No, you should not walk on solar panels.
If you are thinking about walking on solar panels, stop what you are doing and listen up.
You might have read a lot of waffle on the subject with people saying ‘Yes, you can walk on solar panels but it’s a bad idea’ or ‘it depends’.
The cold hard truth is that you shouldn’t walk on a normal solar panel.
It is highly likely you will cause damage and reduce its performance significantly over time.
If you’re still not convinced, then don’t go looking for someone to tell you it is fine to do.
Instead, stick with me.
Together we’ll go through what happens when you walk on a solar panel, the risks involved, and the exception to the rule.
What Happens If You Walk on Solar Panels?
To help you understand why it is a bad idea to start walking on your solar panels, let’s look at what exactly happens under the weight of a human foot.
The average human footstep creates around 100lbs of pressure in a small pronounced area.
Do you remember at school when you learned about spreading your weight? For example, on thin ice, it’s better to lie down and spread your weight rather than standing upright.
So when you walk on a solar panel you are putting the full weight of your body through a single foot. This pressure can start to cause cracks and damage the solar cells. And both of these results will immediately reduce performance and reduce the lifespan of your panel for years to come.
Let’s face it, solar panels are the most expensive part of a solar system, and they should last you for decades. So you don’t want to do anything that ruins this.
Here’s a video from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) to show you the invisible damage that occurs when walking on solar panels:
Although you might not see any visible damage or cracks from your actions, even crawling across the panel, you will likely be doing irreparable damage to the solar cells.
The solar cells are the heart of your system as this is what absorbs sunlight to create an electrical field.
How Delicate are Solar Panels? Can They Break?
I don’t want you to start worrying about if your solar panels are delicate. While you can damage a solar panel, on the whole, they are highly robust pieces of equipment that can last for over 40 years.
Traditional rigid solar panels are built with anti-corrosion aluminum frames and impact-resistant tempered glass. So they won’t break easily, they certainly are a lot stronger than the average glass window pane.
They are still designed to be mounted on rooftops and withstand adverse weather for decades. For example, the minimum standard for panels says that they should be able to withstand a 1-inch hailstone traveling at 23 meters per second.
While your equipment will survive a big storm, there is a huge impact difference between a 1-inch hailstone and the human foot!
Do Broken Solar Panels Still Work?
If you think you’ve already damaged your solar panels then don’t worry just yet.
Broken solar panels can still work if the majority of the solar cells are still functioning and absorbing sunlight.
You will see a drop in performance due to any damage whether it is a visible crack or internal deterioration.
If you think you’ve got a broken solar panel or there is a drop in power output then it is best to call out a professional to take a look. They might be able to make repairs or put a stop to any more damage occurring.
A damaged solar panel will deteriorate at a much faster rate compared to one that is in good order. Solar panels that are maintained correctly have been found to have a performance deterioration of less than 1% a year.
Contrastingly, a cracked solar panel will lose performance very quickly. This is because rain, dirt, and ice can get inside your equipment and begin to cause further disruption to the solar cells and electrical system.
How to Fix Broken Solar Panels
The good news is that you can do certain repairs to solar panels to avoid replacing them completely.
The first thing to do is to check your home insurance policy to make sure your solar panels are covered. I highly recommend making sure you are covered! That way you can call out a professional to do the job. They will be able to spot any microcracks, broken cells, and replace parts.
If you feel like you have the expertise to fix surface cracks then you can use UV resistant two-part epoxy to fill in the cracks and waterproof the panels. But do this at your own risk.
Fixing a broken solar panel is unlikely to ever regain full performance like new. It may help, but realistically it will stop any further damage from occurring. Most people see around a 10% or 20% drop when common damage occurs to solar panels. So you’ll still produce a decent amount of energy in direct sunlight.
Can You Walk on Flexible Solar Panels?
Once again, it is best to avoid walking on normal flexible solar panels. They are still filled with solar cells which can be damaged. It might seem tempting to do as there is no glass to crack and the ETFE plastic won’t mind a footstep.
It is still best to avoid walking on flexible solar panels.
If you do decide to walk on them then remove your shoes and certainly don’t wear heels! You might be carrying sharp stones or shards of dirt on the sole of your shoe which can penetrate the solar panel. And as we know, this is going to bruise the cell and let in all sorts of dirt and water. Not good.
Walking on Marine Solar Panels
I know you’ve been waiting for the exceptions to the rule to see if you can get away with it.
Well, you’ll be pleased to know that you can now get solar panels that you are able to gently walk on. Generally, these are made for use on boats where there is limited mounting space for solar panels on the deck. Of course, just because they are branded as marine solar panels, doesn’t mean you can’t use them in other scenarios. It’s the same sunlight at sea as it is on land…
In addition, there are a number of solar products designed for high traffic areas which are suitable for gentle footsteps. Plus manufacturers might advise stepping on their panels ‘occasionally.’
Be very careful if you are stepping on solar panels, particularly on a boat or after rainfall. The surface will be very smooth and glossy which makes them incredibly slippery.
Can Solar Panels Electrocute You?
No, touching the face of a solar panel will not electrocute you. They are safe to touch.
You should still be careful though, as the dark surface can get hot when sitting in direct sunlight during the summer.
Other areas of your solar panel system such as the inverter, charge controller, batteries, or junction box can electrocute yours though. This equipment and wires are carrying an electric current which can be dangerous. This is particularly important at the output of the power inverter where the voltage is 120V or more.
On the other hand, small off-grid solar panels operating at 12V are unlikely to cause electrocution due to the low voltage.
Be careful whatever you are doing and if in doubt ask a professional.
Conclusion
Well, the evidence is quite clear – Do not walk on solar panels.
You should 100% avoid stepping on rigid aluminum and glass panels as the pressure of your foot will cause internal damage and risk cracking the glass.
Solar panels are durable but not damage proof.
The only exception to the rule is if you have solar panels which have been specially designed to walk on.
Even the super-strong Tesla Solar Roof Tile can sustain damage from excessive force!
Walking on solar panels, don’t risk it.
