Broken solar panel glass
Submitted: Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 10:31
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brushmarx
Greetings
The solar panel I use to top up the CT batteries when not travelling attempted to try gliding the thermals in a gust of wind, fell on top of the battery compartment door, and has a very attractive wedge shaped broken glass design now.
Does anyone know if it is feasible to :
1. Simply silicon another glass or acrylic sheet over the broken glass to prevent the broken glass from falling out.
2. Remove the broken glass and glue a new sheet over the doohickies that change the light to power.
3. Dump the thing and learn from the experience?
Thanks
Ian
Reply By: Member -Signman - Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 10:53
Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 10:53
I assume it's only a small wattage unit (for trickle charging)..
The cracks in the glass will refract a lot of the light & reduce the efficiency dramatically.
Try hooking a meter in series with the batterys/panel- and see if it's still operating OK..
Did have the same prob. with a small panel- removed the glass with a bit of effort & covered the cells with 2mm polycrabonate..
AnswerID:
293762
Follow Up By: brushmarx - Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 11:11
Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 11:11
Thanks Signman
The panel still shoves out 14 volts (no idea how many watts) in the sunlight, that's why I thought it was worth trying to save.
Cheers
FollowupID:
559472
Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 11:18
Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 11:18
Connect your (milli) ampmeter in series- and put the panel in full sun..
FollowupID:
559473
Reply By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 12:26
Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 12:26
Hi Ian,
Before I bought my panels, I was loaned a couple of panels with cracked glass. They worked fine for me, and put out pretty close to what they reckoned.
The glass is (or should be) bonded to the cells underneath. There is no way of replacing it, but if they continue to work, then leave them. Water ingress may cause deterioration, but what the heck.
To see if it's working to full rating, place an ammeter in series with one lead to
check what current it's delivering in full sun. Voltage alone will not give you the answer.
Gerry
AnswerID:
293774
Reply By: AdrianLR (VIC) - Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 12:37
Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 at 12:37
I came across this method of repair when I was looking at a broken panel that was going cheap on ebay. Didn't end up buying and therefore didn't try the repair:
Panel repair
Adrian
AnswerID:
293778
Reply By: Member - Jeff H (QLD) - Friday, Mar 21, 2008 at 17:13
Friday, Mar 21, 2008 at 17:13
A friend had his glass totally bleep tered on installation a year ago. (80W)Still works fine. Beats me why.
Not covered by insurance are you?
Good luck eh.
Jeff H.
AnswerID:
294001