[Stu Wallace]

Hi Steve

Could you please confirm if it is safe to clean solar panels when they are still switched on?

Many Thanks

Stuart

[8weekly]

Only with a RAMS...........



.........unless it's urgent. 

[Carl2009]

Hi Stu,

I'm sure Solar Steve will confirm it's not. Indeed my extensive enquiries show the subject is a minefield and I don't blame SS one bit for not giving away info he has discovered.

The panels generate when light from whatever source is falling on them. Search YouTube for info from the States about risks to firefighters using floodlights to illuminate a roof area - best practice is tarping over the panels (they even go into detail about what colour the tarps should be). Panels are linked in series and generate enough power to kill. A WC friend of mine got a definite small shock off one array through his SLX - possibly just a tiny leak from a crimped wire whose shielding had been breached. I had a conversation with him 1/2 an hour ago about solar panel cleaning and he won't do them now.

I've contacted a number of trade organisations and manufacturers and they are little help on minimising risk - turning off the inverter is no solution. Yesterday I emailed the HSE for advice and am waiting to hear back; on the phone they confirmed they had no publications, advice or recommendations on the subject of cleaning panels but confirmed I could be prosecuted if an injury to myself or an employee resulted from cleaning them. This got her a bit flustered and so she got me to email them!

I also spoke to Stu Giles at http://www.elecsafety.co.uk/index.html about the matter. They provide training in elec safety. Whilst he was unable to provide advice without a fee I said that their could be a market for a downloadable guide that could be bought by WC's that would educate us to what best practice procedures to employ. He agreed it might be an area they could look at and asked me to email him, which I did.

Cheers

[Stu Wallace]

Thank you Carl2009

I didn't know it was such a minefield I would have thought they were safe at anytime as in a sealed unit beginning think its safer to just walk away and never clean any solar panels. I just don't get asked that often to clean them so to invest £1600 in the ppe and pole you mentioned in another post just wouldn't be worth it.

 

[tlwcs]

Thank you Carl2009

I didn't know it was such a minefield I would have thought they were safe at anytime as in a sealed unit beginning think its safer to just walk away and never clean any solar panels. I just don't get asked that often to clean them so to invest £1600 in the ppe and pole you mentioned in another post just wouldn't be worth it.

 

Offer the work to Solar Steve, he will most likely reply to you then 

[Darranvps]

What do you think happens when it rains?

[Frankybadboy]

What do you think happens when it rains?

you don't work 

[Carl2009]

What do you think happens when it rains?

I'm no expert, but it's only when you earth the panels to the ground via you that you have a problem. The house is earthed already. Have a look on YouTube. It's frightening.

[telfordwindowclnr]

Hi Stu,

I'm sure Solar Steve will confirm it's not. Indeed my extensive enquiries show the subject is a minefield and I don't blame SS one bit for not giving away info he has discovered.

The panels generate when light from whatever source is falling on them. Search YouTube for info from the States about risks to firefighters using floodlights to illuminate a roof area - best practice is tarping over the panels (they even go into detail about what colour the tarps should be). Panels are linked in series and generate enough power to kill. A WC friend of mine got a definite small shock off one array through his SLX - possibly just a tiny leak from a crimped wire whose shielding had been breached. I had a conversation with him 1/2 an hour ago about solar panel cleaning and he won't do them now.

I've contacted a number of trade organisations and manufacturers and they are little help on minimising risk - turning off the inverter is no solution. Yesterday I emailed the HSE for advice and am waiting to hear back; on the phone they confirmed they had no publications, advice or recommendations on the subject of cleaning panels but confirmed I could be prosecuted if an injury to myself or an employee resulted from cleaning them. This got her a bit flustered and so she got me to email them!

I also spoke to Stu Giles at http://www.elecsafety.co.uk/index.html about the matter. They provide training in elec safety. Whilst he was unable to provide advice without a fee I said that their could be a market for a downloadable guide that could be bought by WC's that would educate us to what best practice procedures to employ. He agreed it might be an area they could look at and asked me to email him, which I did.

Cheers

+1 in that I won't give away everything I know. I will however say this.

I find it interesting that here in the UK, there is NOTHING from HSE, electricians, trade organisations and the like. For me, because of this, what I have researched and put into practice makes the information all the more valuable and it heightens my determination to keep it close or find a way to make it a revenue stream.

I'm glad some understand why I will not share with my competitors all I have learned. Back in the 80's, IBM would not share all they knew with Compaq. Toyota do not share with GM. It's just the way it is. It is down to each company to find out for themselves, even if one car manufacturer has safety features that could help other companies.

It's almost as if a training course is needed...

[Stu Wallace]

I totally understand Steve.

I was just trying find out if it was safe to clean them or not.

I think a training course would probably be a good idea if only to tell people what equipment is required.

[telfordwindowclnr]

I totally understand Steve.

I was just trying find out if it was safe to clean them or not.

I think a training course would probably be a good idea if only to tell people what equipment is required.

Thanks for that Stu. It's not as straight forward as flicking a switch.
We are now in talks with 3 different training organisations for a course. It will cover a whole lot more than equipment. 

[Dave Willis]

interesting - so who's responsible when you subby your jobs out?

[Dave Willis]

I'm guessing no they don't need shutting off because they can't be switched off before the inverter. You could probably only get a shock off a single panel anyway at the most and then it would most likely be static electricity anyway.

How do fitters pick them up? rubber gloves and wellies? I think not. 

[telfordwindowclnr]

I'm guessing no they don't need shutting off because they can't be switched off before the inverter.

I would not like to GUESS my way around any electrical job.

[Dave Willis]

No guessing then - you can't switch a solar panel off before the inverter.



Here's some very secret information - I might need to kill anyone who reads it though.   http://gogreena.co.uk/how-solar-panels-work-a-guide-for-dummies/

[telfordwindowclnr]

No guessing then - you can't switch a solar panel off before the inverter.



Here's some very secret information - I might need to kill anyone who reads it though.   http://gogreena.co.uk/how-solar-panels-work-a-guide-for-dummies/

Boring....

[Dave Willis]

I would also say a correctly installed array will not shock you. However, an incorrectly installed array could. Very unlikely but it could happen.

[MATT BATEMAN (OWC)]

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1639712

[telfordwindowclnr]

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1639712

Nice to see you back Matt. 

[Dave Willis]

"Unless damaged, a correctly installed solar panel system does not create any hazards to those working close to the
installation. If the installation appears damaged following a storm, flood or fire, stay well away from the system and any
exposed conductive parts that might have become energised (live) as a result of the damaged components. Contact a
licensed electrical contractor to repair the system.
Shutting down the solar panel system only stops the inverter from supplying electricity to the meter board or electrical
installation. During daylight, the solar panels continue to generate electricity that is injected through the cables
running between the solar panels and the inverter."