Solar modules can be destroyed if they are exposed to extreme weather conditions, such as hailstorms.
Hails are meteorologically solid precipitation. They resemble ice and come in a variety of forms and sizes, up to half a pound in weight and as large as a baseball. The size variation determines how forcefully they fall.
When they fall, this decides the extent of their destruction. When thunderstorms occur and the airflow rises, large droplets of water are propelled upwards and into the atmosphere.
Do Hail Damage Solar Panels?
Evidence has proven that hailstones can significantly harm your solar panels in Colorado, where a few days a year appear a little like the end of the world with severe downpours and hailstones of various sizes.
Not even all solar panels are susceptible to hail damage, according to evidence. It is consequently critical that you make suitable inquiries about the type of solar panel you intend to get while planning your purchase. This also applies to people who have had their panels damaged and are considering replacing them.
Solar panels are extremely strong and resilient. Most high-quality hail can survive hail up to the size of a golf ball approximately, one inch in diameter. However, based on how much hail is in your location and how huge the hail is when it strikes, the hailstones may cause significant problems to your solar panels during a severe hailstorm.
Hailstorms usually produce one of two forms of damage:
- When the glass surface of the solar panel is damaged, it can break; nevertheless, this is a relatively simple fix.
- Solar cell damage. It is costly and difficult to repair, yet it is not impossible.
How To Protect Solar Panels From Hail?
Solar panels are nonetheless fragile, even though their panes are designed to bear high pressure and stress. It can be broken or fractured when subjected to strong materials or pressure, like hail. Several solar panels are damaged each time a hailstorm occurs. The annual cost of these solar panel repairs is very costly.
As a result, knowing how to safeguard your solar panels from major repairs is essential. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Go for High-Quality Modules
If you plan to install solar panels onto your home or would like to add more, only work with firms you can trust. Only buy popular or well-known brands. Avoid firms that sell low-quality modules to increase profit margins.
Simply Google the top solar brands in your country. Sun Power and Vivint Solar, for example, are two of the leading solar enterprises in the United States. Your primary priority should be to choose high-quality brands. This will continue to help you in the future.
2. Arrange The Solar Panels At An angle For Hail To Slide
You can avoid the damage by having a professional repair your solar panel. Professional weathermen know how to angle your solar panel to deflect the fall and pressure of hail.
There are a few angles you should keep in mind during the arrangement of the solar plane as follows-
- During hailstorms, installing panels at 90 degrees would inflict the most damage.
- Your panels will be more prone to hail damage if they are positioned in front of an inclination less than this, say 10°.
- Therefore, to prevent the natural route of hail, solar panels are commonly installed and mounted towards the south at angles of 18° to 45°.
3. Add A Layer Of Methacrylate To Your Panels
A very simple way is to apply a thin layer of methacrylate to protect the most fragile areas of the solar panels. This should be done as carefully as possible so as not to interfere with the proper functioning of the cells by blocking the access line to the power supply.
Coating the panels with an additional layer of “armor” may be a good idea as this plastic material reinforces the panels doubling their durability.
Finding the right methacrylate plates is indeed crucial because higher quality means solar panels will withstand more hits, which means less money spent. You can alternatively put a 1-inch thick piece of plexiglass on the base of the panel with the gap between the two levels. This is one of the most straightforward and secure methods for protecting solar panels from hail.
You will understand that your solar panels are safe not only against hail but also from a variety of other hazards.
4. Consider Installing Your Solar Panel In Shaded Areas
You may be wondering how solar panels would perform in locations that are shaded. Yes, new solar panels can operate in slightly shady places, protecting your panel from hail. All you have to do now is obtain the necessary information. We suspect that solar panels cannot function in the presence of shadows.
However, according to our findings, it is contingent on certain circumstances. Without a doubt, the colors of various items have an impact on electricity generation.
Modern solar panels, on the other hand, can generate electricity even in the dark. You must be aware of the sources of shadow that can reduce energy use –
- Tree
We discovered that plants block sunlight from reaching solar panel cells. It mostly occurs in residential areas. It can sometimes cast full or partial shade on solar panels.
- Side-by-side panels
When it comes to ground installations, neighboring panels can create shadows on the lower panels. It occurs as a result of the system’s improper and unplanned installation.
- Roofs
The earth revolves around the sun 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Building roofs gradually shade solar panels in the vicinity. It usually casts a partial shade on the solar cells.
5. Install Solar Cleaning Robots
Solar washing robots are a fantastic new technological advancement that uses only a minimal quantity of water to wash your solar panels of any possible hail particles.
You won’t have to worry about hail particles or stones damaging your solar panel thanks to the solar cleaning robots.
6. Regular Maintenance & Quality Checks
Solar panels are quite resilient, as previously stated. They will, however, be weakened by the wind or hail damage if they are not maintained regularly and they will eventually break if they are not maintained.
This is why you should inspect your solar panels regularly since this is one of the best ways to prevent them from hail damage, particularly if there are any indicators that they have been damaged.
7. Follow Weather Forecast
Weathermen and forecasters can predict the arrival of hail, just as they can rainfall and other weather-related events. All you have to do is sign up for a few reliable websites that will keep you informed about hail storms before they happen. You can check if your solar panel is appropriately set or if it is in danger of being destroyed by hail with this update.
As a result, listening to weather tips and following the advice of weathermen will assist you in taking preventative steps against hail.
8. Install A Solar Panel Protection Cover
Solar panel protective covers are another option for shielding solar modules from hail. High-volume air is used inside hail prevention systems. A hail-protecting cover is most commonly used in automobiles. These solar module covers are also available for purchase.
The only issue is that these covers block sunlight, so you can’t use them all the time. Before covering your solar modules, you should have advanced knowledge of hailstorms or other inclement weather. If you keep track of weather forecasts, you can use them.
Insurance Cover For Solar Modules
If you live in a region where hail is a problem, you might want to consider solar module insurance. There are different solar modules, a few are given below-
- Spinning Solar Modules
- Transparent Solar Modules
- Triangular Solar Modules
If your panels are damaged by hailstorms, having an insurance policy is quite useful. However, before you apply for an insurance policy, be sure you understand what it covers. I’m referring to whether or not weather-related damages are covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Do solar panels work if cracked?
Ans: If the crack is minor, cracked solar panels will work; nonetheless, cracked solar modules should not be used since they may catch fire.
Q2. How Does Hail Damage Affect Solar Panel Performance?
Ans: Hail damage is often visible on the panel physically. The glass panel breaks.
However, the solar panel’s performance or output can be harmed much further. The number of functional cells determines the efficiency or performance of a solar panel –
- Cracks and cell defects result from hail-damaged panels. As a result, there is more resistance, which eventually converts into hot patches.
- Solar panels that have been damaged by hail are more susceptible to weather attacks and subsequent damage.
- When the panel’s understrength glass is harmed by hail, the amount of light absorbed by the panel is drastically reduced. Water and dust will also have easy access under the glass, covering solar cells and reducing energy output.
- Solar panels that have been cracked by hail result in a low-quality power supply from a broken cell line. Lamination or mismatched solar cells results. This, too, has an impact on solar efficiency.
Q3. How to protect solar panels from the weather?
Ans: To protect solar panels from weather, the forecasters can predict the arrival of hail, just as they can rainfall and other weather-related events. All you have to do is sign up for a few reliable websites that will keep you informed about hail storms before they happen. You can check if your solar panel is appropriately set or if it is in danger of being destroyed by hail with this update.
To protect the panels from severe rain, arrange them at an angle. Find a favorable angle where the water will glide off the panel’s surface, keeping it clean and productive. Therefore, listening to weather tips and following the advice of weathermen will assist you in taking preventative steps against hail.
Conclusion
One of your finest decisions could be to install a solar power system. However, keeping them safe in inclement weather is challenging. If you want your system to endure as long as possible, you should think about how to safeguard solar panels against hail.
If they are destroyed by wind or hail, you will suffer a significant financial loss since the amount of electricity produced and the amount of money you can save on your power bill will be affected.
These 8 simple and effective ways, on the other hand, will undoubtedly help to safeguard solar panels against hail damage.
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