Joining the Renewable Heating Hub forums is completely free and only takes a minute. By registering you’ll be able to ask questions, join discussions, follow topics you’re interested in, bookmark useful threads and receive notifications when someone replies. Non-registered members also do not have access to our AI features. When choosing your username, please note that it cannot be changed later, so we recommend avoiding brand or product names. Before registering, please take a moment to read the Forum Rules & Terms of Use so we can keep the community helpful, respectful and informative for everyone. Thanks for joining!
Shocks when cleaning panels
I read that some folk are getting shocks when cleaning panels. I intend to fit more panels next year on my garage roof which is steel clad and don’t want fried .
is this possible to get shocked, what causes it and how do we prevent it
Is the source verified or is it fake news put about by fossil fuel supporters?
To get a shock you would need to come in contact with the electricity. I suppose this could in principle happen if there is a faulty connector and water got in, but connectors are normally underneath the panels. If your steel clad garage roof is earthed, that would give an additional level of protection.
It seems highly unlikely with an installation that has been correctly done. Of course highly unlikely events do very, very occasionally happen, but if we avoid them entirely then it's impossible to live in any meaningful way.
That said I wouldn't clean solar panels when it's really sunny, but mainly because they will be hot so the water won't wet well.
4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.
I do know that a neighbour had moss cleaned off their roof by a company using a pressure washer and the guy on the hose got zapped when the mist/spray crossed the solar panels. They had to isolate the panels to finish the job. Don't ask me what the science is!
Posted by: @abernyteI do know that a neighbour had moss cleaned off their roof by a company using a pressure washer and the guy on the hose got zapped when the mist/spray crossed the solar panels. They had to isolate the panels to finish the job. Don't ask me what the science is!
That's plausible imho. A pressure washer might well penetrate the seal on a connector. I use a hose and broom and avoid getting water underneath where the connectors are.
I don't know what effect isolating the panels has, hopefully someone else here does.
4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.
Posted by: @david999Posted by: @jamespa[quote data-userid="5915" data-postid="37510"
I read that some folk are getting shocks when cleaning panels. I intend to fit more panels next year on my garage roof which is steel clad and don’t want fried .
is this possible to get shocked, what causes it and how do we prevent it
Is the source verified or is it fake news put about by fossil fuel supporters?
To get a shock you would need to come in contact with the electricity. I suppose this could in principle happen if there is a faulty connector and water got in, but connectors are normally underneath the panels. If your steel clad garage roof is earthed, that would give an additional level of protection.
It seems highly unlikely with an installation that has been correctly done. Of course highly unlikely events do very, very occasionally happen, but if we avoid them entirely then it's impossible to live in any meaningful way.
That said I wouldn't clean solar panels when it's really sunny, but mainly because they will be hot so the water won't wet well.
genuine the frame was live, meter on it
genuine the frame was live, meter on itPosted by: @david999Posted by: @david999Posted by: @jamespa[quote data-userid="5915" data-postid="37510"
I read that some folk are getting shocks when cleaning panels. I intend to fit more panels next year on my garage roof which is steel clad and don’t want fried .
is this possible to get shocked, what causes it and how do we prevent it
Is the source verified or is it fake news put about by fossil fuel supporters?
To get a shock you would need to come in contact with the electricity. I suppose this could in principle happen if there is a faulty connector and water got in, but connectors are normally underneath the panels. If your steel clad garage roof is earthed, that would give an additional level of protection.
It seems highly unlikely with an installation that has been correctly done. Of course highly unlikely events do very, very occasionally happen, but if we avoid them entirely then it's impossible to live in any meaningful way.
That said I wouldn't clean solar panels when it's really sunny, but mainly because they will be hot so the water won't wet well.
Live AC or live DC? not that either should happen!
4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.
Posted by: @jamespagenuine the frame was live, meter on itPosted by: @david999Posted by: @david999Posted by: @jamespa[quote data-userid="5915" data-postid="37510"
I read that some folk are getting shocks when cleaning panels. I intend to fit more panels next year on my garage roof which is steel clad and don’t want fried .
is this possible to get shocked, what causes it and how do we prevent it
Is the source verified or is it fake news put about by fossil fuel supporters?
To get a shock you would need to come in contact with the electricity. I suppose this could in principle happen if there is a faulty connector and water got in, but connectors are normally underneath the panels. If your steel clad garage roof is earthed, that would give an additional level of protection.
It seems highly unlikely with an installation that has been correctly done. Of course highly unlikely events do very, very occasionally happen, but if we avoid them entirely then it's impossible to live in any meaningful way.
That said I wouldn't clean solar panels when it's really sunny, but mainly because they will be hot so the water won't wet well.
Live AC or live DC? not that either should happen!
its mark the sparky on utube and it was 122v ac
Interesting
There is a discussion about this here https://engx.theiet.org/f/wiring-and-regulations/29228/solar-array---grounding and the discussion is consistent with the measured AC potential.
Since it's the IET it's probably trustworthy. If it's true then the guidance has changed but tingling short of a shock is not unexpected. The danger appears to be falling as a result of the surprise not electrocution, but that's no better.
If this is correct it should perhaps be better publicised so there is no surprise
4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.
- 27 Forums
- 2,766 Topics
- 65.1 K Posts
- 1,892 Online
- 7,169 Members
Join Us!
Installer Finder
Degrees of Separation
Latest Posts
-
RE: Next steps on my ASHP journey: Radiators and Pipework
TBH I dont understand how that works. Ultimately all th...
By JamesPa , 8 minutes ago
-
Sorry to hear about the problems, its going to be somet...
By JamesPa , 42 minutes ago
-
RE: Daikin ESPAltherma and Home Assistant installation
It's laziness lol The PV system is very chatty, meter...
By bobflux , 13 hours ago
-
RE: Problems with sizing a replacement for a Viessmann Vitocal 200-S
R (The R Project for Statistical Computing, I use it wi...
By cathodeRay , 15 hours ago
-
RE: Vaillant Arotherm Plus 7KW need a service on it
booked it with Vaillant. will use them until i can find...
By AdamK , 16 hours ago
-
We have electric underfloor heating in our reasonably l...
By Bash , 19 hours ago
-
RE: Adventures in heat loss calculations
I have seen it stated that the declared calorific value...
By JamesPa , 21 hours ago
-
RE: Siting of the external sensor on a heatpump
Here's my heat pump running with a steady mildish 'OAT'...
By cathodeRay , 22 hours ago
-
RE: Two heating zones to one zone
@transparent Many thanks. The garage is fairly well ...
By Profzarkov , 2 days ago
-
RE: Vaillant Aurotherm - Heater Wire Position
Ah, good point. I need to check if this was installed i...
By Batpred , 2 days ago
-
@batpred thanks for getting a copy. Appreciate the supp...
By Mars , 2 days ago
-
RE: Tell us about your Solar (PV) setup
We have a 6.56kW solar PV system (16x 410W panels) inst...
By Rob of York , 3 days ago
-
RE: Where heat loss surveys seem to go against practical reality
@cathoderay @jamespa I've managed to get some nice re...
By Rob of York , 4 days ago
-
RE: 7kW EV Charger Options Advice
Doh, not sure that I was thinking straight there, less ...
By Rusty , 4 days ago




