Solar racking is the “frame” of the solar power system, and its durability will directly affect the power generation efficiency of the entire power plant as well as the return on investment. Many users want to know: a set of solar racking in the end can be used how much? In fact, the design life of qualified racking is usually 20-25 years, but the actual service life depends largely on routine maintenance. Next we will share 5 simple and practical maintenance tips to make your solar racking last longer.
1. Check the fasteners regularly
It is most likely to be affected by the environment and loosened, it is recommended to check all the connecting parts once every six months, especially after heavy wind or rainstorm. Loose fasteners should be tightened in time. If you find badly rusted bolts you must need to replace them in time. A tip: you can apply anti-loosening glue on the bolts in order to effectively prevent natural loosening.
2. Rust prevention treatment
Even galvanized iron or aluminum alloy bracket, long-term exposure to the outdoors will appear surface oxidation. Every year before the rainy season, you can use a soft cloth to clean the surface of the bracket, discover the place with paint or rust spots, first use sandpaper to polish and then make up for the anti-rust paint. Especially the welding and connection parts, these places are most likely to accumulate rainwater leading to rust. Coastal areas are recommended to choose 316 stainless steel fasteners, better corrosion resistance.
3. Keep the stent fresh and dry
Stent surface accumulation of dust, feces and other debris not only affects heat dissipation, but also accelerate corrosion. Simply clean the stent every 2-3 months, especially the stent beam below the component. If water is found in the bracket, reduce the appropriate drainage holes. Snowy areas in winter should be cleared of excessive snow in a timely manner to avoid excessive weight of the bracket.
4.Reinforcement of windproof method
Windy bracket is the biggest “enemy”. When installing in windy areas, make sure the foundation is strong enough, and the thickness of concrete should be below the frozen ground level. Usually check whether the diagonal brace is intact, if necessary, can increase the wind. If you find a slight deformation of the support, you should immediately find a professional to correct it to avoid the problem from expanding.
5. Regular professional inspection
In addition to the usual self-inspection, it is basically recommended to ask professional technicians to do a comprehensive inspection every 2 to 3 years. They will use professional instruments to check the verticality and horizontality of the bracket, test the tensile strength of the key parts, and find out the situation that is difficult to be noticed by naked eyes in time. This kind of professional testing is very necessary for partners who have used the racking for more than 10 years.
Remember, the maintenance cost of solar racking is actually very low, but the benefits are substantial. Regular maintenance according to these 5 methods will not only make it easy to use the full 25-year design life, but also make the whole solar system generate electricity more smoothly. After all, the racking only accounts for about 10% of the cost of the entire system, spend a little effort to maintain, in exchange for decades of stable income, this account how to calculate a good deal!
