Solar panels, do they have "wear out"
Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 02:36
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Member - muzzgit
My mate asked a good question the other day. One which I had never contemplated before, and not knowing the first thing about solar panels, I recon someone here can answer the question.
Does a solar panel lose efficiancy, or does it have a life expectancy based on how much it is used.
More to the point, can you wear them out ?
Reply By: theshadows - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 06:45
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 06:45
yes you can.
I've had 3 fail over the years. same cause each time. Salt has got in through pin holes in the surface and destroyed a track in a section shorting out the board.
AnswerID:
100624
Reply By: hl - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 08:40
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 08:40
Hi,
Some do, so don't. Amorphous ones loose efficiency over time, polycrystalline ones do not, they usually have a 20 year warranty on output.
The can however be damaged by other means as in the post above.
If you are contemplating intermittent use such as in camping, you will probably never notice the gradual drop in output from the amorphous type and they are considerably cheaper.
cheers
AnswerID:
100637
Follow Up By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 18:48
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 18:48
Close, but it is not so much that amorphous panels lose efficiency, rather they produce 10-15% over their rated capacity for the first 6-8 weeks of use. After that they perform forever unless damaged.
Thus you will see a small gradual decrease over the first 40-60 days you use them, which may be as long as two years for some campers and then they will level out. As hl says, it is probably so infantessimal as to not be noticed.
Cheers,
Jim.
FollowupID:
358846
Reply By: iMusty - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 10:01
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 10:01
No answer here. Just a question.
I am in
Melbourne, Caulfield.
Din't know anything about solar but I can see myself using it isoon.
Where's a GOOD place for info, purchases, assistance?
AnswerID:
100645
Follow Up By: Gajm (VIC) - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 10:33
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 10:33
Best place for info and assistance is on here!
Then when you have figured out what you want ring around and get some prices. if you STA (search the archives) you will find a lot of retailers who have been given good recomendations.
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358787
Follow Up By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 18:04
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 18:04
Talk to Rod at Award Caravan Accessories in Ferntree Gully.
His prices are the best. Good bloke too.
Cheers,
Jim.
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358842
Follow Up By: iMusty - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 18:58
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 18:58
Thanks.
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Reply By: Blackie - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 17:24
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 17:24
Have a look here.
a href="
http://domain.com/path">
http://www.motorhomesaustralia.net/index.html
AnswerID:
100698
Follow Up By: Blackie - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 17:26
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 17:26
Stuff up??!!! And i thought I had it organised.
Anyway start at the www. and you can't go wrong.
If you put Collyn and solar together on any search you will get a wealth of info.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Lone Wolf - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 20:03
Tuesday, Mar 01, 2005 at 20:03
We are probably talking miniscule amounts of degradation here.
A more poignant question would be..............
"Will the sun lose power over the next 20 years?"
or........
"Will global warming counteract the degradation of the suns rays?"
I reckon that my solar panel, will outlast my 2 fridges, so that when I buy 2 new fridges, they will be sooooo much more efficient, and I won't even know any difference!!!!
Wolfie
AnswerID:
100711