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Having a Solar System that Will Survive High Wind Hurricane Speeds

Ashleigh AngellSeptember 19, 2018 1082 0

Having a Solar System that Will Survive High Wind Hurricane Speeds

During a hurricane, the last thing you want is your solar system to go out. Or worse, be damaged. When you’re already dealing with the anxiety and unrest that comes with surviving a hurricane, the best thing you can do is have a solar system that will stay steadfast through the disaster. Peace of mind is always the most important thing when dealing with disaster, as keeping yourself calm, cool, and collected will make all the difference in the world when you rough out the storm. So, what can you do to keep your solar system protected?

High Wind Speeds are the Number One Thing to Prepare for in Hurricane Emergencies

For starters, implementing a system prepared for the high wind speeds of a hurricane is a must. Because of this, your system should be built to withstand speeds between 155 and 185 miles per hour. As some storms the past year have had winds of up to 180 mph, you should attempt to keep your system built to withstand the highest wind speeds possible.

Why Other Systems Have Failed Hurricane Disasters

There are similarities between many of the solar systems that failed during a hurricane disaster in the past. One of these was a module clamp failure, in which the clamps used were not strong enough to withstand the hurricane’s wind speed. Another was the size of the rack that was used to place down the solar panels - have a strong rack will ensure it stays in place during heavy winds. Systems that managed to survive the storms had their modules through-bolted. This means that they were placed without clamps, and instead had a strong bolt that passed through every layer, no matter how thick was, keeping it steady and secure during the turbulent weather.

Will These Upgrades Be Expensive?

You may be thinking that having these kinds of upgraded fail-safes in place will end up costing you more than it would before, and perhaps you’re worried that you won’t be able to afford the cost of keeping your panel secure. While they do require more cost in terms of the installation fee, as well as some extra metal costs, none of these costs are all that expensive. While it may seem like a lot to pay 5 percent extra in the present, the price of replacing your entire solar panel system will be much more. The return on the investment will mean you are saving a lot more in the long run than you would be spending if a natural disaster were to occur in your area.

How to Decide if You Need These Systems

Hurricanes aren’t the only natural disaster that causes high wind speeds, either. Things like tornadoes and earthquakes are just a couple more examples in a list of disasters that could mean the end for an ill-equipped solar panel system. While you may think that because you have no hurricanes in your area, you’re safe from these additional costs, you should also put into consideration all the elements that could bring down your solar panel system and shorten its lifespan. Make sure to research all the disasters that are likely to occur in your area, and from there, you can make an educated and logical decision on whether or not these additional measures are appropriate for your solar panel system.

Want to become even more knowledgeable on your system and whether or not you should apply new tips to your solar lifestyle? Visit the HahaSmart blog to learn even more!

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