9
MAINTENANCE
Maintaining Solar Panel
To ensure optimum module performance, the following maintenance measures are
recommended:
–
Clean the glass surface of the solar panel when required. Always use clean water
and a soft sponge or cloth for cleaning. A mild, non-abrasive cleaning agent
may be used to remove stubborn dirt. Do not use cold water to clean panel if the
surface is extremity hot as rapid temperature change could lead to cracking.
–
Clean solar panel more frequently during drier months, as they may become
covered in dust more quickly. A pressure washer is not recommended.
–
Check the electrical, grounding and mechanical connections every six months to
verify that they are clean, secure, undamaged and free of corrosion.
–
Remove snow, ice, or other debris when build up occurs.
–
Caution: Observe the maintenance instructions for all components used in the
system, such as support frames, PV connectors, charge controller, inverter,
batteries, etc.
Long Term RV Storage
If your RV will be stored in extremely cold climates you may need to remove your
batteries to prevent them from freezing. Please note if your solar panel(s) are covered
by snow they will not produce power and can not be depended upon to keep the
batteries charged. For battery storage in mild climates solar system will provide
more power provided sufficient sunlight and limited load. Make sure that all passive/
phantom loads are removed from the batteries, i.e. DVD players, clock radio, etc. to
make sure the solar panel(s) can keep the batteries charged even with reduced sun
exposure.
