Page 19 - IFV Issue 12 December 2023

Home Front
It’s clear that solar power is here to stay. While solar panel cleaning services
In South Africa we have the space, the
sunlight and the motivation to make
solar one of our main residential power
supplies, so let’s get familiar with what
solar power is.
Harvesting the sun’s energy
The website www.nationalgrid.com
explains solar energy this way: “Solar and clean water. Take care not to
panels are usually made from silicon, leave streaks on the glass. Do not use
or another semiconductor material anything abrasive like a scrub brush,
installed in a metal panel frame with or harsh chemicals like bleach that
a glass casing. When this material is could damage the glass.
exposed to photons of sunlight (very
small packets of energy), it releases Don’t harm yourself
electrons and produces an electric Solar panels heat up and retain heat
charge. for a long time. So, if you are planning
“This PV charge creates an electric on washing them by hand, wait for
current (specifically, direct current or them to cool down or erect temporary
DC), which is captured by the wiring shade over them to avoid getting
in solar panels. This DC electricity is burnt by them. Washing them in the
then converted to alternating current early morning is usually a safer bet.
(AC) by an inverter. AC is the type of Your health and safety are worth
electrical current used when you plug much more than your panels, so
appliances into normal wall sockets.” be extra cautious when it comes to
Once you have the panels, what’s dancing around on your roof and
next? As with any part of your home’s climbing up and down ladders. If you
infrastructure, proper maintenance feel at all unsure or insecure about
is important to enable you to get the your own abilities, play it safe and call
most out of your solar panels. the professionals.
Clean panels are much more It’s still electricity…
efficient. As with all electrical and energy
As counter-intuitive as it feels to go solutions like conventional electricity
and “wash your roof”, solar panels and gas, it is important to have your
demand cleaning if they are to be kept installation and set-up professionally
in good condition. checked and serviced every now and
Think of them as large windows or then. Loose connections or faulty wires
lenses. Just as every speck of dust on can just as easily spell disaster when it
your window or camera lens obscures comes to solar and battery set-ups as
the view and influences your picture, with conventional electricity.
any physical obstruction on the glass Check your homeowner’s insurance
of your solar panels keeps that “cell” policy as well and ensure that you are
from generating optimum electricity. covered for damages to (and from)
Studies have shown that panels can your solar set-up.
lose as much as 20% to 25% of their Solar power is clean(er) than fossil
generating capacity when they are fuel, free(ish) after initial installation
dirty. and as safe as you make it. The one
major upside of solar is that if it is
do exist, it can also be a low-tech correctly installed and maintained, it
home maintenance DIY project. You is more reliable than Eskom.
do not need power tools or specialised Remember: solar electricity is still
equipment to clean your own panels. electricity, and you need to treat it
with respect.
Don’t harm your panels
Clean the glass only with a mild glass This article was sourced directly from the internet - please
see the link below:
cleaner, a soft sponge or squidgy https://www.homemakersonline.co.za/what-type-of-main-
tenance-does-my-solar-panels-need/
The Villager • Issue 12 2023 • 17