reconditioning old solar panels

Lifetide
Lifetide Registered Users Posts: 19 ✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
I live a a very humid climate (Hawaii). Moisture has slowly seeped into some of my older solar panels, and the cells appear to be either corroded or have molds discoloring them (actually it looks like both). The condition is seriously degrading the output, even for older panels. Does anyone know whether the frames can be taken apart to manually clean the cells that are under the glass. And then, after cleaning and drying everything out, reassembling and resealing the panels.
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  • icarus
    icarus Solar Expert Posts: 5,436 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels

    Short answer,,, not likely.


    Test the out it, and replace any panels whose output is poor. PV prices have never been lower, so changing Out panels is getting to be th cheapest part of the system.

    Tonh
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  • rplarry
    rplarry Solar Expert Posts: 203 ✭✭
    #3
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels

    And with new panels at $1.34 a watt right now why would you even bother
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels
    rplarry wrote: »
    And with new panels at $1.34 a watt right now why would you even bother

    i can think of one reason that might hinder him from just replacing all and that's the high costs of shipping nowadays. pv costs went down and gasoline went up. unfortunately, i don't think he has a choice as i believe the pvs he has did not hold up and are damaged.:cry:
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  • rplarry
    rplarry Solar Expert Posts: 203 ✭✭
    #5
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels

    You are right about that, shipping to Hawaii is probably prohibitive.
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels

    Solar panels aren't designed to be taken apart and rebuilt. Chances are any attempt to do so will result in a destroyed panel, necessitating purchasing new anyway. The salt air from the sea is going to do a lot of damage. Everyone who lives in such an area will see this on all sorts of metal things.

    As we say in the Cariboo: "Never buy a boat from the coast!" :roll:
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  • ggunn
    ggunn Solar Expert Posts: 1,973 ✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels
    rplarry wrote: »
    You are right about that, shipping to Hawaii is probably prohibitive.
    Why? Most modules come from China, and Hawaii is just a stop along the way.
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels
    ggunn wrote: »
    Why? Most modules come from China, and Hawaii is just a stop along the way.

    They probably have to go to San Fran first, then get on another boat for Honolulu. Can't just flag down a passing freighter and pull off your ten panels.

    Like Canada Post sorting letters going from Vancouver to Victoria by sending them to Montreal. :roll:
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  • ggunn
    ggunn Solar Expert Posts: 1,973 ✭✭✭
    #9
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    They probably have to go to San Fran first, then get on another boat for Honolulu. Can't just flag down a passing freighter and pull off your ten panels.
    That depends. There are PV distributors in Hawaii, are there not? If they buy by the container than there's no reason for the round trip to CA.
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #10
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels
    ggunn wrote: »
    That depends. There are PV distributors in Hawaii, are there not? If they buy by the container than there's no reason for the round trip to CA.

    Reason? Who said anything about reason? :p

    If there's a warehouse in HI they probably still order in smaller quantities than one on California would. The logistics of distribution aren't always logical. :roll:
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #11
    Re: reconditioning old solar panels

    it doesn't really matter guys because "shipping" costs are higher for ships too you know or do those ships just have a large wind-up rubber band to turn the propellers with?:p
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