Noob solar job - tools required

[DeLaCruz]

Just offered a job cleaning solar panels on a roof with a 5m gutter height and 30 degree pitch. The panels are 4m long on the roof. I currently have a 35ft pole and also a Gardiner extra long 55degree 35-47” gooseneck adapter - any ideas on this being able to reach a job like this ? What do solar panel specialists use for these kind of roofs ? Also will I need specialist brush for the job (have a bunch of diffident wfp brushes fwiw) ? Thirdly is there any risk accessment required in cleaning panels on a small house ️️️? 

Any links to any high rated solar

panel cleaning articles / videos would be greatly appreciated- thanks in advance and apologies if these questions are covered already 

 

[Iron Giant]

@Pjj might be your man 

 

[Pjj]

Trying to post in writing how to do this would be a bit long winded if @DeLaCruz wants to pm me or give me a ring Ime quite happy to try and help , he has pm me before . @Iron Giant

 

[DeLaCruz]

Trying to post in writing how to do this would be a bit long winded if @DeLaCruz wants to pm me or give me a ring Ime quite happy to try and help , he has pm me before . @Iron Giant

Thanks a lot @Pjj at school today but will give you a shout later on - thanks a lot for the offer 

 

[DeLaCruz]

Have a question on pole size required for this job - I took a pic this morning and added it below - currently have Slx 35 pole and also a 72” carbon gooseneck - pretty sure I’ll be needing an extension though. Can any experienced cleaners judge whether a 45’ pole would be sufficient for this kind of job ? I guessed the flats to be bout 18ft high to the gutters - the panels are on a 30degree pitch roof and I estimated that to be 18ft - trying to work out what extensions I’ll need - did soem

gcse math but it’s tough to estimate how far back I will need to stand from the house to reach the panels - any help would be welcome thanks in advance 

 

[Part Timer]

I did one very similar a few months ago, I'm 6'5" and couldn't quite reach with my 27. The 47 reached comfortably. The 35 shouldn't be far away, especially with the gooseneck on. Can you not measure up. 

 

[DeLaCruz]

I did one very similar a few months ago, I'm 6'5" and couldn't quite reach with my 27. The 47 reached comfortably. The 35 shouldn't be far away, especially with the gooseneck on. Can you not measure up. 

Thr job involves access to the back garden so haven’t had a chance to measure it up unfortunately- was thinking of just going around the front and doing it that way but also felt it looks a little unprofessional - I guess not as much as turning up and not having the equipment to complete the clean though ?

 

[Pjj]

35 should do that ok , 45 will have sections of the pole to spare and be stiffer we dont extend the top 

 section of the pole this makes it a lot stiffer and helps prevent the pole hitting the gutters when cleaning the panels 

 

[DeLaCruz]

Nice one guys thanks for all the feedback on this one - yeah i actually setup my pole and ran a test on a friends property that is the same kind of size - with the 47" gooseneck + 35' pole at full extension it was a nice setup and just cleared the gutters - i expect when the brush rests on top of the actual raised solar panels it will be a nice size clearance on the gutters allowing a smooth clean. Will  snap a picture and post it on Friday if i can