Solar Panel Maintenance

[FlowerandFrog]

Hi All Escapees: We just purchases a new 17B (2020), with a solar panel. I’d like to start this thread on panel maintenance. Thanks Larry&Liz for your solar panel battery question.... and I (flower) would like to continue this thread with another!

What is the best way to clean solar panels? I’ve checked the Escape Ind and other trailer websites, and no really good answers there. One house-installed website said only if necessary (bird droppings or thick dirt), but rain will do most of the time.......and use a very soft sponge with low water spray. Is this OK with the Escape Solar Panel?

We just drove our trailer down from Sumas, WA to Tehachapi, CA, (above the San Joaquin Valley near Bakersfield, CA). I began washing the exterior to remove bugs, road tar and other stuff from our trip, but stopped short with our solar panel. How do you wash a solar panel? We live in a drought-prone area, in fact, all of CA is now in a drought. We’ve also had high winds recently. So there’s quite a bit of dust on our new solar panel. Please help us with some info about washing our solar panel. Thanks!

[rubicon327]

See attached from GoPower regarding panel cleaning

[Craiger]

This might sound strange but I think you really should use distilled water. I know the water in SoCal is usually as hard as concrete. The amount of solids still floating around in tapwater is excessive. Considering where you're living now southeast of one of the garden spots of California Bakersfield. It is hot and it is dusty. Just use distilled water and you won't leave anything on the panels. My point of view

[ThomasG]

I just wipe down the panel with a wet rag. I wash them like the rest of the trailer if I'm washing the entire trailer. The top of the panel is just a sheet of glass.

The two wires weren't supported as well as I would like, so I used wire ties to hold them to one of the vertical supports.

[FlowerandFrog]

Thank you! Mentions steps I was considering

[FlowerandFrog]

Thank you also. Yes, using distilled water is an excellent idea. THANKS to everyone who’s replied to this thread.