Ready for snow?

[wallfish 19,419]

1 hour ago, Sparky said:

This fall was a new roof, then 15 solar panels…and then a thick coating of snow that ceased all power production

We have the technology to put a man on the moon but apparently there's a problem to add heat de-ice to solar panels to keep them clear. 

[Handy Don 16,047]

1 minute ago, wallfish said:

We have the technology to put a man on the moon but apparently there's a problem to add heat de-ice to solar panels to keep them clear. 

The technology DOES exist. Not economically justifiable for many situations--melting 10” of snow off a panel would take more energy than the panel can generate in days.

Mechanical stuff used very infrequently in widely varying conditions? Well we all know that story. 

[wallfish 19,419]

59 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

The technology DOES exist. Not economically justifiable for many situations--melting 10” of snow off a panel would take more energy than the panel can generate in days.

Mechanical stuff used very infrequently in widely varying conditions? Well we all know that story. 

I know it exists. Heat cords would work.

We can put a man on the moon (50 years ago) but can't come up with a simple way to economically keep a solar panel clear of snow.

Solar hot water heaters are supposed to work in the winter too so maybe incorporating something like that into them???? It only needs to be 35-40 degrees ?? to continue the melt

A simple "swipe" type mechanism running with a low voltage gear motor wouldn't be to complicated and low on energy

Edited March 1 by wallfish

[cleat 8,793]

We got a few more inches last night.

I hope it will warm up and melt some in the next few days. 

 

[Wayne0 1,532]

3 minutes ago, cleat said:

We got a few more inches last night.

I hope it will warm up and melt some in the next few days. 

 

Same here. Mother Nature can be cruel!

[ebinmaine 77,618]

[ebinmaine 77,618]

Brunswick Maine this morning. Quite a solid little snow clipper came through.

 

 

[Racinbob 12,820]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

Brunswick Maine this morning. Quite a solid little snow clipper came through.

 

 

 

num nums, maple syrup right?

[ebinmaine 77,618]

3 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

 

num nums, maple syrup right?

Absolutely! 

[Ed Kennell 45,117]

Seems a bit early for the sap to run.   We seldom see buckets here in the PeeAaa.   Mostly nylon tubing directly to a SST tank.

[ebinmaine 77,618]

12 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Seems a bit early for the sap to run.   

 

 

Our syrup season is anywhere from February first to late March. 

Here in Maine we have Maple Syrup Sunday. Third Sunday on March. 

Almost always still sap running but near the tail end.  

12 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

We seldom see buckets here in the PeeAaa.   Mostly nylon tubing directly to a SST tank.

Same here.  

[Ed Kennell 45,117]

Our Pa. maple festival is held the last half of April in Meyersdale, Pa.    This is my home town High School.    We get the best sap run when we have cold nights (below 25*) and warm days (above 40*).

https://www.pamaplefestival.com/

[Treepep 1,075]

I am picking asparagus, parsley and broccoli is about there.  Getting to warm for the lettuce despite the near freezing nights.  Another few weeks

 

for good peas n beets.  does that count in a snow thread 

 

 No thank you with the four letter word  Keep at it guys