Cleaning solar panel - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Maintenance, Winterizing and Routine Care
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-12-2014, 07:12 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Peru, New York
Trailer: 2014 19' hatch date Feb. 27
Posts: 123
Cleaning solar panel

What product do you use for cleaning your solar panel and does anyone wax their panel?
ADKzookeeper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2014, 07:39 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
Quote:
Originally Posted by ADKzookeeper View Post
What product do you use for cleaning your solar panel and does anyone wax their panel?
Hi: ADKzookeeper... I'm not sure... but I'm going to have to learn. I would be inclined to use 303 Aerospace Protector 303® Products are the leading line of premium protectants and cleaners on the market today...but that's only a guess. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2014, 09:15 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
I'd just use water, wax or some other cleaner may effect it's performance.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2014, 10:50 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,210
REC Solar, a large installer recommends simply washing with a garden hose as long as your water is contaminant free such as hydrogen sulfide.
You can use soap and water if you wish-just use bio-degradable, non-filming soap. Don't use anything abrasive, including brush, etc., and wash panels in the early morning or early evening hours just before dusk when the panels are cool.
Rossue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2014, 11:07 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Vermilye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
I use plain water. I'd avoid any product that offers UV protection - while the UV portion of sunlight that reaches the panel is pretty low, every watt halls!
__________________
Jon Vermilye My Travel Blog
Travel and Photo Web Page ... My Collection of RV Blogs 2018 F150 3.5EB, 2017 21
Vermilye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 07:29 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye View Post
I use plain water. I'd avoid any product that offers UV protection - while the UV portion of sunlight that reaches the panel is pretty low, every watt halls!
Jon, I am wondering about the trade off's. As the panels age, the surface of older ones I have seen seem to become somewhat cloudy. While the 303 might slightly reduce UV transmission, I'm wondering if the long term use would help prevent the clouding, which could make its use a net positive?
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 08:18 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Red Dog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Retired from Dallas & Full-Timing, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape as of 01/16/17
Posts: 1,312
Quote:
Originally Posted by thoer View Post
Jon, I am wondering about the trade off's. As the panels age, the surface of older ones I have seen seem to become somewhat cloudy. While the 303 might slightly reduce UV transmission, I'm wondering if the long term use would help prevent the clouding, which could make its use a net positive?


I am following this closely. So far, I have just used water to clean the solar panel, but am open to new ideas.


Fred M.
__________________
Fred M.

"Whoever said retirement was overrated...
...never had an Escape"
Red Dog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 08:51 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
Quote:
Originally Posted by ADKzookeeper View Post
What product do you use for cleaning your solar panel and does anyone wax their panel?
Whatever brand of car wash I happen to be using. I do not wax or coat the panel with anything, like the windows. Makes me think of Rain-X, I do like the way water beads off of the windshield the few times I;ve used it.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 09:11 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin View Post
Whatever brand of car wash I happen to be using. I do not wax or coat the panel with anything, like the windows. Makes me think of Rain-X, I do like the way water beads off of the windshield the few times I;ve used it.
Bob - I had the same thought about RainX. It works great on the trailer windows, especially the rear one that seems to attract lots of dirt when traveling.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 09:37 AM   #10
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
I just went out to AM Solar and read the FAQs. This is what they say about cleaning:

How should I clean my solar panels?
You can clean solar panels like you would any piece of glass. Use a non-abrasive cleaning agent to avoid scratching the surface or removing the panel’s anti-reflective coating. If birds leave their mark on your panels it will be very important for you to remove the mess as the shaded portion can temporarily shut down the solar panel.

http://amsolar.com/diy-rv-solar-instructions/edfaq/
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 12:53 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,344
For both the trailer solar panels, and those on our house roof, we use just water. Thoroughly wet the panels, use a wetted soft brush or cloth to agitate/loosen dirt, then rinse and squeegee. (Repeat if necessary). I have used a little dawn detergent on the trailer panel to help loosen bird residues. We do Not use anything that leaves a residue or coating on the panels. We like the sun!

Edit: result on the house is a 10-20% increase in power when removing a month's worth of dirt/dust. We're in an agricultural county, so there's dust. But if you're in an urban area, especially near industrial, you'll still have a variety of junk on the panels over time.
dfandrews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2017, 05:25 AM   #12
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: St Catharines, Alabama
Trailer: -
Posts: 3
I simply wash it with water.
JennBart is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.