What to do if the photovoltaic bracket is stolen

While locks, alarms, and cameras are the 3 best ways to stop your solar panels from being stolen, there are a few methods that can deter theft and one of those is by marking or engraving your solar panels so that they are easily identifiable if they do get stolen.

The rampancy of stolen PV systems will undoubtedly put some fear in the hearts of solar panel owners. Fortunately, you can use many tools to frustrate the efforts of these robbers. An old and gold way to prevent your solar panels from getting stolen is to put a flock of goats or noisy animals in the area .

In the UK alone, for example, a 2019 heist saw more than £900,000 (US$1 million) of solar modules stolen from a project, while project security company SafeSite Facilities (SSF) estimates that .

Properly securing your solar panels to their mounting brackets or frames will make it significantly more challenging for thieves to remove them. Utilizing tamper-resistant bolts or screws can provide an added layer of security, making it difficult for unauthorized individuals to dislodge the panels.

This article looks at six ways how to protect solar panels from theft, from locking fasteners to advanced CCTV systems. We cover an “array” of solar panel security methods to prevent solar panel theft.

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6 FAQs about [What to do if the photovoltaic bracket is stolen]

What should I do if my solar panels are stolen?

Ensure your homeowner’s insurance policy covers your solar panels in case of theft. Some solar panel owners choose to install GPS tracking devices on their panels, allowing them to be tracked and located if stolen. Ensure your solar panels are professionally installed.

How to protect solar panels from theft?

You can use mechanical locks on the mounting equipment to prevent the panels from being easily removed. The locks should be custom-designed for solar panel installation and tamper-resistant. Installing an alarm system that triggers a loud noise if the panels are tampered with can help deter potential thieves.

How do I protect my solar panels?

Caging your solar panels in a welded steel frame. Securing the panel down with cables and padlocks. Make sure there’s no easy access to the panels. Install cameras to monitor the panels. Pay a security company to protect your property. Use window or door sensors. Add your solar panels to your insurance cover.

Are solar panels stolen?

Solar panel theft is a huge problem. Because of the allure that these panels carry, they are one of the most commonly stolen items. This theft results in damage to property and a huge financial loss to both the homeowner and the government.

Can solar panels be stolen without an inverter?

This is a technology that connects the photovoltaic panels to the inverter. You need to access the inverter to enjoy the sun’s energy digitally. What this means is that if the solar panels get stolen without the inverter, the perpetrators will be unable to use them. Finally, you can glue or weld the solar panels to the surface of your roof.

Can a thief steal a solar panel?

Holes can be drilled into specific parts of the frame to put the cables through. After running the cable through the solar panel frame and mounting bracket you must lock it with a strong padlock. Unless the thief has a really big bolt cutter with them on your roof they will have a very hard time trying to steal your solar panels.

What to do if the photovoltaic bracket is stolen