Discovered a fully cracked panel, limited output

Dan_
Dan_ Solar Expert Posts: 61 ✭✭✭✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
I noticed less power coming in than should be so I took a look at the panels. One was cracked across the whole of the glass, spider webbed. No sign of impact or any objects nearby. Panel outputs 3v when others are 17v so its severely compromised

Is there any reason this could have happened besides impact?
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  • waynefromnscanada
    waynefromnscanada Solar Expert Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Discovered a fully cracked panel, limited output

    OUCH! That sucks!
    Any chance it's mounting had is stressed with a twist? Second thought - - if struck hard, tempered glass will sometimes shatter later on, well after it had been struck. Could it have suffered a hit some time in the past?
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #3
    Re: Discovered a fully cracked panel, limited output

    Hits or scratches... Tempered glass is particularly fragile on the edges/corners. There could have been a hidden defect there (thermal cycling from sun/night/hot/cold initiates the "failure") or, as Wayne suggested, some sort of bending forces from the racking/mounting settling over time.

    Otherwise, a golf ball size rock or similar object (kids, etc).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • CDN_VT
    CDN_VT Solar Expert Posts: 492 ✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Discovered a fully cracked panel, limited output
    Dan_ wrote: »
    I noticed less power coming in than should be so I took a look at the panels. One was cracked across the whole of the glass, spider webbed. No sign of impact or any objects nearby. Panel outputs 3v when others are 17v so its severely compromised

    Is there any reason this could have happened besides impact?

    PICTURES !! or it didn't happen ;) .. Best for us who delve into the why , for a pix or 3

    VT
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  • DanS26
    DanS26 Solar Expert Posts: 269 ✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Discovered a fully cracked panel, limited output

    As mentioned...freeze thaw cycle probable culprit.

    But the most important issue is how many panels of same type and power output you have in spare parts? Have you noticed these older panels modules are EXPENSIVE or just plain not available.

    IMHO, if you have a solar array and do not have a couple of spare matching panels as spare parts you will be sorry. Most panel warranties are not worth the paper they're written on.
    23.16kW Kyocera panels; 2 Fronius 7.5kW inverters; Nyle hot water; Steffes ETS; Great Lakes RO; Generac 10kW w/ATS, TED Pro System monitoring
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