Damaged Panel - Help!!!
System
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My girlfriend has a solar panel that she uses for lighting and to run a radio, charge her phone.
She lent it to a friend to use to part recharge the batteries he was using for a 12volt powered sound system in his mobile cafe at an event.
Once she got it back she noticed some damage. The panel appears to work correctly but what I think is a layer of protective see-thru corrugated plastic has been rubbed/burnt/something through.
This happened a few months ago and the panel is outside in the weather.
I want to repair it but I'm not sure what to use to reseal it. Silicone? something else? I'm a bit worried about chemical compatibility with the PV and don't want to leave the elements getting in.
A very sketchy photo is at http://vegburner.co.uk/images2/solarpanel.jpg
Thanks in advance for any advice.
She lent it to a friend to use to part recharge the batteries he was using for a 12volt powered sound system in his mobile cafe at an event.
Once she got it back she noticed some damage. The panel appears to work correctly but what I think is a layer of protective see-thru corrugated plastic has been rubbed/burnt/something through.
This happened a few months ago and the panel is outside in the weather.
I want to repair it but I'm not sure what to use to reseal it. Silicone? something else? I'm a bit worried about chemical compatibility with the PV and don't want to leave the elements getting in.
A very sketchy photo is at http://vegburner.co.uk/images2/solarpanel.jpg
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Comments
Ouch! I feel badly for the person good enough to lend it, only to get it back that way. It's my opinion that the guy who borrowed it should replace it, but I know that "ain't gonna happen".
That looks like a Uni-Solar amorphous panel.
The manufacturer recommends filling the hole with neutral cure silicone sealant.
That isn't going to help any burnt areas where light isn't getting through.
I also agree with Wayne from NS Cana that someone owes your gf a NEW panel.
The Mrs. says cheers for all the advice, we'll get some silicone.
The damaged area is quite small compared to the panel size, hopefully we won't lose too much output....
Art how did you ID the panel from that dodgy pic? You obviously know far too much.....
Unisolar has the textured plastic - others are glass
Unisolar has the continuous PV element, others are discrete cells with solder connections.
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,
This is how I know... (see pic)
Lucky it is Uni-Solar, as it has bypass diodes for every cell,
and is able to function if any cell is shaded or destroyed.
Well kicking solar panels with your bare foot was not a smart thing to do.
But I don't see anything but a outward dimple on the panel above your scared foot. What is the story. How old are the panel(s) ?? I just got 7 Uni-solar ES-62T panels 2 months ago.