Do Dust Storms and Lightning Ruin Rooftop Solar Panels? 4 Safety Checks for Homeowners Today
Learn how dust storms and lightning affect rooftop solar panels. Follow 4 safety checks to protect your solar system during extreme weather conditions.
As the pre-monsoon season begins, homeowners face increased risks from windstorms and lightning, which can leave them wondering how safe their solar systems will be during this time. Fortunately, today’s modern solar systems are built to be durable through the use of new technology that has been designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. While these technologies exist, extreme weather events can still adversely affect the overall performance of your solar system and can create damage to your electrical systems without enough protective measures in place.
1. Inspect Panels for Visible Damage
Search for:
– Any cracked or damaged panels;
– Any brackets which support the panel that are broken or loose;
– Panels that have no leg frame at all;
– Any grime or debris buildup on your panel(s).
2. Check for Excessive Dust Buildup
If your panels get a lot of dust it will cause:
– Your panel output to be diminished compared to normal;
– The temperature (heat) to be unevenly distributed from one location to another;
– The system in general to perform inefficiently.
3. Monitor Inverter Performance
Search for:
– Any error codes or messages;
– Any caution lights;
– Any sudden loss of potential to the inverter system;
– The output from your inverter being reduced overall.
4. Inspect Earthing and Surge Protection Systems
To be properly installed, a solar power system must include:
– An earthing system that complies with the installation standards.
– A surge protection device rated for proper service to the inverter.
– A lightning protection system that is proven to work effectively.
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Final Words
The dust storms or electrical storms will not completely break the rooftop solar system, but will reduce the ability for each to perform. With proper storm-proofing equipment through regular inspections, cleaning of dust, monitoring of inverters, and proper surge protection, homeowners can ensure their solar systems operate safely and efficiently even during storms.
FAQs
1) Dust storms will affect my solar output.
Yes, because dust on the panel will block sunlight and decrease the amount of power produced.
2) Are solar panels built to withstand harsh weather conditions?
Most solar panels today have been manufactured to withstand any extreme weather condition.
3) Will a lightning strike cause damage to my solar system?
An electrical surge that occurs from a nearby lightning strike has the potential to damage the inverters and wiring if proper surge protection is not provided to the systems.
4) How do you know when you should inspect your solar panels?
You should inspect your solar panels visually after any severe storms.
