Perspex cover over solar panel

Firstly, I wouldn't use perspex- I'd prefer you use polycarbonate.
Secondly, how long is it going to be clean & clear??
Cheers

You should have no problems. If you do not have a good dust seal between the panel and cover then you will need to be able to disassemble for cleaning.

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Yakodi,

I am not sure but what you could do as an experiment if you have a small piece of perspex is cover the remaining solar power, measure your voltage (with a multimeter for better accuracy) then place the perspex on and re-measure. This should give you the voltage drop for that area. From there a simple calculation as a ratio to work out the total voltage drop for the entire solar panel. Alternatively, you could just make up a quick release perspex cover for use whilst you're travelling and then take it off whilst at camp. I dunno, just some random thoughts spilling out while I type.


Broe

Is heat build up going to be an issue?
cheers

Mr Yakodi,

You would be better off getting a soft cover for it, that would keep it clean and working at max efficiency. Your perspex cover will get very dirty on both sides.

Willie.

Thanks for your response.
The cover will be only in place when driving to and from camp. Not permanently mounted.
Easily removed for cleaning with quick release clips.
Rubber mounted.
?Heat may become an issue?? not sure.
Was hoping that if any type of cover was being used then a clear cover would have the benefits of both protecting the panel and charging battery in the camper..

Thanks Tony, would like to put it up on the roof, where it used to be - but our new car is going remain rackless. The camper trailer we are building up has a family roof top tent with little room up top for anything else, therefore a panel on one of the spacecases up front will have to do. Thanks

The problem with extra covering is that unless you get something that is guaranteed UV transparent you will degrade the performance of your panel. When I first installed solar, the Solarex Oz reps told us not to put anything over them. At that time there were only two glass manufacturers that were producing glass for solar panels. A lot of the energy is produced from the UV spectrum, if the cover is not UV transparent you will loose a considerable amount of your output.

PeterD

I thought these panels were made with toughened glass and will withstand severe impact I Googled "solar panels and hail damage" and it seems they can withstand fairly sizeable hail stones hitting full on without damage. The resistance to damage is increased with glancing impacts.

Hope this site helps.

www.azocleantech.com/Details.asp?ARTICLEId=154

I'm not sure whether the impact from a random rock or stone bouncing off the A-frame or passing road train is comparable to a hail storm?? But, windscreens crack, cars and trailers get hammered by stones, and most of the roads out of Alice Springs tend to start with a corrugated dirt road.

Hi All,
You will defintely have no problem placing a perspex cover over a solar panel.
I damaged a solar panel (tried to drill a hole in the glass) and consequently it bleep tered so I placed a perspex cover over it ( a permanet fixture) and placed it on roof rack bars on my Cruiser.
It worked fine for a couple of years generating 3amps instead of its usual 4 amps until I replaced it.
Old Greasy