Sunlight Reflection and Glare From Solar Panels

thriftytracey

I am posting this on behalf of a friend.  A house at the back of her has had solar panels installed and she is getting sunlight reflection from them into her bedroom.  Obviously, this isn't pleasant, but she is also concerned that it might shatter mirrors that are in the room.

My question is - is this normal?  We have solar panels ourselves on two areas of the roof, and I haven't noticed this myself on our own panels, although perhaps this phenomenon is only noticeable from a comparable height.

I have attached some photos below showing the reflections.

TadleyBaggie

How does light shatter mirrors?

Martyn1981

I can see there are panels on the house next door too, but a different pitch perhaps.

It can happen, all depends on the angle of the panels, and more importantly the time of year. Our neighbours greenhouse used to shine into our living room, but only for about an hour in the afternoon, and only for a few weeks of the year, as it all depends on the angle (time of day) and height (time of year) of the sun.

During those periods, when it's sunny, curtains should solve the problem.

mr_stripey

close the curtains?

ispookie666

They look like the older poly panels.  The current ones appear to have a matt finish and may be better. 
Yes, it's annoying, but this intrusion will likely be short as the sun's position in the sky will change or drop as we head into autumn.   

Martyn1981

A better example of the issue might be this story dating back a decade, due to the 'offending' install being on a lower roof.

I remembered it, because at the time folk commented on why some of the pics showed so much glare on a grey day. Followed by a comment as to why there was a shine on the front of his sunglasses when he had his back to the panels. Followed by another poster who'd zoomed in on the reflection, and it seemed to be octagonal, suggesting a lighting umbrella by the news team.

Kinda funny, but appreciate it may be annoying for folk involved.

It's like living in a tanning salon! Family's agony over neighbour's solar panels that reflects sunlight directly into their home

Netexporter

Remember when flicker from wind turbine blades was a thing? The tinfoil hat community will always be with us.

Heedtheadvice

Extra sunshine? Great, could do with some!

As Martyn says very much dependant on the angles and will not be noticed most of the hours throughout the year.

Maybe a slight risk of paintings getting discoloured over time bit less so than being in direct sunlight. No risk to mirrors. How could it be thought there might be?

Magnitio

The sun reflects in the windows of the house opposite us during the evening for several weeks of the year. Sometimes causes me a migraine if I accidentally look at it. We just close the curtains. The only chance of a mirror shattering is if I look at it

ispookie666

Heedtheadvice said:

Extra sunshine? Great, could do with some!

As Martyn says very much dependant on the angles and will not be noticed most of the hours throughout the year.

Maybe a slight risk of paintings getting discoloured over time bit less so than being in direct sunlight. No risk to mirrors. How could it be thought there might be?

A bit related. My balcony french doors reflect light onto our lawn, and every year we get a dry/burned out patch. When you stand there, you can really feel the heat.
 I can imagine how annoying it is for the OP. 
Might I suggest, portable easynight blackout blind? It's really easy to put up and take down. 

gefnew

Try something like this.
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