Folding SOLAR PANEL damage !!
Submitted: Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 11:28
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signman
I recently acquired a portable 'folding panel' setup. The first thing I noticed was the vulnerability to damage to the glass the way the panels folded- even when in the flimsy nylon bag.
Granted the glass is supposed to withstand a hail stone of a particular size from a particular height- but I could see when unloading from the vehicle or setting up, it would be easy to strike the panel on a sharp corner or edge, smashing the glass and making the thing useless.
So- I reversed the hinging, so the panels close now with glass face-to-face, allowing for a 2mm sandwich of convuluted cardboard between. Refitted to 'hold together' clip and carry handle...and all good !!
Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 11:52
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 11:52
signman,
Just remember to remove the protective cardboard after setting the solar panels up.
How are the CSR trip preparations going?
Wayne
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Reply By: Member - Porl - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:07
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:07
I joined my own.
Drops of silastic on the rims keep apart the glass bits, permanently.
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Follow Up By: signman - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:11
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:11
Good thinking- re the cured silicone 'blobs'....
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Reply By: Rod E B - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:10
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:10
When I got
mine they were panel face to panel face
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Follow Up By: Member - Scoot (SA) - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:44
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:44
Mine was face to face also, makes sense.
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Follow Up By: Rod E B - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:04
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:04
Having said that
I made a MDF "box" to hold my panels
it sits in the back of the territory just inside the rear door and I can stack stuff on top of it , more or less it slides in like a draw , with sliders on the bottom of the lower panel
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Reply By: Mandrake's Solar Power- Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:18
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:18
Just a word to the wise - you probably just voided your warranty .. So I hope for your sake nothing goes wrong with the panels .. :-(
Steve
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Follow Up By: Mandrake's Solar Power- Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:50
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 12:50
And I don't think you have gained much as the rear ( underside) is usually the same glass as the top but covered in a white EVA film . So you can still smash it from the underside on a sharp object - you just avoid unnecessary scratches on the solar surface by reversing the panels .
Cheers
Steve
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Follow Up By: signman - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:15
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:15
Agree Steve..however with the panels facing out- the glass is virtually flush with the frame. When reversed at least the vulnerable glass is recessed the thickness of the frame. I guess if I were perdandic I could pop river some perforated aluminium sheet on for full protection !!
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Follow Up By: nickoff - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:40
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:40
But if you do that, wouldn't you increase the latent heat potential when out in the sun, and reduce your panel efficiency?
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Follow Up By: Mandrake's Solar Power- Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:51
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:51
If the protection panel had a small gap at top and bottom of the panel then it might actually improve latent heat disbursability by having a slight cooling effect sucking air in at the base and expelling it at the top .. Simple physics hot air rises .
Maybe you could patent the design signman !!
Cheers
Steve
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Follow Up By: signman - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:52
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 13:52
Hiya Nick
The perforated sheet we use..is about 80% perferation !!
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Follow Up By: Rod E B - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 15:58
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 15:58
Mandrake ,
what do you voided your warranty
regards
Unwise one
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Follow Up By: Mandrake's Solar Power- Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 16:16
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 16:16
what do you voided your warranty ???
Not quite sure how to answer that Rod ...
Like to translate for me ..
Cheers
Steve
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Follow Up By: Rod E B - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 16:29
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 16:29
sorry left out the word mean
above you said ,
a word to the wise , looks like you have just voided your warranty
what do you mean
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Follow Up By: Mandrake's Solar Power- Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 16:43
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 16:43
Most warranties have an exclusion clause for self-inflicted damage - as I said "probably" this could void any warranty claim because signman has altered and thereby damaged the original goods - So it is possible the warranty has been voided ..
Really depends on how the affect of reversing the panels is accepted or not accepted by the warranty holder ...
Cheers
Steve
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Reply By: Member - Kiwi_In_Aussie(Wagga) - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 16:42
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 16:42
Also suggest that with time (for example I mean one trip along the CSR) even the corrugated cardboard will rub against the surface of the panel and 'scuff' it.
I speak from experience :-)
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Follow Up By: Mandrake's Solar Power- Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 19:21
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 19:21
Yes I wondered about that myself - suggest a fabric layer instead of cardboard or even some of that rubbery sheet used to stop things sliding off shelves - Little $2 shops sell it in rolls of 1 metre lengths ..
Cheers
Steve
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Follow Up By: signman - Tuesday, Feb 09, 2010 at 09:42
Tuesday, Feb 09, 2010 at 09:42
Thanks for the comment Kiwi
I have noted your suggestion- and did the silicon blobs as recommended by a previous poster. I feel that will be more efficient.
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