Bmg rake/broom

[Jasonk]

I'm curious how many people have these and looking for some feedback....we have been snow blowing out some solar fields with our track loaders to make room for laborors to then come through and snow rake off the panels......the raking is very time consuming.........I'm thinking about mounting a broom (like the bmg or similar) onto my mini excavator and using it to rake the panels off. Looking online it says the tines are a steel composite? How aggressive are these? Feedback is appreciated.

 

[CreTree]

No way. All the panels I have experience with would be junk after two storms. These are Steel tines like a street sweeper. You'd be better off with something like this...
http://www.buffaloturbine.com/hydraulic.htm

 

[Jasonk]

No way. All the panels I have experience with would be junk after two storms. These are Steel tines like a street sweeper. You'd be better off with something like this...
http://www.buffaloturbine.com/hydraulic.htm

That is bad ass! Have you ever run one? Any idea of cost?

 

[CreTree]

Not sure on that model. I've run the ride on models and they go about 6G and up. They will blow you over without a problem.

 

[Jasonk]

Not sure on that model. I've run the ride on models and they go about 6G and up. They will blow you over without a problem.

So it could easily take a couple ft off of a panel

 

[Jasonk]

So it could easily take a couple ft off of a panel

Ft of snow that is....

 

[CreTree]

I would think so, but do your homework. There are several manufacturers. Debris blowers.

 

[climbhightree]

I'm curious how many people have these and looking for some feedback....we have been snow blowing out some solar fields with our track loaders to make room for laborors to then come through and snow rake off the panels......the raking is very time consuming.........I'm thinking about mounting a broom (like the bmg or similar) onto my mini excavator and using it to rake the panels off. Looking online it says the tines are a steel composite? How aggressive are these? Feedback is appreciated.

I definitely wouldn't use the bmg rake for that. The steel tines scratch treated lumber, and walk pavers.

Possibly a soft bristle street cleaner broom. But I've never used one of those, so not sure how stiff they are.

 

[Lumberjack]

Yeah I sell Branch Manager attachments, no way I would put them on a solar panel. My first guess was a poly street sweeper attachment on the excavator. If the blower would work, that would be better.

 

[Jasonk]

Have a call in to the blower company. I also found a softer bristle broom to attach if need be. Thanks for the help!

 

[AxeTree]

Look into united rotory brush they make poly bristles

 

[Tom Dunlap]

The first person that I would talk to would be the engineer or technician with the company that services or builds the solar panels.

Even using air might hammer and damage the panels.

 

[Jonatha P.]

Having worked installing solar panels for awhile before working in PHC, any amount of weight placed in a specific spot like like walking on a panel or such. Reduces the panels efficiency in that spot by about 15% each time. Just something to think about.