Hailstones And Solar Panels

[Full Member]

I've seen on the BBC website that large hailstones are forecast for parts of the UK later this week.
I've experienced these lumps of ice in the past and feared for the Heiki rooflight.
Most of us use solar panels intended for use on houses or in solar farms, which presumably are designed to withstand impact from at least the more usual size of hailstone.
Do you have experience of using solar panels under hailstones?
Do you plan to protect your solar panel later this week?
Is your solar panel covered by your Moho insurance?

Colin ???

 

[edina]

I' ve seen a van that was given a very pleasing hammered effect by hailstones, but not heard of solar panels being damaged.

 

[nabsim]

Do you mean normal weather or freak conditions? If the later I have doubts for Casper’s ability to survive tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, I often lay awake at night worrying about these. Koff, Koff.

If you mean normal hail then unless someone bought those cheap indoor panels from Taiwan they should be okay. I think I read somewhere they were for outdoor all year use

Now you watch me be the first person in history to get their panels broken by hail ha ha.

Then again if if hasn’t happened yet the odds are shortening...





Edited to remove auto corrections that seem to appear between me typing and next reading a post

 

[Mick H]

As far as I know, the domestic ones, on a house, are no different to the ones fitted by motorhomers.
Our domestic solar system has withstood several hail storms, without any damage.
Whilst in Spain, earlier this year, we had a terrific hailstorm, which sounded horrendous. No damage was sustained, by any of the motohomes, as far as I know, although I feared that ours might be, my fears proved groundless.

 

[Full Member]

As far as I know, the domestic ones, on a house, are no different to the ones fitted by motorhomers.
Our domestic solar system has withstood several hail storms, without any damage.
Whilst in Spain, earlier this year, we had a terrific hailstorm, which sounded horrendous. No damage was sustained, by any of the motohomes, as far as I know, although I feared that ours might be, my fears proved groundless.

Thanks, Mick. That's really useful input.

Colin ???

 

[r4dent]

Experienced a severe hail stone storm a few years ago in France. At the time we had an A class with roof mounted solar. Our roof got a hammered finish. Some cars had windows; windscreens and lights smashed and body panels damaged. Awnings looked like some one had taken a Stanley knife to them. Every light bulb at the pool was smashed. Mayor declared a local state of emergency. Nobody had damage to their solar. But the next night everyone had blankets protecting their solar.

 

[Full Member]

Experienced a severe hail stone storm a few years ago in France. At the time we had an A class with roof mounted solar. Our roof got a hammered finish. Some cars had windows; windscreens and lights smashed and body panels damaged. Awnings looked like some one had taken a Stanley knife to them. Every light bulb at the pool was smashed. Mayor declared a local state of emergency. Nobody had damage to their solar. But the next night everyone had blankets protecting their solar.

Thanks, r4dent.
Presumably hence your moniker?

Colin ???

 

[Full Member]

I've been hailstone fact-finding in anticipation of the forecast for parts of the UK tomorrow.
The big brand solar panels (LG, Panasonic etc) are designed to survive spherical hail about 28mm diameter travelling at right angles to the panel.
The terminal velocity of such hail is about 25m/s (56mph).

The moral of this storey? Wear a hard hat tomorrow!

Colin ???