Cleaning Snow - Roof Rakes?

TheBatteries

TheBatteries

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Has anyone tried any of these "roof rakes" for snow on their panels? It's been 4 days since it snowed here and they're still covered, I'm getting zero output, and the packs are dead :( Wondering how well this would work...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKQJVUK/


image_drnlht.jpg
 
I don't see why they would be a problem. Unless you're worried about the metal scratching the glass; which shouldn't happen anyways. But, you could put some electrical tape on the edge to protect the glass. You just need to expose it enough so the sun can start naturally warming the panel.

Personally, if I lived far enough north to warrant snow, I think I'd have some piping on the back of my panels so I could run some warm water through it to heat the panels up for snow melt.
Actually, down here in the far south, I plan on doing that in the opposite manner, use piping to pull heat away from the panel to make them more efficient.
 
Korishan said:
I don't see why they would be a problem. Unless you're worried about the metal scratching the glass; which shouldn't happen anyways. But, you could put some electrical tape on the edge to protect the glass. You just need to expose it enough so the sun can start naturally warming the panel.

Personally, if I lived far enough north to warrant snow, I think I'd have some piping on the back of my panels so I could run some warm water through it to heat the panels up for snow melt.
Actually, down here in the far south, I plan on doing that in the opposite manner, use piping to pull heat away from the panel to make them more efficient.
Click to expand...

The HVAC guy for my building told me that it's better to get Solar Heating which doesn't have the problem of snow building up because it just melts.

I'm not sure if I believe him but if you look at the differences, the spacerequired per W is much less with Solar Heating.

Found a link that talks about it
 
That looks more like a squeegee than a broom/rake. A soft/stiff bristled push broom on an extendable handle is what I would use for snow.
Push brooms work well being pulled, the sifter bristled ones work even better pulled than pushed.

later floyd
 
In general when there is no sun there is no need to rake the snow off and when sun is out it melts rather fast :D The only time I do it is when i have gotten 20+ cm of snow and then suddenly 2 weeks of sun. Then I help the snow to get off a bit. But on other hand im not offgrid so I can live without the solar power for some days if needed.
 
Oderus420 said:
Korishan said:
I don't see why they would be a problem. Unless you're worried about the metal scratching the glass; which shouldn't happen anyways. But, you could put some electrical tape on the edge to protect the glass. You just need to expose it enough so the sun can start naturally warming the panel.

Personally, if I lived far enough north to warrant snow, I think I'd have some piping on the back of my panels so I could run some warm water through it to heat the panels up for snow melt.
Actually, down here in the far south, I plan on doing that in the opposite manner, use piping to pull heat away from the panel to make them more efficient.
Click to expand...

The HVAC guy for my building told me that it's better to get Solar Heating which doesn't have the problem of snow building up because it just melts.

I'm not sure if I believe him but if you look at the differences, the spacerequired per W is much less with Solar Heating.

Found a link that talks about it
Click to expand...

I don't get what your talking about here :s I wasn't talking 'heating' anything other than the panel. The cooling I was referring to wasn't to heat water to use in the thermal heating for the house. It was to cool the panels, nothing else.
 
Korishan said:
Oderus420 said:
Korishan said:
I don't see why they would be a problem. Unless you're worried about the metal scratching the glass; which shouldn't happen anyways. But, you could put some electrical tape on the edge to protect the glass. You just need to expose it enough so the sun can start naturally warming the panel.

Personally, if I lived far enough north to warrant snow, I think I'd have some piping on the back of my panels so I could run some warm water through it to heat the panels up for snow melt.
Actually, down here in the far south, I plan on doing that in the opposite manner, use piping to pull heat away from the panel to make them more efficient.
Click to expand...

The HVAC guy for my building told me that it's better to get Solar Heating which doesn't have the problem of snow building up because it just melts.

I'm not sure if I believe him but if you look at the differences, the spacerequired per W is much less with Solar Heating.

Found a link that talks about it
Click to expand...

I don't get what your talking about here :s I wasn't talking 'heating' anything other than the panel. The cooling I was referring to wasn't to heat water to use in the thermal heating for the house. It was to cool the panels, nothing else.
Click to expand...

OP is asking about clearing snow off his panels. :p
 
Enough slope on the panels would allow the snow to simply fall off. then you have awind problems, drifting snow , etc unless you have an A frame building.
have a piston to raise the panels to 90 degrees might work.a multistage hydraulic ram have to be hinged at the bottom.
Wonder is rainx would speed The slide of newly fallen snow off panel? Put on when warmer.
Just thinking out aloud here.
later
Floyd
 
Maybe look into getting some demister strips that are usually on the rear windows of motor vehicles.

put in a few volts and it may melt the snow off the panels.
 
I have this same rake, but no solar pannels

Just want to point out the rollers in case you did not see before.

Depending on width of pannel the roller would prevent scratching
 
I use the plastic version as well, about 16" wide , four sections of 6" sticks gets the lower part since it's a ranch style home. I can also climb pretty safely on the roof to get the higher parts. The roof has apretty mild slope so not a problem. I have not had any issues with scratching theglass in the 8 or so years I have had them.
 
So I've gotten lazy I just remove a strip of snow on the panel to expose the bottom line of cells so just a 6" by 10 foot gap and with in about 10 min the rest just slips off
 
I use a Snow Rake used for cars at dealerships. Does not scratch the glass or the paint. Has a dual purpose also. Car and panels. 😏
Something @Korishan wouldn't know about.😜

In my case I can get up on the roof and push the snow off. I also bought a 2 Section Extension Pole that screws into it.

Wolf
1611890226026.png1611890418564.png
 
I use something similar, but intended for cleaning high up windows. 3x telescopic extension for a max length of 4m or so. One side has a spongy thing, and the other side has a rubber wiper. Neither can damage anything.
I don't bother with anything icy. Just get the fluffy snow off and expose as much panel to the sun as possible - it'll warm up quickly and melt any icy bits. Somehow, pulling down works much better than trying to push down from the top.

Something like this:
1611895949254.png
 
I did my own "roof rake" today in wood, I can stand on the ground or a little ladder So that is easy.
it’s from 10-20 cm of snow on the panels or it was :rolleyes: before today it was sunny and I got 3watt of sun. Let’s se tomorrow

D15B686A-284A-406F-A0D5-834024013174.jpeg
 
We get snow once every other year - and it melts within 48hrs.... but you know, solar OCD has lead me to just put a broom on the end of an extendable paint pole and I can reach 80% of the roof panels from my neighbor's property. Its more a matter of helping the snow slide off since I can't apply significant downward force. :)
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