , cracked or missed up units need to be left  alone
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Solar Steve on April 05, 2017, 06:00:51 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1491411635_image.png)
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Solar Steve on April 05, 2017, 06:02:41 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1491411746_image.png)
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Tosh on April 05, 2017, 07:25:10 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1491411635_image.png)

How does that pertain to the fact the original poster got an electrical shock from the panels he was cleaning?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: martin hulstone on April 07, 2017, 07:19:22 am
Yes Steve, there is lots of mis information on the internet which people should not believe, like your uk and australian websites which says on the UK website that a worker was electrocuted and spent 6 weeks in hospital yet the Australian one dramatises it to 3 months. Who is this man? please send us a link about this poor lad if it did happen, or again should we not believe what we  read on the internet?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Splash & dash on April 07, 2017, 10:04:24 pm
Yes Steve, there is lots of mis information on the internet which people should not believe, like your uk and australian websites which says on the UK website that a worker was electrocuted and spent 6 weeks in hospital yet the Australian one dramatises it to 3 months. Who is this man? please send us a link about this poor lad if it did happen, or again should we not believe what we  read on the internet?
Unlike our steve to be so slow about replying  ?????
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Smurf on April 07, 2017, 10:43:18 pm
Some peeps do have a life you know beyond this forum.
After saying that I suspect ss is waxing his long tash curls and pointy beard as we speak. Bless him.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: martin hulstone on April 10, 2017, 02:37:23 pm
I am still waiting for a response from Steve ???
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Bungle on April 10, 2017, 06:57:37 pm
Yes Steve, there is lots of mis information on the internet which people should not believe, like your uk and australian websites which says on the UK website that a worker was electrocuted and spent 6 weeks in hospital yet the Australian one dramatises it to 3 months. Who is this man? please send us a link about this poor lad if it did happen, or again should we not believe what we  read on the internet?
Unlike our steve to be so slow about replying  ?????

He's on a plane to Oz visiting electrocution victims in hospital.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: martin hulstone on April 13, 2017, 06:54:51 pm
Ha, nice one. As I suspected, his claim on his website is a complete lie as he has never responded.
People should not be allowed to make claims like that to drum up business. Shame on you Solar Steve, unless of course you can tell us if this man was electrocuted and spent 6 weeks/3 months in hospital!
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Og on April 13, 2017, 07:03:59 pm
I did some research after my shock last week. It seems it's not uncommon for solar panels to act like a capacitor when wet.
Something to think about.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Dave Willis on April 13, 2017, 08:48:57 pm
We used to use large hoovers to clean printing machines. Always got shocks off them, you could see the sparks jumping from the suction tube to the machine. Nobody worried about it. Static electricity most likely.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Bungle on April 13, 2017, 10:17:37 pm
One of my customers got stung by a solar panel job today. For 50 notes from me haha.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaners
Post by: Tosh on April 13, 2017, 10:39:55 pm
One of my customers got stung by a solar panel job today. For 50 notes from me haha.


I did 12 today for 85 notes. And 16 yesterday for 95.