Stupid Question?

[EdRedBird]

So... Last night I parked under a tree and the local crow population decided to help the new tennant below by doing a class-A plastering job on the windscreen... Really looking forward to cleaning that up come lunchtime.....

But what is the effect of birt shite on your solar panel (I hve not got one yet)
OK I coul try to avoid parking under a tree...but I do like seaside as well and the avarage B52 Gull that we have here .....avarages out at half a dozen crows

I believe the panels get hot... does it bake off?
Or does it even cause heat conduction issues?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Bird droppings do tend to bake on a bit to solar panels and best to remove asap as they will reduce the output quite a bit. As the panels are covered in glass the droppings don't cause any other issues ,but are a pain to get off similar to your windscreen ,but more so because they are not easily reached.
Best not to park under trees anyway as they wil also block your solar output.

 

[Nanniemate]

No stupid interesting , I would say wash it off ASAP to avoid it drying and being hard work .as for damaging it unless they are pooing rocks I would think not .have fun

 

[EdRedBird]

Jimbohorlicks Nanniemate
As its a pain to get up there...and I am now on my second coffee...... would there be something you can do with clingfilm or a similar product... I dont want that to melt onto the panel but removing and reapplying a sheet of plastic seens more pleasant than scraping.
A quick google shows you can lose 10% by adding a sheetof plastic on top but that could be compensated by having a larger or more panels .

Envo friendly ... a hard sheet of plastic tied down with guitar case clips ...easily removable and cleanable
Or a domestic version of Iron Dome mounted on the roof?

 

[peterc10]

Not just bird shit that will reduce the panels output. In drier weather the rain when it comes is often mixed with dust and leaves a residue all over the panels. And then there is tree sap as well.

On our first motorhome we put our two panels either side of a large opening rooflight. That enabled us to get our head and shoulders out to clean the panels from the inside. On the motorhome we have now the rooflights do not open completely so we cannot get our head or shoulders out. So we bought an aluminium telescopic ladder to reach the panels and clean the muck off. I try to do it once a week when we are touring. But we were lucky because we had the space and payload to store the ladder.

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[Minxy]

Can you reach them via a skylight? If so then a mop/long handled squeegee would probably be the best bet for cleaning them, I wouldn't put a covering on as then you've got the issue of losing input, making it secure enough so it can't come away or 'flutter' in the wind, and if you're in a particular area where you get droppings a lot you'd be doing it every day.

 

[gus-lopez]

But what is the effect of birt shite on your solar panel (I hve not got one yet)

same as dust . cuts output. Here where I live they need cleaning at least twice a week. I was quite amazed when in the Uk for 2 months how little dirt/dust/muck got on the panels? i only ever wiped them twice

 

[dabhand]

Acid (from the poo) is more of an issue on the bodywork

 

[Nanniemate]

Wash mine twice a year balancing on a rather rickety ladder no fun too mean to by a new safer one but at Malvern show so you never know

 

[rf9ridrer]

same as dust . cuts output. Here where I live they need cleaning at least twice a week. I was quite amazed when in the Uk for 2 months how little dirt/dust/muck got on the panels? i only ever wiped them twice

Even worse when its the dreaded red dust!

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[Lenny HB]

Bird poo is not going to harm the panels but a big dolop on a panel you could lose all the output from that panel. Don't normally get much bird poo on ours mainly dust & sand especially when in Spain.
Like Peter we carry a telescopic ladder.