If you’re an avid camper or travel in a RV, there’s a good chance you’ve invested in, or considered investing in, solar camping panels. Unlike the typical camping experience of a couple of decades ago, modern outdoor or camping enthusiasts need not be cut off from the outside world, nor rely on just a pit campfire or BBQ for the ability to cook food and keep warm. You can also avoid crowds at what can be expensive powered sites.
Solar camping panels are a great solution to enable you to travel with all the modern conveniences you seek – from your microwave oven to heated water, television and even a Wi-Fi connection
The lifespan and efficiency of your panels require some basic maintenance practices, and you need to know how to keep them clean.
What are Solar Camping Panels?
Solar camping panels are lightweight solar power sources that travel with you. No matter where you are, they let you harness the power of the sun and convert it into an electricity supply on the go. They may be mounted on the roof of your van or 4WD, or as a portable system you set up in your campsite.
This power alternative is a versatile option that removes the need for you to stop at paid, powered commercial caravan parks or camping sites. You can go off road or off-the-grid and still have access to the electricity you need – all you need is reliable exposure to sunlight throughout the day.
The system can also combine your solar panels with options like a portable generator, inverter generator, and solar batteries.
Do Solar Panels Need Cleaning?
Caravan-mounted, 4×4 mounted, or portable solar camping panels: no matter what type of system you have, keeping the panels clean is essential for them to operate seamlessly and at their maximum capacity. This means keeping abreast of basic maintenance and making sure the panels are free of dust, dirt, tree sap, bird droppings, bat droppings, leaf litter, and other debris.
The glass coating on your solar panels must be kept as clean as possible at all times. Any debris or even a thin grubby film that covers your panels will compromise their efficiency, as sunlight will be hampered from reaching the interior components in the panels for conversion to electricity.
Even a light layer of dust can impact the amount of sunlight that reaches the solar cells within the panels. Built-up dirt and grime have a major detrimental effect on the performance of your solar camping panels.
The biggest enemy of any solar panels system is bird droppings (and if you are exposed to them, bat droppings are even worse!). The longer these remain on the panels, the harder they are to remove. Furthermore, they can permanently mark the glass.
Regular cleaning is the single most important and effective solar panels maintenance measure you can undertake.
There is no hard and fast rule about how often the panels need to be cleaned; be guided by how they look. If they look grubby, it’s time to clean them. A great idea is to clean them after a trip and check them again before you head out on your next holiday.
A flat-mounted system will need to be cleaned more often than a tilted system that benefits from being rinsed naturally by rainfall.
Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment
You will need:
- Hose
- Bucket
- Sponge, squeegee, soft cloth, or a mop
- Clean water supply
- Small ladder (if cleaning panels mounted on a van or vehicle)
Some solar panels are suitable for cleaning with soapy water; others are not. Check your product manual or with your supplier at the time of purchase and be guided by what’s recommended for your specific panel product.
How To Clean Your Solar Camping Panels
1/ Clean your panels in the early morning or late afternoon so that they are cool – they will get extremely hot during the day when they are exposed to sunlight.
- 2/ Try to keep the regulator dry while you clean the panels.
- 3/ Hose the panels down – this removes leaf litter and un-stuck debris and helps cool the panels.
- 4/ Gently clean the panels by hand using the sponge, squeegee or mop to remove dust, droppings, and tree sap. Gently work on stubborn stains with a soft cloth.
- 5/Hose again to rinse off any soapy residue or leftover dirt.
- 6/Check the underside of the panels and remove leaf litter or any other debris. This is important as the panels require good airflow to work properly and not overheat.
IMPORTANT!
Investing in a solar camping panel system is a wise choice that ultimately saves you money, is environmentally sustainable, and makes your camping or RV holiday much more enjoyable and convenient. Take care of your solar panels to ensure they work optimally and last as long as possible.