What first world problem did you have today?

[Red Squirrel]

I don't think you guys realize the amount of snow I'm dealing with. Salt also only works when it's warmish out.

This is not the same roof since it's quite involved to go back there but it's basically the same amount of snow. It's not just snow but ice too, because of all the weird weather we got.



Suppose had I stayed on top of it every day I would have been ok though, but the issue is all the weird wet weather we get now days, it creates layers of crust. I could MAYBE use heat to handle just the crust portions to at least loosen it up so I can use the broom though, I will experiment with that next summer as well as tilting them at a steeper angle. I'm thinking thin wire taped to the back then run current through it. Don't nececerily need to use nichrome wire, I'm thinking just telecom wire, I have a crap ton of it. For actual snow load if I want to automate it I need some kind of rail setup with a rotating brush, kinda like a carwash brush.

In a real off grid setting I would just mount them vertical and think I'd be ok, but failing that I could box them in and run hot water behind them using a wood fired boiler.

 

[sdifox]

I don't think you guys realize the amount of snow I'm dealing with. Salt also only works when it's warmish out.

This is not the same roof since it's quite involved to go back there but it's basically the same amount of snow. It's not just snow but ice too, because of all the weird weather we got.



Suppose had I stayed on top of it every day I would have been ok though, but the issue is all the weird wet weather we get now days, it creates layers of crust. I could MAYBE use heat to handle just the crust portions to at least loosen it up so I can use the broom though, I will experiment with that next summer as well as tilting them at a steeper angle. I'm thinking thin wire taped to the back then run current through it. Don't nececerily need to use nichrome wire, I'm thinking just telecom wire, I have a crap ton of it. For actual snow load if I want to automate it I need some kind of rail setup with a rotating brush, kinda like a carwash brush.

In a real off grid setting I would just mount them vertical and think I'd be ok, but failing that I could box them in and run hot water behind them using a wood fired boiler.

Mount solar panel on catapult. Fling the snow off.

 

[CZroe]

I don't think you guys realize the amount of snow I'm dealing with. Salt also only works when it's warmish out.

This is not the same roof since it's quite involved to go back there but it's basically the same amount of snow. It's not just snow but ice too, because of all the weird weather we got.



Suppose had I stayed on top of it every day I would have been ok though, but the issue is all the weird wet weather we get now days, it creates layers of crust. I could MAYBE use heat to handle just the crust portions to at least loosen it up so I can use the broom though, I will experiment with that next summer as well as tilting them at a steeper angle. I'm thinking thin wire taped to the back then run current through it. Don't nececerily need to use nichrome wire, I'm thinking just telecom wire, I have a crap ton of it. For actual snow load if I want to automate it I need some kind of rail setup with a rotating brush, kinda like a carwash brush.

In a real off grid setting I would just mount them vertical and think I'd be ok, but failing that I could box them in and run hot water behind them using a wood fired boiler.

Just don't burn your house down. I don't think insurance will cover fires from your experimental solar panel heating wires.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Just don't burn your house down. I don't think insurance will cover fires from your experimental solar panel heating wires.

Lol yeah the whole thing will be current limited both via software and a hard limit if the software fails (Ex: resistor). It will essentially be a constant temp power supply with current limiting built in. Might be worth putting in a thermal fuse too. I have a general idea how I'll do it, but never actually designed a circuit like that so I'll have to experiment. Something that will be easier to do once I finish my garage/shop so I have a proper place to work in. That's next summer's project. Once that place is climate controlled and insulated then I can work on all sorts of stuff year round. Probably experiment with my small portable solar setup before I do the big panels.

 

[snoopy7548]

Maybe you need a steeper angle on the solar panels.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That's what I want to try too, will require a redesign of the racking system though, but probably my best bet. Just need to make sure I build some kind of skirting around it so the wind can't catch the panels and rip the lag bolts out.

This is the current racking setup:

 

[EliteRetard]

I used to get laid. A long time ago. (Dont laugh, I wasnt always like this)
*snip*

I've literally never had sex...

Or kissed anyone...

Or even so much as held hands, or had a "crush" on anyone.

I do find a rare few females attractive. Those that are healthy, intelligent, diligent workers, with common sense etc.
Someone almost impossibly perfect, who will learn and correct their mistake if they do make them.
Obviously such a person (female or otherwise) would never have anything to do with me.

Other females are disgusting, lying, cheating, immoral, lazy, snake like monsters, I'll never have anything to do with them.

People say I've had the most wretched life, because I never did drugs/alcohol, never "partied", and never had sex.
Because obviously those are the only important things in life...along with wealth/power (and now "social status/influence")

 

[EliteRetard]

That's what I want to try too, will require a redesign of the racking system though, but probably my best bet. Just need to make sure I build some kind of skirting around it so the wind can't catch the panels and rip the lag bolts out.

This is the current racking setup:

I do wonder if you could design an "auto lift" mechanism kinda like whats used on dump trucks and such.

Allows more optimal angles over time, can keep it flat in high wind, and use it to clear them of snow as well.
Even with tilt I do think you still need a bit of warming, a thin layer of water will act like lube to shed snow/ice.

 

[shortylickens]

I've literally never had sex...

Or kissed anyone...

Or even so much as held hands, or had a "crush" on anyone.

I do find a rare few females attractive. Those that are healthy, intelligent, diligent workers, with common sense etc.
Someone almost impossibly perfect, who will learn and correct their mistake if they do make them.
Obviously such a person (female or otherwise) would never have anything to do with me.

Other females are disgusting, lying, cheating, immoral, lazy, snake like monsters, I'll never have anything to do with them.

People say I've had the most wretched life, because I never did drugs/alcohol, never "partied", and never had sex.
Because obviously those are the only important things in life...along with wealth/power (and now "social status/influence")

FYI:
Sex is fun.
Try it.

 

[EliteRetard]

FYI:
Sex is fun.
Try it.

To late anyway, I can't offer drugs/alcohol/wealth/power or even social status.
I literally have nothing women would want, and they have nothing I want.

What is "fun" anyway? I honestly don't know if that's a real thing.
I can think of two events in my life that were actually enjoyable (same thing different times).
As far as I can recall, every other activity has really just been a distraction.
High cost, filthy, disease prone exercise with another individual doesn't sound enjoyable.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I do wonder if you could design an "auto lift" mechanism kinda like whats used on dump trucks and such.

Allows more optimal angles over time, can keep it flat in high wind, and use it to clear them of snow as well.
Even with tilt I do think you still need a bit of warming, a thin layer of water will act like lube to shed snow/ice.

I was thinking that too, but think I'd keep it simple and make it permanent. it's facing west anyway so a steeper angle is more optimal. It was just easier to use the same slope as the roof. I'll have to see what kind of fittings I can get for unistrut that would let me do a tilt though. Nice thing with unitstrut it once you do have all the right fittings it's super easy to work with.

 

[EliteRetard]

I was thinking that too, but think I'd keep it simple and make it permanent. it's facing west anyway so a steeper angle is more optimal. It was just easier to use the same slope as the roof. I'll have to see what kind of fittings I can get for unistrut that would let me do a tilt though. Nice thing with unitstrut it once you do have all the right fittings it's super easy to work with.

By the looks of it seems like you could hinge the bottom cross member while using something like a one leg scissor lift against the top rail.

Perhaps you could repurpose garage door parts. Use a threaded rod up inside each bottom rail, with a sprocket and chain to drive them all.

 

[BoomerD]

Throw a tarp over it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

A transparent tarp crossed my mind, have it on two rollers like a conveyor belt, then I can just make it roll and the ice/snow will fall off. Just not sure where I would find such material that does not have any writing on it. Vapour barrier plastic would work but it has writing on it.

Really I think the simplest is to just tilt them more, and do the heated wire under them. When I upgrade my DC power plant for my server room I can put the old batteries in the shed to add more capacity to the solar so I can run the heaters. I would wire each panel separately so I can run only one at a time. If I get the two middle panels done I'd at least be generating full voltage at half capacity then can clear the other panels a week later when the battery fully charged. I will need to experiment with this separately to see if it's even viable though to get an idea of how much power I need to melt snow and how long I need to keep it on for before it gets easy enough to take off the rest with the brush.

 

[lxskllr]

How about a tarp on rollers with a nothing on one side, and an opaque tarp on the other? Roll the cover over before it snows, then use the open section when it isn't.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Snow comes whenever. Can't really plan for that. Same with the freezing rain, we get freak rain now. Like a while back it was -17, and it just randomly decided to rain. I have better luck dealing with ways to remove it than trying to prevent it, as there's no chance of always being successful at preventing it.

 

[EliteRetard]

Really I think the simplest is to just tilt them more, and do the heated wire under them.

Just make sure to well insulate the underside of the panels/wire.
It's easy/cheap to get 2" R13-14 foil backed rigid foam panels (4'x8' $30).
Strip the reflective foil back ~2" around the edges and have it face the wire/panel.
Use the striped section to apply an adhesive foam (easy to cut lose) to attach the panels.

Not sure how I'd feel about hacking your own heating wires though...
A quick look around suggests an average about 5 watts per foot for most warming tape.
Don't recall if you mentioned area, lets just say there's four 4'x8' panels.
If you offset the wire ~6-8 inches from the edges and itself, that's about 30ft a panel.

Turn it on just before and during a snow to get them pre-heated and it will melt stuff as it lands.
If the snow is to much to keep up with, the initial wet layer should help it slide off.

 

[BoomerD]

Coat them with Rain-X so the rain and snow just runs off instead of sticking?

There are much better, non-silicone based products available that MIGHT work better on your solar panels:

CARPRO FORTE V4 Professional Windshield Coat 15ml

CarPro Forte Extreme Windshield Coating 15ml is an entirely new advanced windshield coating designed for extreme resistance for up to a year of protection!

www.carpro-us.com

Rain Repellent Glass Treatment - Aquapel Glass Treatment

Aquapel Glass Treatment is a rain repellant that improves vision in the rain, allowing you to drive safer. Buy some today, only $9.95!

www.aquapel.com

 

[Ken g6]

Since you're already going to MacGyver it... You could hook a wide broom bottom to (above) the top of the solar panels, with springs. Hook a rope to both sides, hanging down over the edge of the roof. When it snows, pull!

You might also want pulleys at the edge of the roof, so you can pull from under the overhang. Or maybe you want a gaff so you can pull from far away.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah crossed my mind to try something like RainX. It might help a little at least.

I can't do anything that requires to react BEFORE snow though. It just snows whenever, it's not like I know ahead of time. I would have to be constantly babysiting the weather forecast like literally minute by minute and even then. Normal snow is normally not the issue, the brush takes it off. It's the wet/rainy type stuff since it creates an ice crust then any more snow just sticks to it. With climate change the weather is so unpredictable. Like the other day it was -30, today it was +2. That's another issue when it goes to the pluses, and then goes back down and imediately snows. If panels are still warm the snow will stick and form a crust. We just get so much weird weather here now it makes things worse.

Currently I just have a big broom head on a painter's pole, it's like 20ish feet. The issue when the snow gets crusty it just glides on top. I eventually want a broom system on some kind of rail so it can push down but be physically forced to stay on the panels while doing it.

 

[Spacehead]

Since you're already going to MacGyver it... You could hook a wide broom bottom to (above) the top of the solar panels, with springs. Hook a rope to both sides, hanging down over the edge of the roof. When it snows, pull!

You might also want pulleys at the edge of the roof, so you can pull from under the overhang. Or maybe you want a gaff so you can pull from far away.

I think Red Green would approve your post, except the MacGyver part

 

[shortylickens]

I saw a picture of the coolest thing ever and now I have to get one!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Firefox Black Edition(TM)

 

[Red Squirrel]

I hate how lot of modern BIOSes are GUIs now. How is that suppose to work if you're having video issues? Or if you have no mouse? I just wanted to change the boot order and had to take a mouse out because you have to drag the item over, instead of just being able to hit space or page up.

 

[sdifox]

I hate how lot of modern BIOSes are GUIs now. How is that suppose to work if you're having video issues? Or if you have no mouse? I just wanted to change the boot order and had to take a mouse out because you have to drag the item over, instead of just being able to hit space or page up.

Keyboard still works in those gui.