Thread: Panel efficiency experiment

Originally Posted by drivesafe

I have always been of the belief that in a mobile situation, ( where possible ) simply increasing the solar panel size gets around the messing around of lots of work for a small gain!

But for a static setup, this is interesting!

Yep, if you have the real estate for an extra panel or two, chuck them on - I have overkilled the last 2 installations - my Van and Motorhome - panels are cheap and even when I give the batteries a hard time or it's overcast they always charge up the next day - usually before lunch, so a decrease in performance on hot days is never an issue.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Thanks JayTee, that was a truely interesting video.

Some 15 odd years ago, a company I use to deal with, imported some special solar panels from Turkey.

These panels had tubing fixed to the back of the solar panels ( like the info in that video ) but while the tubing was intended to cool the solar panel but the water was intended to be used in a domestic hot water system.

I have demonstrated, on numerous occasions, how just pouring cold water over a hot solar panel increases to output substantially, to most observers disbelief.

I have never considered or heard of using air flow to cool a solar panel.

If I ever get some spare time, I must try out his experiment.

Originally Posted by p38arover

Yes, I tested this on my home solar panels. The output definitely rose.

What was the ambient air temperature when you did this gents? TIA.

Originally Posted by Narangga

What was the ambient air temperature when you did this gents? TIA.

It does not matter what the temperature is, as long as the sun has had a chance to warm up the solar panel.

But the hotter the day, the bigger the current rise is when you cool the panel down.

I have not done this for some time but from memory, I think there was at least a 20% increase in current output on a good hot day.

What about setting up a simple misting spray using garden watering components. ?

Water cost will quickly exceed payback benefit if using mains supply.

Also, build up on the panels from minerals in the water doesn’t take long to further decrease panel output.

Better off just keeping the panels clean, I get ours done by a young lad every couple of months for a few $.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

It does not matter what the temperature is, as long as the sun has had a chance to warm up the solar panel.

But the hotter the day, the bigger the current rise is when you cool the panel down.

I have not done this for some time but from memory, I think there was at least a 20% increase in current output on a good hot day.

Thanks Tim and exactly what I thought.

Best generation here is August before the temperature heats up in September and October.

Do you reckon putting them in the shade would help?