We live on a golf course and have frequent golf ball hits to our tile roof. Enough impact that tiles get broken sometimes. Our salesperson is telling us that the solar panels are almost impervious to this type of impact but of course there are no guarantees from his company or the panel manufacturers.
Any input is appreciated.
Most solar panels are designed and tested to withstand impacts from large hail which is similar to a golf ball impact. However, unlike hail, golf balls do not fracture or break apart on impact, so they might be more damaging.
You should be able to see if any of the glass on the front of the panels are shattered or broken due to an impact. It might be hard to see from the ground, so you should clean inspect your panels if it’s safe to do so. Also, check from micro-cracks which can also form after an impact.
Solar panels with a UL 61730 rating are designed to withstand hail impacts, and they have been rigorously tested to ensure their durability against hail storms. These panels are typically tested to withstand hailstones ranging from one to three inches in diameter, traveling at speeds between 16.8 and 88.3 mph.
My Neighbor is a golf enthusiast and i regularly get golf balls flying over to my house from the direction where my solar panels cover the entire side of the roof. I’m sure he must have hit them at least 10 times already, but didn’t notice any damage when cleaning them.