How tough are solar panels, really? In this Big Dog Solar video, the team puts one to the test with a few everyday impact scenarios to see how it holds up.

First up is a homemade hailstorm test. The team throws chunks of ice at the panel as hard as they can to simulate the kind of impact a solar panel might experience during severe weather. After the ice test, the panel is still intact.

Next comes the baseball test. Since plenty of homes have kids playing in the yard, the team throws baseballs at the panel to see whether a hard hit causes visible damage. The result: no scratches and no obvious damage.

Finally, they move on to golf balls. For homeowners living near a golf course, an errant shot landing on the roof is a real possibility. The team throws golf balls directly at the solar panel, and once again, it holds up.

While this isn’t a laboratory certification test, it gives a fun look at just how durable modern solar panels can be when faced with common impact hazards.

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We’re out here today to find out just how durable and tough our solar panels are.

First, we’re going to simulate a hailstorm.

We’re taking chunks of ice and throwing them at the panel as hard as we can.

[Throws ice]

Final verdict: we don’t have very good arm strength.

What’s next?

We’re going to hit the panel with big balls.

Kids have baseballs that they throw around in the backyard, so let’s see what happens.

Not a scratch.

Verdict of the baseball test: it passed.

Up next, we’ve got the golf ball test.

A lot of people live near golf courses, so if somebody slices one really hard and that golf ball goes flying onto the roof and hits the solar panels, what’s going to happen?

Look — that’s a hit.

First, I’m just going to chuck it.

[Throws golf ball]

Golf ball test: passed with flying colors.

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