To continue this, solar panel maintenance is crucial to avoid efficiency loss & sudden breakdowns.
Ignoring solar panel servicing can lead to:
10% to 20% drop in power generation
Faster equipment damage or malfunction
Safety concerns, such as electrical faults
Hence, it’s important to create a solar panel maintenance checklist to help you with:
Maintaining peak system efficiency
Identifying issues at an early stage
Following the manufacturer’s & warranty requirements
Improving your ROI
Let’s go through this comprehensive solar panel maintenance checklist that will help you get the best out of your solar plant.
Visual Inspections and Cleaning
Solar panels are continuously exposed to the environment, making them prone to dust, bird droppings, etc., that can form a layer over the panel and affect its performance.
Cleaning frequency for panels:
Urban areas: once a month
Rural or duty areas: after every 10 to 15 days
Coastal areas: regular cleaning to avoid salt buildup
Monsoon season: post rain or storms
Taypro’s automatic solar panel cleaning system schedules frequent cleaning of the solar panels to maintain the plant’s efficiency.
Now, let’s have a look at the cleaning techniques to be followed:
Use a soft cloth or sponge to avoid dents.
Avoiding harsh chemicals or detergent powders
Use purified water to avoid stains
Avoid high-pressure water sprays & hard brushes.
Regular cleaning is the most efficient method for solar panel maintenance. For larger plants, you can opt for a solar panel cleaning service to gently clean the solar panels.
Along with regular cleaning, a simple inspection of your setup is necessary. These inspections should follow:
Inspect for cracks on the panel’s glass
Checking for rust or damage in the frame & mounting structure
Look for leaves, animal nests, bird droppings & debris on the panel
Even the slightest shadow can reduce the performance of your solar panel. Here are a few things that can cast shadows on your panel:
Overgrown trees
New nearby buildings & infrastructures
Poles, wires or antennas around the plant.
Visual inspection & regular cleaning are the most effective aspects of solar panel maintenance.
Electrical System Checks
Loose or damaged wires are a major safety hazard, and they may lead to a loss of energy. So always inspect these things:
Loose cable connections
Burnt or blackened wires
Chewed wires by rodents like rats
Corrosion at important touchpoints
The inverter is the most important part of solar energy generation as it converts the absorbed sunlight from the panels into usable electricity. Inverter failure leads to the entire system shutting down; hence, check for:
Clean & dust-free surfaces
Adequate ventilation & no overheating
Error messages or red lights
Unusual sounds or flickering displays
Maintaining the BOS (Balance of system) is essential as it includes the fuses, switches, junction boxes & breakers. Hence, check these things always:
Tight cable connections
No signs of moisture or rust
Proper labelling & safety signs
To protect your solar plant from lightning or power surges, a good grounding system is required. You should necessarily check:
Ground wiring is intact & secure
No signs of rust or corrosion
Surge protectors are working properly in order
To prevent electrical system failure, regular solar panel servicing is essential.
Monitoring & Performance
The solar system’s dashboard or mobile app will allow you to check:
Daily, monthly & weekly energy output
Past performance comparisons
Sudden drops or irregular patterns
Recordkeeping by maintaining a regular logbook or digital file will help you track:
Panel cleaning dates
Inspection results
Repairs & servicing visits
Performance reports
Along with regular personal checks, it’s important to schedule a yearly professional maintenance service for:
Testing electric safety
Finding hotspots through thermal cameras
Check the inverter & battery’s performance
Several solar maintenance servicing packages are offered at affordable prices to help keep your system in optimal condition.
Additional Checks
If your solar energy setup is mounted on the rooftop, then:
Inspect water leaks & cracks
Ensure panels aren’t loosened or damaged
Look for plant or moss growth
The panels are mounted on metal or aluminium frames. Hence, check for:
Rust or peeling paint
Loose bolts or fasteners
Structural cracks
In a combiner box, multiple panel outputs are combined. So make sure:
All electric terminals are tight
Every label is visible
No moisture or dirt inside the box
If you are using a hybrid or off-grid setup, check these things in your solar charge controllers:
Charging status
Temperature indicators
Overloading or error warnings
For the nighttime, the power is backed up by the batteries. So, maintain them by:
Load testing
Checking for rust or white deposits on terminals
Refill water in lead-acid batteries
Keeping them in a cool & dry place
These additional checks are an important aspect of the solar maintenance checklist.
Repairs & Replacements
Act immediately if you see such warning signs:
Reduced power output
Inverter error messages
Unusual noises or smells
Panel discolouration or hotspots
Solar panels have a performance warranty of almost 20 to 25 years, and other parts such as inverters & batteries have a 5 to 10 year warranty.
To protect your warranty, you should:
Keep maintenance records
Call authorised technicians
Follow all the recommended servicing schedule
Many brands clearly state that to maintain the warranty eligibility, solar panel servicing must be regularly done. Skipping this will result in rejected claims.
Conclusion
Consistent time and attention every month will help increase your solar plant’s lifespan.
Here’s a final recap of the solar panel maintenance checklist:
Regular cleaning of panels
Performing visual inspections for damage
Checking all electric connections & inverters
Tracking the system’s performance with monitoring tools
Scheduling a professional checkup once a year
Keeping a record of all the maintenance activities
Act fast towards faults
Following all the servicing & warranty guidelines
Proper solar panel maintenance will not only increase your panel’s lifespan but also increase the ROI & energy production significantly.
FAQs
How often should we clean a solar panel?
In urban areas, once every month and in rural or dusty zones, clean your panels every 10 to 15 days.
What is the importance of solar panel maintenance?
Regular solar panel maintenance keeps your panel efficient, extends its lifespan and helps in avoiding expensive repairs.
How to maintain solar panels?
By keeping a solar panel maintenance checklist including cleaning, visual checkups, wiring inspections, inverter testing, & performance monitoring,
Is professional solar panel servicing important?
Yes. Schedule a professional solar panel servicing at least once a year.
Does solar panel maintenance affect the warranty?
If you skip the regular maintenance, it can affect the warranty.
What are the signs that show a solar plant needs servicing?
Signs such as low power output, inverter errors, unusual noises, or visible damage indicate the need for solar plant servicing.
How to monitor solar panel performance?
To maintain the solar panel performance, use the system’s dashboard & mobile app.
Can we self-clean solar panels?
Yes. You can personally clean solar panels using a soft cloth or sponge with clean water. Avoid harsh chemicals & detergents, and use a solar panel cleaning service for large-scale solar power plants.