Re: [EE] How to stop frost from accumulating on solar panels?

"...trying to make digital files uncopyable is like trying to make water not wet."
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On Monday, November 18th, 2024 at 3:05 PM, Dwayne Reid <[email protected]> wrote:

> Good day to all.
> 
> I am putting together a tiny solar panel array in my backyard. This
> is a small array of 7 panels installed at ground level on simple
> triangular frames made from pressure-treated 2x4 lumber.
> 
> FWIW - I am in Edmonton AB Canada and my buddy Tom says the best
> angle for the solar panels for our latitude is 28 degrees from vertical.
> 
> Anyway - Tom and I finished assembling the panels to the frames
> yesterday evening. There was still a tiny bit of daylight left and
> my trusty Fluke meter says the panels are putting out a whopping 30mA
> short-circuit current (each) at about 18 Vdc open-circuit.
> 
> Better this morning shortly after 9:00 AM - about 500mA short-circuit
> current (each) on average.
> 
> But all of the panels were covered with a thick layer of frost. Not
> ice, not snow. Just frost.
> 
> I recall reading somewhere there was a simple spray that can be
> applied to the panels to reduce or eliminate the formation of
> frost. Can anyone suggest what that might be?
> 
> Also FWIW - my array consists of 4- Coleman 150W panels and 3- Sharp
> 130W panels. Almost 1 KW total - in ideal conditions, of
> course. Winter in Northern Alberta is definitely NOT ideal conditions!
> 

Probably a silicone (or flourocarbon) water proofing spray.  I'm curios what's best as I hope to set up  some solar next spring.  Mostly for backup but it's nice if backup works when you need it!