Solar panels and snow

[pamflowers]

I haven't purchased my solar panels yet but I hope to in a few months. I live in snow country and usually store my Chevy Express van outside during the winter where overhead cover is not an option. The vehicle is not used in the winter. It's quite conceivable that the panels could accumulate 3-4 feet of heavy snow and ice that could weight quite a bit.  Sweeping the snow off is impractical and, because early winter snow melts and freezes repeatedly, ice would accumulate no matter what I try to do. Does anyone know if heavy weight on the panels could crack or somehow wreck them?

 

[highdesertranger]

I believe there is a spec for snow load you might have to dig to find it. an easy fix would be to tilt them, if you are up north the panels will work much better that way. highdesertranger

 

[pamflowers]

I believe there is a spec for snow load you might have to dig to find it.  an easy fix would be to tilt them,  if you are up north the panels will work much better that way.  highdesertranger

Thank you. I will dig into this and try to find the specs. I don't want to tilt them because they will freeze in place until spring and I think that would make it impossible to drive with them raised.

 

[MrNoodly]

I don't want to tilt them because they will freeze in place until spring and I think that would make it impossible to drive with them raised.

I once accidentally drove 25 miles at 70 MPH with my large panel still tilted up. No problem, except the embarrassment.

 

[maki2]

I haven't purchased my solar panels yet but I hope to in a few months. I live in snow country and usually store my Chevy Express van outside during the winter where overhead cover is not an option. The vehicle is not used in the winter. It's quite conceivable that the panels could accumulate 3-4 feet of heavy snow and ice that could weight quite a bit.  Sweeping the snow off is impractical and, because early winter snow melts and freezes repeatedly, ice would accumulate no matter what I try to do. Does anyone know if heavy weight on the panels could crack or somehow wreck them?

The place to ask that question is the maker of your specific panels, ...if you know where they originally cam from.

But if they were my panels and I knew I was not going to use the van for quite a while during the winter I would unplug and unbolt them and store them inside with cardboard over the side with the cells on them to block out all the light.

 

[pamflowers]

The place to ask that question is the maker of your specific panels, ...if you know where they originally cam from.

But if they were my panels and I knew I was not going to use the van for quite a while during the winter I would unplug and unbolt them and store them inside with cardboard over the side with the cells on them to block out all the light.

Thank you. That may be the best solution.

 

[pamflowers]

I once accidentally drove 25 miles at 70 MPH with my large panel still tilted up. No problem, except the embarrassment.

Wow! Well I hope I don't do that but who knows what unforeseen adventures await. Thanks.

 

[ckelly78z]

If the van will be sitting idle for months in the snow belt, make the solar panels removable, and store them inside. You could research quick attach clips, or hardware that would allow easy removal to save the integrity of the panels from heavy snow loads.

 

[Weight]

People in snow country clean the snow off panels as needed. It is like cleaning the windshield, mirrors, and lights. It is better to have them tilted enough to let water run off. Park on a slope?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I stay in Minnesota for the winter and we had about 8 feet of total accumulation of snow this winter (so far).  My camper sits outside with two 100W panels on top.  I don't worry about snow accumulation on them until I have to worry about snow on the roof of the house.  Wind and sublimation will take care of a lot of it and the black panels absorb a lot of the suns heat.  My panels have a 3º tilt for water runoff.

If you are using the panels as a battery maintainer:
 - you will get a little bit of output with up to an inch of very dry snow.
 - Wet snow or ice will block out enough light to reduce output to almost nothing.

 

[Sky King]

If you live near norther indiana, SW Michigan PM me as ther'e a huge ware that sells most brands cheap, 34 cents a watt or some are less & a factory if you show up with cash sells blems cheap also.

 

[ckelly78z]

If you live near norther indiana, SW Michigan PM me as ther'e a huge ware that sells most brands cheap, 34 cents a watt or some are less & a factory if you show up with cash sells blems cheap also.

Do you have a link, or an address for this warehouse ?

 

[hugemoth]

I doubt snow load would be a problem. My house in Bend Oregon has had panels on the roof for over 30 years, often with several feet of snow sitting on them when I'm south for the winter. These are Solarex, Siemens, ARCO, brands.

 

[B and C]

A friend of mine lives in Idaho. Before he retired, his trailer sat in the snow with panels on the top, not tilted and they survived just fine.

 

[pamflowers]

I stay in Minnesota for the winter and we had about 8 feet of total accumulation of snow this winter (so far).  My camper sits outside with two 100W panels on top.  I don't worry about snow accumulation on them until I have to worry about snow on the roof of the house.  Wind and sublimation will take care of a lot of it and the black panels absorb a lot of the suns heat.  My panels have a 3º tilt for water runoff.

If you are using the panels as a battery maintainer:
 - you will get a little bit of output with up to an inch of very dry snow.
 - Wet snow or ice will block out enough light to reduce output to almost nothing.

Thanks. The panels wouldn't be used for anything in the winter so I plan to remove them.

 

[pamflowers]

A friend of mine lives in Idaho.  Before he retired, his trailer sat in the snow with panels on the top, not tilted and they survived just fine.

That's reassuring. Thank you.

 

[pamflowers]

I doubt snow load would be a problem. My house in Bend Oregon has had panels on the roof for over 30 years, often with several feet of snow sitting on them when I'm south for the winter. These are Solarex, Siemens, ARCO, brands.

I'm feeling more and more reassured. Thank you.

 

[pamflowers]

Do you have a link, or an address for this warehouse ?

Thank you very much for the tip but I do live a very long way from Michigan so I'll have to pass on that.

 

[pamflowers]

People in snow country clean the snow off panels as needed. It is like cleaning the windshield, mirrors, and lights. It is better to have them tilted enough to let water run off. Park on a slope?

Thank you for the suggestion. Slope parking is an option. I think it would be pretty difficult to get to the van in the dead of winter with all the snow we get and then it freezes, thaws, freezes in early winter so in a single night you can end up with a layer of ice that would be very difficult to get off.

 

[MikeRuth]

standard panels in aluminum frames are incredibly strong. I personally would not worry about it at all.

Mike R