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01-08-2020, 07:04 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Frisco, TX & Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 530
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Solar panel cleaning (Success)
In an earlier post, we discussed the challenge of flexible solar panels becoming hazy and impacting the performance. Did some research on headlight restoration products and found that Meguiars had excellent ratings so I tried it.
Was a simple two step process. Took about 20 minutes to do one panel. Takes a little elbow grease but worth the effort!
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01-08-2020, 07:11 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 826
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Thanks.
Good idea.
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Pat
2017 Isata 5
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01-08-2020, 09:13 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 888
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Nice! Thanks for posting your results...I’m going to have to try that on ours.
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2018 DX3 37BH
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01-08-2020, 09:33 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Southwest Missouri
Posts: 329
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Thanks for the post. Have to try ours.
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Bill & Sue
Southwest Missouri, retired
2018 Dynamax Series 4
2014 Explorer & 2006 Jeep Unlimited
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01-08-2020, 10:59 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Texas
Posts: 74
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Hey thanks Edandshelly... I'll give it a try tomorrow and report after.
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01-09-2020, 01:49 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,074
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Have you noticed increase electricity production after the cleaning?
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01-09-2020, 02:19 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,114
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I read somewhere that Coke can be used to clear headlight lenses, wonder if that's true and if it would work here on these panels.
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01-09-2020, 02:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 446
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Would have been nice to see the voltages before and after!
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01-09-2020, 03:07 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 477
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Regarding voltage differences after cleaning/de-fogging:
I have two portable suitcase units: Zamp 120 watt; and Dokio 100 watt.
Both of these units are stored out of the sun except when camping. The Zamp is stored in it's Mfg. case. The Dokio is suitcase folded, not in a case.
During my last camping of the season last Summer I cleaned both using the same product I use to clean my RV windows.
I don't recall the exact numbers, but for both units, the amperage after just cleaning almost doubled, and they weren't real dirty. Most of the 'dirt' was just dust and dried rain drops (it sprinkled over night). There is no noticable sun-fogging on either unit.
I'll hazzard a guess that de-fogging a solar panel, which also removes the dirt, will more than double the amps out.
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McCormickJim
2017 GT 31L5
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01-09-2020, 03:29 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Escondido, CA
Posts: 817
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EdandShelley
In an earlier post, we discussed the challenge of flexible solar panels becoming hazy and impacting the performance. Did some research on headlight restoration products and found that Meguiars had excellent ratings so I tried it.
Was a simple two step process. Took about 20 minutes to do one panel. Takes a little elbow grease but worth the effort!
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Excellent, I will definitely give this a try, my solar has been dropping off steadily to where I am only getting 7.5 Amps with 400W of solar. All are flexible panels and look pretty hazy.
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2016 Dynamax Isata 3 24FW
2016 Jeep Willys JK
Yellow Lab Buddy Biscuit Eater
USN-RET/DOD-RET
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01-09-2020, 04:15 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Frisco, TX & Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 530
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Only one panel cleaned and it’s raining today and into early next week. Will report before and after once both are done.
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01-09-2020, 10:23 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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will be interesting to see how long it lasts. I could get around 6 months out of my headlights before they were completely fogged again. I ended up buying new headlight assemblies.
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01-10-2020, 05:52 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 482
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EdandShelley
In an earlier post, we discussed the challenge of flexible solar panels becoming hazy and impacting the performance. Did some research on headlight restoration products and found that Meguiars had excellent ratings so I tried it.
Was a simple two step process. Took about 20 minutes to do one panel. Takes a little elbow grease but worth the effort!
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Order placed yesterday, as my GoPower panels look exactly like your hazy one. It'll have to wait until spring though...
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Rich & Karen
West Michigan
Isata 3 24FW
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