Are Solar Panels Susceptible To Hail Damage

With hail season in full swing protect your solar panels from hail damage to keep their energy supply in working condition.

Are solar panels susceptible to hail damage.

Unusually large hail storms can indeed damage solar panels but solar panels are designed and engineered to generally withstand hail the size of golf balls or smaller. However just like your car windscreen can sometimes get damaged by extreme hail the same can happen to your panels. Solar panels are designed to withstand weather including hail and thunderstorms. Water damage can also occur when the seals on the panels deteriorate as the panels age.

Poor quality solar panels are particularly susceptible to damage. In order for a solar panel to be approved by the california energy commission there are a number of certification tests that it must pass. Solar panel manufacturers test their products to ensure that they are capable of withstanding hail storms. In most cases solar panels are tested and certified to withstand hail of up to 25 mm one inch falling at 23 meters per second approximately 50 miles per hour.

Solar panels and hail damage can happen in the blink of an eye. Solar panels and hail. Although made from laminated glass hail falling between 30 100km is hard to withstand. We take our high speed camera to the westpak testing facility where we fire balls of ice at different velocit.

This can result in shattering of the panels or even micro cracks. How much hail damage can a solar panel endure. Solar panels are made with very durable tempered glass that is impact tested to withstand strikes of greater than 50 miles per hour. As we mentioned earlier solar panels are also very susceptible to water damage in the event that the panels are scratched or chipped.

But if you live in an area where large hail is common there are a few things you can do to minimize your risk. Hail tests and certifications for solar panels. Solar panels are strong enough to resist damage from most hail.