Broken <span class="highlight">Solar</span> <span class="highlight">panel</span> glass repairs

Submitted: Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 07:32
ThreadID: 102417 Views:2472 Replies:4 FollowUps:0
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Hi there,

I have been searching all over to see where I can have the glass in my portable solar panel replaced. It is an older folding set (like a briefcase) and the kids knocked it over and one of the sides got smashed. Still working otherwise. Does anyone know of anywhere in or around Brisbane or the Gold Coast that might do this. Thanks so much for your help :)

Cheers Hayley
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Reply By: Les - PK Ranger - Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 10:19

Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 10:19
Hayley, it's probably toughened glass (broke into tiny pieces ?) and might be thinner than you can normally get toughened in Australia. Many of these things are 3mm toughened made in China, 4mm may fit.

4mm clear is thinnest made in Aus, but you shoud first check if the panel itself, the solar modlues are damaged with the breakage.
I've seen them kind of stick / stuck to the glass, and if this is the case the panel might be non repairable.
Have you hooked it up and tested it still produces a normal-ish amount of power ?
It may produce less due to the broken glass, if still in front.

From my time in commercial glass, Pilkington Australia had toughening plants around Aus, but nowadays many smaller ones are around too.
Suggest getting onto Google and / or Yellow Pages and just email / make some calls to some of the larger glass companies.
Measure in mm's length and width to enable a price to be given, and ensure 4mm glass will go into the fittings / flanges ok.

AnswerID: 511841

Reply By: 08crd - Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 11:46

Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 11:46
You may be able to replace it with polycarbonate.
AnswerID: 511851

Reply By: lancie49 - Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 12:42

Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 12:42
The cost of a new panel could be less than the cost of a glass to fix the damaged one.
AnswerID: 511854

Reply By: CameronD - Monday, May 27, 2013 at 13:22

Monday, May 27, 2013 at 13:22
For efficient operation, the polymer than embeds the silicon cells should be effectively glued to the glass. I have never tried it, but I suspect if you tried to remove the glass you would destroy the panel.
When panels are made, the glass forms the base on which everything is built up. The glass itself provides the mechanical rigidity to the whole system. Without it there is just some flimsy plastic with very brittle, very thin, silicon cells.

If it is still working you might just keep using it, otherwise I think you need to replace the entire panel.
AnswerID: 511932

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